our vision of innovation

Our VisiOn

i2 Innovation at BYK

Seek Opportunities Achieve Results: that´s the innovative culture of BYK USA. 2

In our customer seminars we communi-cate important practical knowledge for everyday situations. Page 12

Dr. Michael Berkei on the advantages of our ready-to-use CNT dispersions. Page 60

“Adhesives and sealants are an attractive market for BYK,” says Jan Lenz. Page 46

China is a market with strategic priority for us and we maintain several branches there. Page 18

Inkjet printing is indispensible in advertising. Our BYKJET® additives improve color quality. Page 44

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WHAT IS INNOVATIVE?

We listen to what our customers around the globe are saying and that´s why ideas for new solutions flourish.

WHAT IS INNOVATIVE? 5–10

6 Our vision of innovation

8 Conversations with customers inspire: voices from Asia

WHO ARE THE INNOVATORS? 11–30

12 The perspective makes the difference

18 Staying in tune with the market

22 Innovation culture made in the USA

24 Innovations make life easier: voices from the USA

28 Good service – satisfied customers

HOW ARE WE INNOVATIVE? 31–54

32 Well-equipped for the future

38 Brilliant and universally applicable

40 Innovative polymer emulsifiers on the basis

of T.A.P.E. technology

42 Successful concept now for aqueous systems

43 Dispersing agents for organic pigments and carbon blacks

44 BYKJET® additives for brilliant advertising

46 Special commitment

Interview with Jan Lenz

50 With both feet firmly planted in the clouds …

52 Coupling agent success story

WHY ARE WE INNOVATIVE? 55–73

56 Tools for new surfaces

Interview with Dr. Birthe Borup

60 Tiny tubes, intelligently connected

Interview with Dr. Michael Berkei

64 A new class of surface additives made with

macromer technology

70 Additives for eco-friendly formulations

75 Imprint

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i2 Our Vision

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The very heart of our innovation process is our workforce of dedicated and motivated EmplOyEES throughout the world. They are focused on developing the best possible solutions for our customers.

The starting point for new ideas is our basic understanding of clOSE cooperation. We listen to our customers and help them with individual, specific questions. This is made possible in large measure through the tech-nical equipment and resources of our laboratories all over the world which enable us to replicate our customers’ production processes. Recognizing new trends and challenges early on and supplying answers that genuinely benefit our customers are fundamental to our concept of innovation.

We not only focus on continuously OpTImIzINg our products, but we are also always working to develop new markets for those products. We often find that the functional mechanisms of our products can be transferred to applications outside of the original scope. Such transfer processes allow us to acquire new expertise, which in turn enables us to develop other new products for those markets.

Being innovative also means identifying pOTENTIAlS . This is particularly true when it comes to the use of key pioneering technologies. We do not consider advanced technology as an end in itself, but rather a means of generating added value. With this philosophy in mind we are developing specifically targeted nanotechnology and biotechnology applications. Both fields offer highly promising potentials for innovative additives, thereby making it possible to create new products that will provide our customers with even greater advantages.

Our vision of innovation

We provide our customers with solutions and services that offer them a competitive edge of their own.

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i2 Our Vision

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High-speed trains and telecommunications have altered our lives dramatically.

Today our entire IT is based on telecommunication networks. For the future, I

would like to see a worldwide recycling society in order to make the most efficient

use of resources. A clean, safe, and effective energy system would also be very

important. My best ideas occur to me either when I’m around people or when

I’m dreaming – and also sometimes when I have to wait for a plane or a bus.

Conversations with customers inspire: voices from Asia

In my opinion, there are two paths of innovation which have recently had a

strong impact on our lives. The first is the internet and all of the opportunities it

offers, such as YouTube and shopping; and the other is the medical progress,

which has extended people’s life expectancy. That’s one of the reasons why I

think it would be a good thing if we would focus more of our innovations more

closely on addressing the needs of an ageing society in the future. From my

point of view, a care robot would be useful, for example. Generally speaking, for

instance, I would like to have sources of alternative energy based on methane

hydrate. Innovations in agriculture are also important in order to ensure economic

independence.

Personally, I get my best ideas when I’m relaxed – while jogging, just before

falling asleep, or when I’m together with friends. Sometimes customer meetings

are also extremely inspiring and great things occur to me then.

Apart from medical progress, for asthma patients, for example, and general

technological development, I think there’s one innovation that really stands out:

Thanks to the PC, we no longer have to write things by hand! That’s what I call

progress. With regard to future innovations, there are plenty of things I would

like to see: A society in which everyone can be healthy and happy, in which

everyone has enough to eat, and in which conflict is reduced to an absolute

minimum. Culture or religion should not create barriers.

My most innovative moments are when I am outside in natural surroundings –

on a hike along a river, for instance, or bathing in a hot spring. Being in the

company of others – friends or customers – often has a very inspiring effect on

me as well.

Akihiro Wakahara

Technical Manager, Additives

Tokyo

Innovation is a process that has to be a fundamental part of everyday life

throughout the company – from the very top right down to each and every team

member. This requires openness and a willingness to accept risk. A positive atti-

tude, the ability to address new problems, competition, and broad knowledge

all promote innovative capacity. To me, innovation means more than just new

products. It’s all about creatively driving business success as a whole. In order to

do that, we have to meet the customers’ demands and create solutions that they

will accept.

Innovations – these are the truly major advancements in technology. In the

recent past, telecommunications and computer technology have brought us

revolutionary changes. For example, they altered classical production methods

affecting people’s lifestyles just as much as their work efficiency. Moreover, new

markets and niche industries have emerged. I believe that these technologies

will continue to affect us in new ways.

For the future, I would like us to have more waterborne technologies. Water can

be emulsified by means of additives and then further processed. Water could

also be used as an energy source for cars or other vehicles. People will be glad to

have 100% waterborne products and technologies. Some day solvent-borne

products will disappear entirely.

Major events, whether in the environment or in society, often trigger the inno-

vation process. They put us in a reflective mood and that can give rise to new

ideas.

Keisuke Sakuragi

Lab Manager

Technical Service Lab

Hyogo

Shinji Hino

Assistant Lab Manager

Technical Service Lab

Hyogo

Alec Li

Technical Manager

Shanghai

You Yu Fe

Head of Industrial Applications

Business Line

Nanjing

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WHO ARE THE INNOVATORS?

Innovation – it’s customer-focused. This has always been the way we work and

think at BYK. Customer focus is the basis for our success and for our market

leadership. Customer focus is extremely important in Chinese markets today. We

must on the one hand differentiate between the multinational corporations

who are active here, and on the other hand, the local, purely Chinese companies.

The latter are becoming more and more important for BYK because they work

with their own formulations, raw materials, and processes.

Chinese customers also differ significantly from one another in other respects.

There are the companies that want to deliver good quality and then there are

companies who pay very close attention to price-performance ratio without

necessarily making excellent quality their top priority. Many of these companies

too – including a number of multinational corporations – are now following the

trend towards adapting their formulations to market conditions in order to

keep production costs low.

BYK already has experience with tailor-made products for selected key custom-

ers in the past. These customers received customized innovations to meet their

very specific needs. This approach to tailor-made LP products has an extraordi-

narily bright future in China and that’s why we should continue to pursue it.

The way I see it, customer focus includes more than just providing the right

products. Our processes, and above all a well-qualified, dedicated and motivated

workforce really help drive innovation at BYK.

Innovation is a process that is initiated by corporate management and is carried

out through all teams right down to the individual employees. But it’s also an

attitude that takes the form of openness and the willingness to take risks; that

means saying “yes” more often than “no”.

As a company, you have to link the “outside in” and the “inside out” perspectives

with one another because the market-oriented and resource-oriented views are

interconnected. It’s important to recognize your own strengths and weaknesses

while understanding customers, competitors, and the environment at the same

time.

Innovation is about more than just products: It also includes processes, services,

and the way a company organizes itself. I would really like to see innovations in

which product developments are accompanied by services, customer demands,

and operational advancements.

Pan Yong

Product Group Manager /

Laboratory Department Head

Shanghai

He Jidong

Director of Sales and Marketing,

Paint Additives

Shanghai

Together we can achieve more. That is why teamwork often extends between the continents. Impressive solutions are born in the process.

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The perspective makes the difference

Our customer seminars communicate important practical knowledge about additives.

i2 Innovation at BYKi2 Our Vision

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i2 Our Vision

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22

The platform established for this purpose is our customer

seminar program that we have been running for many ye-

ars now. Many of our longstanding customers appreciate

this opportunity because it offers outstanding training and

continuing education for their employees.

The recipe for success for our seminars is both simple and

persuasive: The perspective makes the difference. We want

to pass along all of the information that we think is worth

knowing, but that’s not what determines the selection of

topics and the organization of the sessions. Instead, what

really matters is what our customers think: What questions

and issues do they encounter in their everyday work when

they are formulating their products and systems and

working with additives? And in that context, what very

concrete possibilities do BYK’s additives open up for them?

Recommended ways to work with our products

Our instructors are ready to provide valuable information

and advice. This has already proven effective in practical

applications. They explain which factors are important for

the selection of a specific additive, how our products should

be added, and how best to incorporate them in the respec-

tive formulation. They also describe which methods and

equipment can be used to test the results – equipment from

BYK-Gardner, for example.

Many of our suggestions are based on specific customer

enquiries from the past. Among those cases, we found that

certain problems can be resolved without much trouble.

A minor change in the formulation or in the equipment

setup can improve the end product considerably.

Our customers buy more than just products. Along with our additives, they also acquire knowledge at the same time – knowledge comprising the savoir faire that our experts have gained over the course of decades of experience with users. We are glad to pass that knowledge along.

Sonja Wydra (left) does behind-the-scenes planning. Kirsten Siebenmark (right) is an on-site customer consultant.

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The language of the seminar depends on the group of

participants. If the group is made up of people from different

countries, our employees lecture exclusively in English. We

also offer seminars in German for our customers from

Germany. For customers from China, Japan and Korea,

we interpret the contents in the appropriate language

simultaneously.

The different multi-day programs cover an extremely broad

range of subjects. Some give an overview of major product

groups. These include wetting and dispersing additives,

rheology or surface additives, defoamers, adhesion promot-

ers, UV absorbers and nano additives, for example. Other

seminars are dedicated to specific application areas. Semi-

nars in this category include ones on our additives for the

PVC industry, for example, or for paper coatings.

Practical demonstrations illustrate functional principles

Regardless of the specific topics they examine, our seminars

all feature practical demonstrations which make it possible

to actually experience how our solutions function. Our

instructors generally have an application engineering

background and have extensive experience in the industrial

applications. Depending on the topic, they give live presen-

tations, simulate laboratory situations, or show videos. BYK

has compiled an extensive database just for these seminars,

with video presentations which illustrate the effect of our

additives.

The personal exchange with our experts plays a key role in

these sessions. That’s why the end-use managers of the

respective industrial segments are always present. Our

guests also have the opportunity to exchange information

and ideas with employees from Research & Development,

Sales & Marketing, and with the product group managers.

To promote that exchange, the seminar days close with an

informal “meet the expert” wrap-up session.

As a general rule, we invite our customers to our headquar-

ters in Wesel, where they also have the opportunity to tour

our laboratories, production facilities and logistics center.

This gives our customers a complete and completely trans-

parent-view of our company and of the way we work.

Guarantee of success: the seminar team

“For many of our customers’ employees, their visit to Wesel

marks their first trip to Germany so we make every effort to

schedule seminars during seasons of the year when the

landscape and culture of our region are especially attractive.

Asparagus season is very popular because it gives our guests

the chance to experience unforgettable culinary delights,”

agree Sonja Wydra and Kirsten Siebenmark – and they have

good reason to know.

Ultimately it is our seminar team that guarantees the suc-

cess of these events. In close cooperation with the heads of

the business units and with the sales managers, the team

handles all planning and preparation and then takes care

of all the details on site for a smooth and successful partici-

pant experience. This includes compiling the information

materials which the guests can use to get a clearer under-

standing of the course content.

The team also compiles the presentation materials and trai-

ning documentation for the participants on an individual

basis. In addition, our seminar team is responsible for regis-

trations, hotel bookings, room assignments, and bus trans-

fers during the seminar days, along with the organization

of the entertainment program. Upon completion of the ses-

sions, the team members make sure that every participant

receives a certificate that also serves as confirmation of the

successfully completed continuing education program.

We invite participants from all over the world to our semi-

nars. We also customize the processes and formats of the

sessions to suit the specific group of customers involved.

Some of our guests have a keen interest in more than just

practical knowledge. They also want to learn about the basic

scientific principles pertaining to the additives and their

functional mechanisms. The corresponding presentations

form an integral part of the seminar and are also included

in the handouts that all seminar participants receive at the

conclusion of the session.

Along with the seminars in Wesel, we also offer special

events at our customer’s facilities in which we concentrate

exclusively on the markets in their specific area. These

events also give our customers the opportunity to follow

the session in their own language.

Holger Wach welcomes our customers at the seminar.

Presentations and practice-related demonstrations elucidate the way our additives function.

i2 Our Vision i2 Innovation at BYK

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Staying in tune with the market

Members of the BYK sales organization are the first to learn what customers want in the future.

Innovations are only a means to an end and make no sense

unless they provide a benefit to the market. But what

direction are developments in the market taking? What

will our customers need in the future? The people who

always stay in tune with the market are the ones who know

the answers to these questions: our sales staff.

The sales organization is the interface between the market

and the company. Field representatives are the relationship

managers between the customers and BYK. They are the

first to know about new trends and customer demands and

keep the company informed about these developments on

a continuous basis. This is also how we will maintain our

consistent customer focus in the future.

At BYK we believe that maintaining a close dialog with our

sales representatives, agents and distributors is extremely

important. In addition to the exchange of information via

phone contact, e-mail and our Customer Relationship

Management system, most of our sales representatives

from throughout Europe and overseas also travel to Wesel

several times per year for meetings and training courses.

Regional contacts all over the world

No matter where BYK customers are located, there are lo-

cal BYK experts who are highly qualified in their specialty

area and are always available as contacts. This builds trust

and ensures personal contact at all times. The BYK sales

staff perform a wide range of functions; they handle order

acceptance and order samples, provide our customers with

product data sheets, and answer specific inquiries.

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i2 Our Vision

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Even more importantly, they maintain direct contact with

the customers by meeting with them personally to

inform them of the latest developments in the market and

at BYK. Our sales representatives, agents and distributors

receive regular training on technical and marketing topics.

Extensive information about new products is provided in

the form of presentations and through hands-on training

courses in our laboratories. This ensures that sales repre-

sentatives are always ready to share the latest know-how

about products and technologies when they meet with

customers.

Our sales organization is structured both by region and

also according to the three Business Lines: Coatings,

Plastics, and Industrial Applications. Each field representa-

tive usually supports multiple customers of a Business Line

within their region. They stay in constant contact with the

technicians and researchers and also with the buyers. That’s

how our field representatives, agents and distributors

always know exactly what the customers have on their mind.

They pass that knowledge along to us at BYK headquarters.

Their point of contact is the relevant sales department that

reports the incoming information to the Business Line.

We use that information to continuously update our assess-

ments of current and future trends in the markets.

A market with a bright future: China

With its huge potential for the future, China has already

been a very important market for BYK for more than 20

years. It is making a significant contribution to our growth

and we have been giving it a high strategic priority. That’s

why BYK has established an extensive network of sales

representatives and agents in China.

The main sales office for BYK in China is located in the

country’s most important industrial city, Shanghai. We also

maintain regional offices in Beijing and Guangzhou. Each

of the three locations also has a service laboratory. We have

production facilities in Tongling, a major industrial city on

the banks of the Yangtze River – the world’s third longest

after the Nile and the Amazon. Our agents are represented

in many cities throughout the country, including Nanjing,

Wuhan, Qingdao and Chengdu, where they provide local

support to the customers.

This sales organization enables us to cover the three most

important economic regions – North, Central, and South

China – where most of our target customers are located.

Our dedicated team in China has an excellent knowledge

of the regional markets. With regard to technical issues,

our specifically trained employees are always able to com-

municate the required solutions. Having our service labora-

tories located near the customer plays an important role in

this respect.

Proactive thinking combined with a sense of harmony

All of the employees of the BYK sales organization in China

have earned at least one college degree. More than 20%

of them hold degrees which are equivalent to a Master of

Science (MS) or a Master of Business Administration (MBA).

Team spirit, openness, proactive thinking and action, and a

goal-oriented approach are the hallmarks of our team.

These characteristics combined create an overall sense of

harmony that the Chinese particularly appreciate.

Our employees see themselves as advisors to their custom-

ers and have a comprehensive perspective that enables

them to give our clients valuable information. He Jidong,

Director of Sales & Marketing for Coating Additives in

Shanghai, sums up the approach of his team this way: “We

concentrate entirely on satisfying the demands of our cus-

tomers.” As You Yu Fei, Head of the Industrial Applications

Business Line, Nanjing elaborates, “Their expectations and

values are often the starting point of our actions.”

Advisors to our customers

Richard Peng is BYK’s Technical Service Manager in Guang-

zhou, the city of eight million located near Hong Kong

in southern China. Mr. Peng reports: “As advisors to our

customers, we sell more than just a product: We also provide

active support to help optimize quality and performance.

Our products have to do more than just satisfy customer

requirements: They also have to be able to meet statutory

and environmental regulations.”

With its presence in China, BYK has established a good rep-

utation in what is one of the most important markets in the

world. The BYK brand is associated with reliable, high-per-

formance products, and with excellent problem-solving

expertise. With three service laboratories, an extensive

sales organization, and regular personal contacts between

customers and BYK experts, our network forms the basis

for our continued successful development in China.

Our main Chinese sales center is located in the

metropolis Shanghai. cOATINgS

plASTIcS

INDUSTRIAl ApplIcATIONS

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With the customer always in mind, BYK USA has continually

looked for new ways to be more efficient and effective at

seemingly everyday work tasks. Continuing to do things

just because “it’s the way we’ve always done them” is an

unacceptable sentiment.

Seek Opportunities Achieve Results

To ensure that no employee gets complacent, BYK USA

proactively tasks diverse, cross-functional groups of employ-

ees with projects and challenges designed to make BYK

USA a more innovative and customer-focused company.

This internal program is called SOAR (Seek Opportunities,

Achieve Results). SOAR provides the opportunity for em-

ploy ees to contribute to the company in ways outside of

their day-to-day job functions, and enables them to develop

a broader view of the organization. It has resulted in the

completion and implementation of more than 25 internal

projects, ranging from improving the way we sample

products to maintaining a more operational inventory.

Distribution support network

Great ideas require implementation to truly be considered

innovation, and BYK USA has executed several. To most

effectively service all customers, the entire sales and market-

ing organization was restructured with a principal group

dedicated to supporting the efforts of distribution. This

core team liaises and provides technical resources for distri-

bution customers while allowing direct accounts unparal-

leled access to BYK USA’s technical sales team, end use, and

market managers.

Successful marketing by SMT teams

Successful marketing of new or existing additives in the

NAFTA region requires alignment of key people in the

organization. Spearheaded and managed by the laboratory

manager, SMT (sales, marketing, and technology) teams

were formed to ensure streamlined and cohesive technical

and commercial service for defined customers. This innova-

tive and collaborative approach maximizes knowledge, and

promotes communication essential to best service custom-

ers’ needs.

Innovative thinking

Recently, BYK USA made a pledge to formally instill a

culture of innovation into each and every area of the com-

pany. A diverse team of BYK employees trained in innova-

tion and creative thinking now functions to infuse this com-

mitment and spirit throughout the company. Known as the

i-Team, this group of four is actively implementing new

skills and techniques to break through innovation barriers,

and managing the creative process. Members of this team

have already facilitated internal innovation workshops

which have resulted in the generation of several hundred

ideas and the initiation of two new SOAR projects.

Research shows that 67% of the statistical variance in the climate for creativity in an organization is directly related to the behaviors of the leader of that organization. This is certainly true at BYK USA where the leadership not only promotes but also truly embodies innovation. Being innovative means walking-the-walk and not just talking-the-talk – and at BYK USA that is exactly what you’ll find.

“That’s the way we’ve always done things” is not part of the everyday language at BYK USA.

Innovation culture made in the USA

Being innovative means walking-the-walk and not just talking-the-talk. Author: Jill St. John

SMT teams ensure first-class support for our customers.

The innovation team fosters innovative and creative thinking throughout the whole enterprise.

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Innovations make life

easier: voices from

the USA

Functionality incorporated into the

smartphone has been important for me,

and I would assume almost everybody else.

Who could have imagined, even ten years

ago, that you could carry in your pocket

one device that could be used as a phone,

appointment book, contact list, e-mail

terminal, navigation system, stereo,

internet browser, calculator, alarm clock

and so much more. It can even be used to

find out how far away you are from the

hole on a golf course!

Kevin Lassila, Technical Director &

Innovation Team Leader, BYK USA

I get my best ideas in the morning, either at the health club or driving

in the car to work. Driving is always a bit of a problem especially in

trying to figure out how to capture those ideas. There are many days

when I have a hard time trying to figure out what I had written!

Bruce Seeber, Business Line Manager, BYK USA

I get my best ideas while I’m asleep. My dreams have given me a fresh

approach to many aspects in my life.

Dianna Wanczyk, Accounting Manager & Innovation Team Leader, BYK USA

I think the use of advanced materials

in sporting goods has been an important

innovation. These advanced materials

make sports like golf and tennis much

more enjoyable for me.

Erik Hulting, Technical Sales Representative &


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I’ve always thought it would be great if we

had a TV screen on our foreheads that

showed what we were really thinking...now

that would be innovative!

Jill St. John, Marketing Services Manager &


I am very interested in improvements

that allow people to accomplish their

normal day to day tasks in the most

efficient manner thereby allowing them

more time for items such as analytics and

strategic thought.

Nick Caputi, CFO, BYK USA

My best ideas come when I am interacting with other people. They may

say something that can trigger a thought and then we can bounce it back

and forth to come up with something really interesting.

Dirk Plas, President, BYK USA

Innovations most important to me are

those that improve and positively impact

my life and the lives of those around me.

Lindsay Oddo, Marketing Services

Coordinator, BYK USA

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“ Our customer service employees know that innovation and working closely with the customer are intrinsically linked.”

“ Because our agents and sales staff represent us all over the world, each customer has a personal contact for our products – right there in their own country.”

“ We quickly find the right information to answer every inquiry and when we don’t know all the details ourselves here in customer service, we do know who we can turn to within the company for assistance. That’s how we support our customers – fast and efficiently.”

“ Our customers can test each additive because we send them free-of-charge samples within a few days.”

Is the new additive already available?

How long is the delivery lead time?

Would you please send us the product

specifications? Can we have the pro-

ducts sent express? What is the shelf

life of the additive? Information such

as this is important for smooth opera-

tion and order processing. The 16-per-

son support team is also ready to pro-

vide a few innovative services.

Most orders arrive in our customer

center in Wesel by fax or e-mail and

are processed without having to meet

special formal requirements. Those

orders come from all over the world,

originating either from the customers

themselves or from our agents and

distributors who operate their own

warehouses and supply our customers

from there.

Many questions every day

Our support team answers many ques-

tions every day. This involves prices

and delivery times, for example, or the

status of orders. Our customers also

often want to know details concerning

quality and environmental manage-

ment, packaging, technical specifica-

tions or other supply agreements.

Some want to register complaints

about goods received.

Sometimes when highly detailed in-

formation is required, the company’s

technical experts are consulted; but

with most questions, the team can

provide the right information immedi-

ately.

Attitude is everything. Our support team sees itself as a problem solver. Satisfied customers are our prime objective.

Good service – satisfied customers

Accepting and processing orders, providing information; our customer service team is the personal contact for very practical matters from all over the world. They handle everything, right down to the specific details.

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HOW ARE WE INNOVATIVE?

How long are the delivery times?

The fastest deliveries are possible within Germany. After

the products leave the plant, our customers in Germany

receive what they requested in two days or less. Within the

EU, delivery by truck takes four to ten days. Customers

outside of the EU can expect to receive the products within

five to ten days when delivered by truck. Ocean freight

shipments require four to six weeks.

Are express deliveries possible?

Of course! To any destination in the world, by plane or by

truck. The route and means of transport selected depend

on the specific details of order such as how large the order

is, does it involve material which must be classified as

dangerous goods, etc. We clarify the associated costs for

our customers on a case-by-case basis in cooperation with

our logistics department.

How large are the minimum order quantities?

Except for our sample shipments, we assume that our cus tom-

ers will order at least one can. Depending on the product,

this means 25 or 20 kilograms. Orders of one ton or more

are delivered directly to the customer’s site.

Can you send us the product specifications?

Our product data sheets can be downloaded from our

website. There we provide our customers with detailed

descriptions and information sheets about all of our additives

in the following languages: English, German, French, Italian,

Spanish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Chinese and Japanese.

Some of our safety data sheets have also been translated

into other languages.

Where can I obtain the customs numbers for BYK additives?

Our website provides our customers with lists of the

customs numbers and tariff numbers for all BYK products.

Are BYK products REACH-registered?

All raw materials used in the manufacturing of BYK pro-

ducts were registered with the responsible EU central office

before the deadline on November 30, 2011. In cases where

BYK uses materials as a Downstream User (DU), we have

ob tained confirmation from our suppliers that they have

also registered their raw materials. Further details are

available from the internet on our page about the REACH

program: www.byk.com/reach.

Are BYK additives food safe?

This differs from product to product and depends on wheth-

er the product can even come in contact with food at all.

In the BRIEF team (BRIEF = BYK Regulatory Information

Extensive Form), there is a specialist on food regulatory

issues who is ready to respond to inquiries in person and

can provide detailed information.

Can BYK additives be used in toys?

Not all of them are suitable. We recommend testing / exam-

ining them individually.

What is the shelf life of BYK additives?

This differs from product to product. Our Additive Guide,

which can also be accessed from our website, lists all prod-

ucts in detail. The information in the Additive Guide also

includes the shelf life of each of our additives.

Many questions – many answers. Delivery times, minimum order quantities, product descriptions: Our customers ask us lots of questions every day. We have put together some of the key facts in the following.

An excellent infrastructure, a dedicated workforce, and an outstanding knowledge of the markets – that is our recipe for success for attractive new products.

32 33


Well-equipped for the future

Dedicated workforce and first-class facilities

32 33

34

i2 Our Vision

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34

Along with qualified and motivated colleagues, it takes

state-of-the-art laboratories, infrastructure, and efficiently

designed processes to be well prepared for the future.

These prerequisites are necessary in order to be able to

quickly address the needs of our customers in the different

markets. They are also indispensable for the proactive

development of new technologies and the identification of

important trends.

That’s why our central research laboratories and technical

applications departments at our headquarters in Wesel,

Germany are supported by a multitude of service laborato-

ries, which act worldwide in close cooperation with the cus-

tomer and provide local application engineering support.

Customer focus: the application laboratories

Our philosophy of working closely with the customer is

clear from the way our company is organized. The different

application areas that use BYK additives are supported by

end-use departments, which in turn have the relevant

application engineering equipment. In those end-use labo-

ratories, we simulate the typical production processes and

applications of our customers.

We can use our ESTA unit, for example, to simulate coating

processes in the automotive industry. The advantage of this

approach is that the special aspects of a particular end

application can be realistically taken into account during

the development of the additives.

Other highlights of our application engineering technology

include an SMC unit for analyzing compounds and fiber

injection units for plastics, which we can use to reproduce

specific customer problems.

The paper coatings laboratory has recently been equipped

with a laboratory defoaming unit, laboratory-scale coating

systems, calendering facilities on sheets and rolls, and a lab

curtain coater.

More room for research

The fourth quarter of 2011 will mark a major milestone:

The new laboratory and research building will finally go

into operation at BYK headquarters in Wesel, Germany.

This will expand the capacities that already exist. Of the

nearly 5,600 square meters of new floor space, about half

of the three-story building will be used primarily by our

Research & Development organization. Biotechnology and

Analytics will also be based there in the future. The remain-

ing space will be used by the Plastics and Industrial Appli-

cations business units.

For the development of new plastics additives, BYK will

expand its pilot laboratory in the new building. The pilot

laboratory includes an injection molding unit, a press for

With the help of our excellent facilities we are able to simulate specific customer problems in our end-use labs.

36

i2 Our Vision

37


SMC materials, and a modular PVC plant with extruders

and calenders.

In the planning of the new building and its functional inte-

gration with the existing laboratories, we made sure that

the architecture provides easy access between areas within

the building and to the other buildings. Specifically designed

open areas that we call Creative Zones will encourage em-

ployees to exchange opinions and ideas. Many years of

experience have taught us that nothing is more important

for innovation than openness and effective communica-

tion.

International service laboratories

BYK is more than a supplier of products. We see ourselves

as a manufacturer that delivers solutions to address the

specific needs of customers. That’s why we not only ensure

the continuous expansion of our product portfolio, but also

help our customers resolve their individual problems. Our

service laboratories in Brazil, Germany, China, India, Japan,

Korea, the Netherlands, and the USA play a lead role by

providing timely on-site technical service in the local lan -

guage.

These regional laboratories keep us close to our customers

in every sense of the word. Our highly qualified employees

are familiar with the applicable statutory requirements

along with the current conditions and future trends in the

regional markets. Regular training courses on new technical

developments keep BYK employees all over the world

up to date. Moreover, international exchange within the

corporate group serves to maintain a knowledge network

on the leading edge.

Structured creativity

New product development is unthinkable without new ideas

and a great deal of creativity. At BYK, all of our col leagues

are encouraged to submit their ideas and suggestions for the

development of new products. Not all ideas can be imple-

mented immediately, of course.

So, along with factors such as technical feasibility of the

idea, suggestions also have to be evaluated for their

market potential and profitability.

That’s why it is important for us to evaluate new ideas

within the framework of a transparent, structured process,

so we can then specifically promote the development of

the most promising ideas. We established our Product

Development Process for this purpose.

Representatives of all departments concerned participate

in the evaluation of the individual ideas. This includes

Management, End-use, Research & Development, Product

Group and Innovation Management, and Marketing & Sales.

All projects which are pursued further undergo a de fined

process which culminates in the successful market launch.

We are close to our customers everywhere with our service labs.

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i2 Our Vision

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End customers are becoming more and more demanding

and the requirements that specialty chemicals must satisfy

are also changing accordingly. With growing environmental

consciousness in the early 1990s, water-soluble systems

emerged as an important trend in additive chemistry. To-

day, those waterborne products have to feature additional

properties as well. Now coatings may contain hardly any

volatile organic compounds (VOCs), yet they must maintain

the same good dispersing qualities as their predecessors.

With DISPERBYK®-2012 we have developed a product that

meets all of these requirements. It represents a consistent

further development of our additive family for aqueous

systems that began with DISPERBYK®-184 for resin-con-

taining grinds. That was followed by the development of

DISPERBYK®-190, which has become the standard for resin-

free grinds.

The new polymer is based on an innovative comb structure

produced by means of CPT (Controlled Polymerization

Technology). Its unique feature is its suitability for both

commonly used types of dispersions – pigment dispersions

with resin and also slurry grind, dispersion without resin.

“BYK Advance” innovation award

There were also other reasons why we recognized

DISPERBYK®-2012 with our “BYK Advance” innovation

award this year. Along with the technical innovations, our

employees did outstanding work from an organizational

standpoint. The business potential of the additive is highly

promising. Its development was ultimately made possible

through exemplary cooperation among multiple teams:

Research, Product Group Management and End-use.

Our new dispersing additive actually resulted from two

different projects. The first was dedicated to the develop-

ment of a new wetting and dispersing additive for resin-

free grinds in the presence of surfactants, amines and

possible solvents, and for resin-containing grinds in

different aqueous binders. The second was aimed at the

systematic screening of existing and new wetting and

dispersing additives for water-soluble applications.

Tests at customer facilities produced good results

The two projects were launched under the direction of

Mark Heekeren and Dr. Stefan Mössmer, respectively, in

2007 and 2008. Just one year later, initial development

results were already available. They were then tested in

our customers‘ system and found to be effective. Following

further optimization and customer tests, we had a product

with proven positive application properties by 2009. Then

in 2010 we were able to launch the product under the

name DISPERBYK®-2012.

The new product is the additive of choice for water-soluble

resin binders and emulsions with organic or inorganic pig-

ments. It is particularly well suited for automotive and in-

dustrial coatings, and is also used in architectural coatings

and printing inks. It is extremely effective for raising the

transparency and color brilliance of coatings. This is espe-

cially true for metallic coatings. With black coatings, high

jetness values – i. e., deep black colors with a bluish under-

tone – can be achieved.

Superior performance in head-to-head comparison

Direct comparisons of grinds formulated with water-soluble

resins with conventional additives confirm the superiority

of DISPERBYK®-2012. DISPERBYK®-2012 unifies variations

of different pigment-affinic groups and interacts particu-

larly well with organic pigments. The hydrophobic core

structure is supplemented by hydrophilic side chains which

contain polar-modified resin-compatible groups and permit

an outstanding level of steric stabilization.

In resin-free grinds, DISPERBYK®-2012 permits the presence

of amines, rheology additives, co-solvents and surfactants

without negative effects on the end result.

Brilliant and universally applicable DISPERBYK®-2012 is suitable for all standard dispersion systems.

Innovation award

“BYK Advance”

i2 Our Vision

41

Anyone who goes to the kitchen and tries to mix vinegar

and oil for a salad dressing will find that even after

thorough stirring the two liquids do not “get along well

together” and soon part company again. This phenomenon

is known as phase separation. Nonetheless, we are all

familiar with stable mixtures of incompatible liquids in

everyday life: Mayonnaise, for example, consists of finely

distributed droplets of oil in water, a so-called emulsion.

How is this possible?

When you stir two incompatible liquids together, the energy

applied by the stirring action first forms small, finely distrib-

uted droplets of the one liquid in the other. But the fine

droplets quickly flow together, merging into ever larger

ones, which then separate out from the other liquid again.

For our example, this means they become vinegar and oil

again.

In order to stabilize a mixture of two incompatible liquids

together for a longer period of time, we use emulsifiers

which accumulate at the interfaces between the two

liquids and stabilize the droplets by preventing the much

smaller droplets from merging into larger ones. Egg yoke,

which contains components that serve as emulsifiers, is

used in this way to produce mayonnaise.

A technical challenge

The phase separation problems described here occur not

only in the kitchen, but also in a very similar form in indus-

trial applications. One important technical question is how

to stabilize so-called polyol blends against separation.

Large molecules with multiple alcohol groups, polyols are

hardened into polyurethanes with a second component

(isocyanate). In order to give these polyurethane materials

the desired property profile (e.g. as material for sealants,

elastic materials, glues or foams), the polyols must be mixed

with other components such as chain extenders or crosslink-

ers. In many cases, these chain extenders are incompatible

with the polyols and separate just like vinegar and oil. As a

result, the use and handling of these raw materials are sub-

ject to limitations and accordingly require additional effort

and expense. The incompatible components always have to

be mixed together right before use in the production facil-

ity of the processing operation or at the construction site.

This is not only complicated, but it also creates a situation

for a possible source of error. It would make better sense if

the components could be blended into a product which

would remain stable during storage. Unfortunately, no

suitable emulsifiers were available.

The solution: BYK®-P 9908 and BYK®-P 9909

Thanks to the new process additives BYK®-P 9908 and

BYK®-P 9909, this problem has now been solved. These two

products are based on an innovative concept that uses the

possibilities of our Controlled Polymerization Technology

(CPT) to create a new class of emulsifiers. These new

emulsifiers combine two amphiphilic polymeric active

ingredients – i.e., large molecules with polar and non-polar

segments. The two components form a perfect match. One

of the components has a positive electrical charge and the

other has a negative electrical charge. So we refer to this

type of emulsifier as a “Twin Amphiphilic Polymeric Emulsi-

fier” – or “T.A.P.E.” for short.

Innovative polymer emulsifiers on the basis of T.A.P.E. technology

BYK®-P 9908 and BYK®-P 9909

Authors: Dr. René Nagelsdiek, Dr. Ralf Hoffmann, Christian Biecker

The one active ingredient exhibits better compatibility with

the polyol, while the other tends to be more soluble in the

chain extender. With the incorporation of the additive into

the polyol/chain extender mixture, the components of our

emulsifier tend to “migrate” towards the corresponding

liquid. Within this phase, they are mobile so they also reach

the interface of the two liquids. This is where the interac-

tion between the two components of our additives comes

into play: Their opposite electrical charge “incites” the at-

traction of the components to one another. This electro-

static force of attraction causes the two components to join

closely to each other at the interface between polyol and

chain extender. In this fixed condition, the complementary

arrangement of the charged polymers in turn stabilizes the

interface between polyol and chain extender and effec-

tively prevents their separation.

No innovation without customer benefits

BYK®-P 9908 and BYK®-P 9909 offer important benefits for

the industry. Until recently, mixtures of polyols and chain

extenders had to be produced just prior to use; so together

with the isocyanate components, three components had to

be mixed. BYK’s new answer to this problem means only

two components have to be mixed prior to use instead of

three: the stabilized polyol/chain extender mixture and the

isocyanate component. This eliminates the need to prepare

the polyol/chain extender mixture, thereby also eliminating

a possible source of error and saving valuable time. The

customer benefits immediately from easier handling and

from the time savings. Additionally, it also reduces the risk

of complaints.

Such polyol mixtures have a wide range of applications.

Matched systems of this type are used on construction sites

and oil platforms, for example, and also in automotive

headliners. Up until now, the customer first had to prepare

the mixture of polyol and chain extender at the construction

site, and then the hardener – the isocyanate component – had

to be added afterwards. With BYK®-P 9908 and BYK-P® 9909

that first step is no longer necessary so the customer can

process the systems much faster.

The T.A.P.E. emulsifiers act on the interface between polyol and chain extender. The liquid droplets of the chain extender are stabilized in the polyol. As a result, the polyol blend remains stable and can be stored; fewer steps are required during use and costs can be saved.

Polyol

Chainextender

High interfacial activity leads to improved emulsion

stability

Amphiphilic block copolymer prepared by CPT methods

Amphiphilic polymers

Hydrophilic phase(chain extender)

Hydrophobic phase(polyol)

Interfacial area

Arrangement of amphiphilic polymers at the interface

40


42

Successful concept now for aqueous systems

ANTI-TERRA®-250 stabilizes fillers and pigments.

The trend towards environmentally friendly aqueous coating

systems already extends to coating systems that use tradi-

tional solvent-borne technologies such as epoxy coatings.

In order to formulate such coating systems, inorganic

pigments and fillers are used. Due to their specific weights,

they are susceptible to phase separation and precipitation.

Although the deflocculating dispersion additives normally

used in aqueous systems provide perfect pigment stabiliza-

tion, they tend to increase the predisposition to settling.

In order to achieve pigment settling in solvent-borne

systems with pigment stabilization at the same time,

controlled flocculating wetting and dispersing additives

such as ANTI-TERRA®-203 and ANTI-TERRA®-204 were

developed a few years ago. Along with excellent pigment

stabilization, these additives also provide another benefit:

They prevent heavy pigments from settling.

The additives form a three-dimensional network via hydro-

gen bonds, thereby preventing inorganic pigments and

fillers from settling.

In order to meet this challenge for aqueous systems too, BYK

has now taken the successful concept of ANTI-TERRA®-203

and ANTI-TERRA®-204 and developed a successor for aque-

ous systems: ANTI-TERRA®-250.

ANTI-TERRA®-250 is ideally suited for the stabilization of

fillers and inorganic pigments, thereby ensuring excellent

color acceptance and low ΔE values in the coating system. It

prevents these pigments from flooding / floating and the

established thixotropy prevents sagging and settling in

aqueous systems. The additive also has a high solids

content and is solvent-free.

The wetting and dispersing additive is used in a variety of

products, including water-dilutable primers, architectural

coatings and floor coatings. ANTI-TERRA®-250 enhances

leveling properties, especially in aqueous self-leveling floor

coatings based on epoxy resin.

Dispersing agents for organic pigments and carbon blacks

The newest member of the DISPERBYK®-190 family is an ideal addition: DISPERBYK®-198.

Differences in chemical properties or in the surface treat-

ment of pigments are the reason ink manufacturers need

wetting and dispersing additives specifically tailored to

individual requirements.

In 1990, BYK introduced a wetting and dispersing additive

for aqueous pigment concentrates that was effective with

many of the organic and inorganic pigments commonly

used in the ink industry. Thus the introduction of DISPER-

BYK®-190, established a benchmark for the industry.

Although DISPERBYK®-190 is universally applicable, it ex-

hibited minor deficiencies in the wetting and dispersing of

a few pigments. In order to cover the most frequently used

organic pigments and carbon blacks, BYK has now developed

the ideal complement to DISPERBYK®-190: DISPERBYK®-198.

This new high-performance wetting and dispersing additive

from BYK provides a number of key benefits. For example,

DISPERBYK®-198 is effective with organic pigments and

carbon blacks for which DISPERBYK®-190 performs at below

optimum levels. Together, the two additives cover the full

spectrum of most commonly used organic pigments and

carbon blacks.

The new product is easy to use and requires only a few

simple tests in order to obtain desired results. The use of

DISPERBYK®-198 makes it possible to achieve outstanding

color intensity, high gloss, and high transparency with low

pigment loading.

The viscosity of the pigment concentrates is low so high

shear forces are not required and the pigment concentrates

can be easily processed. This equates to time and energy

savings. The excellent storage stability of the pigment con-

centrates and inks in which DISPERBYK®-198 is used elimi-

nates the need for additional stirring. This in turn means

fewer customer complaints.

Also in aqueous coatings

Like inks, coating technology has also achieved significant

advancements over the past 20 years. As with wetting and

dispersing additives, the demands on the quality of raw

materials have increased. The chemical properties and sur-

face treatment of pigments along with advanced binder

technology enable a broad range of high-quality systems

which require the use of corresponding additives. The new

DISPERBYK®-198 is able to stabilize pigments where

standard solutions fail. It provides outstanding results with

carbon blacks and organic pigments such as yellow and

(red-)violet hues.

Authors:Dörte Claußen-Dietsch, Stefan Gollnick

Authors: Dörte Claußen-Dietsch, Stefan Gollnick

43


ANTI-TERRA®-250 is suited for primers, architectural coatings and floor coatings.

44

BYKJET® additives for brilliant advertising

Our new products for inkjet printing are compatible with standard systems.

Inkjet is currently considered one of the most innovative

printing methods. Industry experts believe it has tremen-

dous future potential because it makes it possible to print

an extremely wide range of advertising materials. Based on

expertise gained over the course of our many years of

experience with wetting and dispersing additives, we have

created and refined a series of additives which offer

optimum solutions for meeting the special requirements of

the growing inkjet market.

Inkjet prints can be found in an extremely wide range of

applications – and with ever increasing frequency. These

include large-format print jobs such as display materials,

advertising posters, or customized mailings. Inkjet technol-

ogy is also a popular choice for oversized formats such as

billboards or printing on truck tarpaulins. Inkjet processes

are even suitable for printing on rigid materials such as

large-format signs or furniture surfaces.

Enhanced color strength

Wetting and dispersing additives for inkjet inks have to

satisfy a broad range of requirements. They are primarily

used to improve the optical characteristics of the inks rela-

tive to color strength, transparency, and gloss. They also

have to significantly reduce the viscosity of both the

pigment concentrates and the finished inks. At the same

time, they achieve long-term storage stability without

viscosity shift.

Other requirements specifically for wetting and dispersing

additives in inkjet applications: They have to prevent the

so-called “bronzing” phenomenon and suppress “cogation”

during the thermal printing process. They should also

enhance the brightness, sharpness and scratch resistance of

the printed products.

Compatible with all standard systems

Ultimately, the additives should also enhance the processa-

bility of the inks. They should not cause any significant

change in the surface tension. Taking those factors into

consideration, they should be compatible with the greatest

possible number of inkjet systems on the market.

In inkjet printing, extremely small droplets of ink are

applied to the substrate. As a general rule, these systems

work in the CMYK color space; cyan, magenta, yellow and

key correspond to the colors blue, red, yellow and black,

respectively. Additives used here have to create a fine dis-

tribution of these tiny particles. In this way they optimize

so-called “jetability”. At the same time, this also means

that the inks can be used to produce stable results in indus-

trial inkjet systems without any problem.

Wetting and dispersing additives from BYK were already

suitable for inkjet applications in the past, but they did not

sufficiently address all of the demands mentioned above.

That’s why we developed a new product line specifically for

inkjet applications. Our new BYKJET® additives are tailored

for typical inkjet pigments, for different inkjet systems, and

for the specific requirements of inkjet printing relative

to optical properties, processability, application and other

parameters.

Additives for different applications

As a result of our development work we are now able to

offer appropriate additives in all three product groups,

both for solvent- and waterborne applications and for UV

curable applications.

Our products BYKJET®-9130, BYKJET®-9131, BYKJET®-9132

and BYKJET®-9133 are the perfect answer to the special

requirements of solvent-borne inkjet inks. The outstanding

deflocculation and stabilization of the CMYK pigments

ensures excellent color strength and gloss with low haze

and high transparency.

For UV curable inkjet inks, our product BYKJET®-9150 exhibits

superior properties. And finally, BYKJET®-9170 meets all of

the requirements of waterborne applications.

With the development of these products we have managed

to provide perfectly tailored wetting and dispersing agents

for the increasingly important market of inkjet applica-

tions. They satisfy all of the required demands: outstanding

stabilization of the CMYK pigments and therefore excel-

lent optical properties, effective reduction of the viscosity,

extended shelf life, compatibility with a wide range of

commonly used inkjet systems, and excellent filterability

due to the extremely fine distribution of tiny particles.

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46

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Which products does BYK offer for

the adhesives and sealants area?

The most important products for the

adhesives and sealants area are un-

doubtedly rheology additives, products

for wetting and dispersing, defoam-

ers, and waxes.

BYK has extensive experience with

these product groups; they have alread y

been established for many years in an

extremely wide range of markets. Now

we are taking the expertise that we

have gained from that experience and

are systematically transferring it to the

adhesives and sealants area.

Does this mean that BYK is also

offering existing products for this area?

Yes, we are of course also offering

products from our existing product

assortment. Even if these products

have not been developed primarily for

the adhesives area, it has nonetheless

enabled us to draw from a large port-

folio of suitable additives.

Our challenge is to establish these ad-

ditives in a new market. The effects

that can be generated by means of a

special additive may be nothing new

for us or for experienced players in the

coatings and plastics market, but I

have often found that precisely these

effects are still unknown in the adhe-

sives area.

Problems in the adhesives area are

often very similar to problems encoun-

tered in the coatings or plastics indus-

try: “How do I defoam an aqueous

dispersion without any negative im-

pact on substrate wetting?” or “Which

additives help prevent sedimentation

of filler materials?” are frequently

asked questions. Here BYK can turn to

a large number of existing products.

The exciting and innovative part is

then to test what happens with the

Special commitment For two years, BYK has been offering a specific product line for the adhesives and sealants market. Since that time, the company has been building up its resources specifically for this market, which is still relatively new. Jan Lenz, who has been responsible for this area for nearly two years, outlines what this special commitment of BYK means for this market.

i2_Wer

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i2 Our Vision

49


What major benefits do BYK additives offer for the

industries and applications you have mentioned?

As I already indicated, additives – their use and the effects

that can be achieved with them – remain a largely unknown

territory for the sealants and adhesives industry. In this

respect, one major benefit for the manufacturers certainly

lies in the new opportunities and design latitudes which

these products create.

Another major benefit that I see lies in the philosophy of

working closely with the customer, which is common prac-

tice of BYK. As in the case of other areas, BYK sees itself as

a solutions provider. Thanks to resources made available in

the form of the company’s own fully staffed laboratory dedi-

cated to the adhesives and sealants industry, we are not

only in a position to provide comprehensive support to

help customers solve their problems, but we can even redu-

ce their workload. Customers only need to describe their

problems to us and supply us with their raw materials, and

then we prepare perfectly tailored, functional additive so-

lutions for them.

Which products do you consider to be the special high-

lights of your product portfolio?

The first one that comes to mind is BYK®-014. This is a poly-

mer defoamer that contains no mineral oil or silicone. It

offers broad and especially effective action in aqueous ad-

hesive systems. Moreover, the additive features very good

compatibility without causing substrate defects.

Another product that I would like to mention is BYK®-W 969.

It is a wetting and dispersing additive for an extremely wide

range of types of mineral fillers in polyurethane systems. It

reduces the viscosity of filled systems considerably and

enables either lower viscosity, which facilitates processing

and application, or permits higher filler loading without

having to deal with any additional viscosity increase. This is

a significant cost advantage for our customers.

Our HORDAMER® product line of primary polyethylene dis-

persions provides especially good anti-blocking properties

of hot melt granules. At the same time, they can also be

used to improve the adhesion of aqueous adhesives for

certain plastic films.

Can you give us a brief outline of the dominant trends

expected over the next two years in the adhesives and

sealants area?

In the next two years, the focus here will clearly lie with the

development of further low-emission and FDA-compliant

additives. On the one hand, we will continue to pursue the

further development of existing additives for the sealants

and adhesives market. On the other hand, we will also be

applying our expertise and all of our energy towards the

development of new additives for new systems – additives

for silicone systems, for example, or adhesion promoters.

We are also considering nanotechnology for our applica-

tions.

So as you can see, I’m very confident that we will be

offering our customers a whole series of very interesting

solutions – possibly even in the very near future.

Our additives for the Adhesives & Sealants sector open up new scope for development for the ad-hesives industry.

adhesive when I use an additive that was developed for a

completely different application area.

In some cases this opens up broad design freedoms with

completely new opportunities for the use and formulation

of products in the adhesives industry.

What kind of new opportunities do you mean?

I’m thinking of the wetting and dispersing of fillers, for ex-

ample. The use of wetting and dispersing additives can of-

ten reduce the high viscosity of filled systems. This gives

adhesives manufacturers two opportunities: Either they low-

er the viscosity, thereby improving processability, or they

can incorporate more filler material at the same viscosity,

which enables them to achieve a significant cost advan-

tage.

Which industries make the most use of BYK additives?

One large segment is industrial adhesives as well as design

and construction applications. But our products are also

widely used in the packaging industry – where paper

bonding is involved, for example, or the lamination of

paper with plastic film.

As you can imagine, regulatory aspects relative to food

contact play a significant role in the packaging area. FDA

conformity is extremely important! BYK is very well posi-

tioned here and takes this topic very seriously. Even maxi-

mum permissible dosing quantities comply with the re-

quire ments for FDA conformity. Moreover, all information

relative to FDA topics and our products is freely accessible

on the internet. In this area, nevertheless, it always depends

on the specific system.

The exciting and innovative part is then to test what happens with the adhesive when I use an additive that was developed for a completely different application area.

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i2 Our Vision

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The portable “cloud-runner” is a great help in production control.

Special effect finishes have become tremendously popular.

Nowadays most automotive applications involve metallic

and special effects. The particles that create these effects –

usually more or less platelet-shaped flakes – exhibit ex-

tremely sensitive behavior. That’s why the interaction of

numerous factors must be carefully harmonized; from the

coating development to the processing in the coating line.

And yet, critical influences can also occur which lead to det-

rimental coating defects or an uneven appearance.

One particularly conspicuous problem with light colored

metallic hues is often referred to as “cloudiness” or “mot-

tling” and takes the form of irregular spots of varying

lightness approximately 5 to 20 cm in size. They can result

from both the coating formulation and from variations in

the application process. Typical causes include a disorienta-

tion of the metallic flakes or variations in the thickness of

the base coat.

Such clouds are especially noticeable on large body panels.

For this reason, the surface should be tested over a large

sample area. Up until now, cloudiness has generally been

evaluated visually; however, the results are inevitably influ-

enced to varying degrees by the evaluator and the lighting

conditions.

Alternatively, so-called “spectrophotometers” are also used

in order to measure the sample area in a surface raster. But

this requires hundreds of measurements and involves an

enormous amount of time and effort, and for this reason it

is only carried out in the laboratory.

The quality control and optimization of production requires

objective measurement data that can be recorded rapidly

and used to define tolerances. For this purpose, BYK-Gardner

developed a portable handheld device to test large areas

quickly. The “cloud-runner“ measures the surface over a

defined path under different detection angles simulta-

neously because the visibility of clouds also depends on the

viewing direction.

The measurement signal is filtered according to cloud size

and a “mottling index” is calculated. The higher the meas-

ured value, the more obvious is the mottling effect. As a

result, differences can be easily distinguished and target

values can be specified for batch approval and process

control.

Thanks to its innovative scroll wheel, the “cloud-runner“ is very easy to operate. Its large screen provides enough space to display all statistical data. The measurement series stored in the system can be transferred to a PC via the docking station where they can be analyzed and graphi-cally documented with the new “smart chart” software.

With both feet firmly planted in the clouds …

Objective instrument “cloud-runner” replaces

visual inspection. Author: Friedhelm Fensterseifer

52

i2 Our Vision

53


The ideal method consists of establishing a chemical bond between the components – and the way to do that is with our BYK®-C 8000 coupling agent.

Polymer concrete has to withstand many types of stress. That’s why it needs to have outstanding mechanical properties. It should provide impact strength, tensile strength, flexural strength, and compressive strength. But what is the best way to guarantee these properties?

Coupling agent success story

BYK®-C 8000 creates chemical bond in polymer concrete.

Unlike regular concrete with cement as a binder, polymer

concrete is produced from quartz sand in different grain

sizes and a polymer. Its advantages are based on its good

chemical resistance and ease of handling. It adheres well to

all substrates and cures fast. Moreover, these properties can

be adjusted individually.

The polymer concrete typically contains polyesters or epoxy

resins. The ratio of resins and fillers depends on various fac-

tors. The viscosity of the resin plays just as much of a role as

the mixture of the quartz sand grain sizes and the size of

the coarsest particles. Last but not least, the quality of the

additives also plays a role. They determine whether and

how the resins and fillers bond.

In 2007, when BYK launched the coupling agent BYK®-C 8000

on the market, it represented an innovation. Up until that

time, there were no polymer additives that were able to

create a true bond between the resin and the quartz sand.

All of the coupling agents previously available on the market

consisted of silane monomers.

A polymer additive in its own right, our BYK®-C 8000 cou-

pling agent is the first product that creates a strong chemical

bond between the quartz sand and the resin in the polymer

concrete. It strengthens the interfaces between the two

materials. This directly affects the mechanical properties of

the concrete, improving them by 50% – and our extensive test

series have provided the documentary proof. BYK®-C 8000

can be used to produce a polymer concrete with a compres-

sive strength of up to 130 N/mm2, for example. The flexural

strength can reach as high as 55 N/mm2. One important pre-

requisite: The filler must not contain too much moisture.

BYK®-C 8000 opens up interesting new opportunities for

manufacturers. It improves the absolute quality of the

polymer concrete, thereby meeting the quality standards

to an outstanding degree. Our coupling agent supports

54

i2 Our Vision

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WHy ARE WE INNOVATIVE?

The future begins now. We identify key technologies early on and use them with the specific aim of opening up new markets.

manufacturers of pipes, drainage systems, and sewer

manholes and is also used by companies that produce feed

hoppers or machinery foundations. The prerequisite is

that they have to produce the concrete from unsaturated

polyester with a quartz sand filler.

The benefits in detail

BYK®-C 8000 also provides our customers with many other

benefits. Thanks to the chemical bond which the coupling

agent creates between resins and fillers, the wall thicknesses

of the pipes or tanks can be thinner – with the same me-

chan ical properties.

Since less material is required, production costs are lower.

Lastly, BYK®-C 8000 is also very easy to use during processing.

It is added as a liquid shortly before adding the hardener.

Kitchen sinks are more scratch-resistant

The success story of our coupling agent continues because

now other sectors are also discovering the benefits of our

additive.

The reason: Thanks to our additive, companies can dispense

with pre-treated quartz sand and use untreated sand

instead. This reduces production costs while increasing

convenience for the end users at the same time because the

sinks made with BYK®-C 8000 are more scratch-resistant

and more waterproof. Since our additive also enhances the

flexural strength of the material, the sinks are less likely to

be damaged during transport.

BYK®-C 8000 improves the absolute quality of polymer concrete, thereby achieving excellent compliance with quality standards.

The new coupling agent BYK®-C 8002

enhances mechanical properties such

as flexural strength. The active

groups of this additive bond with the

surface of the aluminum trihydroxide

(ATH) and use a double bond to form

a bridge to the resin. Depending on

the system, it increases flexural

strength by up to 30%. The structure

of the additive also prevents fillers

from settling or separating out in the

liquid mixture. Despite the strong po-

lar groups, there are no negative ef-

fects such as water absorption or the

yellowing of pigmented components.

The customer benefits are clear:

• Increases mechanical strength by up

to 30%

• Prevents fillers from settling

• Makes processing easy: Just add the

additive before curing!

ByK®-c 8002 enhances mechanical properties in ATH-filled acrylate systems

Tools for new surfaces

Industrial biotechnology is opening up new possibilities for innovations.


56 57

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i2 Our Vision

59


Biotechnology and additive

chemistry – how do they go

together?

Biotechnology is an interdisciplinary

science which involves the use of

enzymes, cells, and complete organ-

isms in technical applications. It can

be used, for example, to develop

products from renewable raw mate-

rials. It is also conceivable that addi-

tives could be produced in this way.

What other application fields might

also be possible?

Generally speaking, I see two other

broad application areas: In the first,

biosynthetic products can replace

conventional raw materials, and in

the second, biotechnological proces-

ses can replace traditional synthesis

processes. On a case-by-case basis,

we have to examine very carefully

the advantages associated with the

use of a new raw material or process

and determine exactly how much

they are actually worth. This is an

important component of our inno-

vation management process.

Many often claim that products

manufactured on a biotechnological

basis are not as effective as products

made using traditional processes or

raw materials. Is this true?

There is absolutely no analytical

evidence to support such claims. The

performance of biotechnological

products is comparable to conven-

tional products in every respect. In

other words, they are extremely

effective while also satisfying the

ecological requirements for which

market demand is continuously

increasing.

Where do you get the ideas for

your proposals?

I get many ideas from the specialized

trade literature, which represents a

very rich source. Constructive discus-

sions with colleagues are also par-

ticularly valuable. I have already been

able to collect a lot of interest ing

suggestions. The different perspecti-

ves of the various specialty areas

gathered under the umbrella of BYK

and within the ALTANA Group are

very fertile soil for such a creative

and constructive exchange. This strikes

me as an excellent basis for blazing

new trails in product development

together.

Dr. Birthe Borup is responsible for the new biotechnology platform at BYK. In this short interview, she describes the possibilities that the new technology holds in store.

Biotechnological techniques will enable us to conserve resources while carrying out processes.

Products based on biotechnology have many advantages. Their performance is comparable on all counts with that of traditional solutions.

BYK is playing a central role within ALTANA AG in establishing the new biotechnology platform.

Making intelligent use of nature’s

marvels has always been the goal of

man. Industrial biotechnology offers

an ideal toolbox for doing so because

it enables the use of new raw materi-

als and new processes.

Biotechnology offers us universal ap-

plication possibilities. Specifically, we

are using it to pursue two objectives.

Initially we will use it to satisfy existing

customer needs more efficiently. This

might be possible where products

based on biotechnology help reduce

costs, and that applies to all industries

and markets in which we operate.

Next, we see an opportunity for us to

develop new markets with products

that have been developed with the

aid of biotechnology.

Within ALTANA AG, BYK is playing a

key role in establishing the new tech-

nology platform. In the corporation,

each cross-sector technology platform

is anchored in the business unit which

profits from that technology directly

and to the greatest extent. We make

our knowledge and expertise available

to the other divisions of the corporation.

We see several opportunities in the

specific application of industrial bio-

technology. Biotechnological tech-

niques will enable us to conserve re-

sources while carrying out processes.

We can create new sources of raw ma-

terials which will make it possible to

replace conventional raw materials by

biosynthetic products. And, we want

to use biotechnological processes to

create new surface functions. This will

most likely be our biggest challenge.

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i2 Our Vision

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Is nanotechnology a cross-industry technology?

It most certainly is. It is being applied in many different in-

dustries because it permits them to define and formulate

product properties in a precise and specifically targeted

way. The underlying reason for this is the basic principle of

nanotechnology: When we reduce the size of a particle of

material to nano scale – that means less than 100 nanome-

ters – then the properties of that material often change.

We now know that nanomaterials can also be produced

from nearly all materials and that is opening up new, previ-

ously unimagined opportunities.

How is BYK taking advantage of these opportunities?

BYK has been involved in nanotechnology for about ten

years and has already commercialized several successful

additives – the NANOBYK® series for several coatings and

plastics. We are working with particles made from alumi-

num oxide, silicon dioxide, zinc oxide and cerium dioxide.

Our additives increase the scratch resistance of coatings

and improve their UV protection. Both of these functions

are important these days because they extend product life.

Raw materials can be used to generate greater profit as

a result. So from an overall perspective, our NANOBYK®

additives make a significant contribution to the sustaina-

bility of products and that applies to all industries where

these additives are used.

Are scratch resistance and UV protection the only

properties that BYK is working on?

The third topic that we are involved with is conductivity.

There is a whole range of applications for materials which

are thermally and electrically conductive. I’m thinking of

conductive coatings and components made of plastic, for

example, and anti-static packaging for PC accessories,

Tiny tubes, intelligently connected

Nanotechnology is considered to be a key technology. With our innovative CNT dispersions, we offer functional additives for conductive coatings and inks. In an interview, Dr. Michael Berkei, Manager Nanotechnology, explains the advantages of our nano additives.

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What are the characteristics of these dispersions?

In designing our dispersions, we pursued two main objec-

tives: Our first goal was to offer our customers extremely

highly concentrated CNT dispersions. And our second goal

was to provide them with versatile products that can be

used in different applications. We have achieved both of

these objectives. Our aqueous CNT additives have concen-

trations of up to 10%. That‘s an absolutely outstanding

value. It guarantees that our additive can be blended with

an extremely wide range of final formulations – even in

paints that require a CNT content of 5%, for example.

Are these new dispersions already available?

We are currently providing samples in individual projects

with customers. In the fourth quarter of 2011, our new CNT

dispersions are expected to be commercially available

worldwide.

So far the nano additives from BYK are primarily intended

for use in paints. Are there also other application fields?

Paints are not the only application. Our expertise is also

applicable for plastics. Our NANOBYK®-3845 additive, for

example, improves UV protection of packaging materials

made of polyolefins. It offers long-lasting UV protection,

especially for the packaged product. We are currently

looking into other application areas that we consider

promising. In particular, we are concentrating on thermoset

resins and thermoplastics. These materials also need to

have good mechanical properties and excellent scratch

resistance. UV protection plays an important role here as

well: The greater the UV resistance that a plastic provides,

the longer its service life.

The safety of nanotechnology continues to be a topic of

discussion. What is BYK’s position?

Safety and responsible action are top priorities at BYK. We

are careful to eliminate risks in all stages of the manufactur-

ing process. That starts with the selection of materials and

continues well beyond the safety precautions taken during

processing. With all of our NANOBYK® additives already on

the market, the nanoparticles which are imbedded in them

are locked in a matrix. This means that it is nearly impossible

to inhale these particles. Under normal processing conditions

the risk of inhalation is completely excluded.

But is there no risk, for example, that tiny particles will be

released from the surface of a product during continuous

use?

According to what we know today, there is no possibility

whatsoever of this happening. A lifecycle study in cooperation

with the German paint industry recently confirmed this

find ing. In wear tests, it proved conclusively that a paint

with nanoparticles demonstrates the same dust properties

as a paint without nanoparticles. The studies show that the

tiny particles are securely anchored in the paint matrix.

Apart from this, we are careful to select substances which

are non-toxic. This not only applies to the substances them-

selves, but also to the shape of the particles. For example,

we use only spherical, amorphous silicon dioxide nanopar-

ticles. According to what we know today, they present no

risk. In the processing of the powdered starting materials,

we follow the applicable safety regulations and always

work under extraction with the corresponding filtration

systems. In addition, our employees are regularly trained

and we also inform our customers about any handling

instructions relative to nanoparticles.

“ Safety and responsible action are top priorities at BYK.”

anti-static floor coverings, printed electronics, and trans-

parent coatings for glass panes which can be used for

heating and de-icing. In these applications, the selection of

the material is the key.

How so?

We’re talking about global mass markets here, so expensive

conductive noble metals such as silver or gold are often out

of the question. We need inexpensive raw materials – and

ones which, as a matter of principle, will continue to be

available in sufficient quantities decades from now. And, at

the same time, these substances also have to be easy to

process in the relevant applications and exhibit optimal dis-

tribution in the component or coating. The particles have

to be able to touch one another in order to provide the

conductivity. Tiny carbon tubes, so-called carbon nanotubes

(CNTs) have these properties.

There are single-walled and multi-walled CNTs. Which

ones does BYK work with?

First a brief explanation: The carbon nanotubes consist of

ultra-thin carbon layers, similar to the ones found in graph-

ite. The individual carbon layers in graphite are called

graphene layers and have a structure that resembles a

honeycomb. You can think of carbon nanotubes as structures

made of rolled up graphene layers. If you roll only one layer

of graphene up, then single-walled CNTs are formed. If you

roll multiple layers concentrically into a tube, then multi-

walled CNTs are formed. This description is only for illustration

purposes, of course, the actual production of the CNTs

involves extremely complicated processes.

Although single-walled CNTs have better properties, they

are difficult to synthesize and that makes them quite ex-

pensive. As a general rule, they are mainly used in research

or in very demanding electronics applications. BYK uses

multi-walled CNTs. At about 20 nanometers, their outside

diameter is 2,000 times thinner than a human hair. We have

gained some excellent experience with the processing of

these multi-walled CNTs.

What characteristics do they exhibit?

Multi-walled CNTs have the tendency to clump together

into bundles. During the course of the synthesis, this

property is reinforced. This creates tubes which are several

micrometers long. Those tubes then link together with

other tubes and together they form a highly agglomerated

bundle, the nodes of which represent the conduction points

for the energy flow. As an additives manufacturer, our task

is to unpack these agglomerates again and break them

back down into individual tubes. Otherwise, the perform-

ance characteristics of the CNTs cannot be used efficiently.

What path have you selected to achieve this?

Based on our expertise in wetting and dispersing agents,

we are in the process of developing finished dispersions for

our customers. The CNTs are already evenly distributed and

permanently stabilized in these innovative additives and

the CNTs have a reduced tendency to reagglomerate. Our

dispersions can be blended directly into the relevant paint

formulation and the nanotubes will distribute themselves

evenly. That offers many advantages to our customers and

also gives them an edge over their competitors.

So the customer receives a product that they can add to

their process immediately?

Exactly! As a general rule, CNTs are usually supplied in

powder form, so they are highly agglomerated. In theory,

the customer himself would have to unwind them – a com-

plicated and time-consuming process requiring specialized

expertise which is often lacking. Our dispersions eliminate

the need for those operations. Our customers receive a

product that can be used immediately – and one that offers

an excellent price-performance ratio.

“ Our customers receive a product that can be used immediately – and one that offers an excellent price-performance ratio.”

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i2 Our Vision

65

Fig. 1: Repeating units of polyacrylates.

Fig. 4: Silicone-modified polyacrylates – patented technology.

·R1 = - H (acrylate) - CH3 (methacrylate)

·R2 = - Alkyl - Reactive groups - Polyether - Polysiloxane

Fig. 3: Conventional surface additives.

Silicone chain Monomer A

Polyether chain Monomer B

Polyether-modified silicones Polyacrylates

Advantages of highly effective polyether-

modified silicone-based additives:

• Reduced cratering sensitivity

• Improved substrate wetting

Advantages

of polyacrylates:

• Good leveling

• Virtually no impact on surface tension

Polysiloxane macromonomer

Polyacrylate chain

Secure bonding of silicone chain to the

polyacrylate (NOT a blend)

Production via free radical or controlled

radical polymerization

CH3

CH3

CH3

CH3Si

Si

n

O

OO

Alkyl

OO

O

Fig. 2: Macromer technology.


Comb-shaped polyacrylates as surface-modifying additives

The simplest way to produce comb copolymers is to pro-

ceed with the free-radical polymerization of standard

(meth)acrylate monomers in combination with special

(meth)acrylates, the so-called macromonomers, or “macro-

mers” for short.

A (meth)acrylate monomer is a small molecule containing a

polymerizable double bond that binds chemically to other

monomers to build a polymer. A (meth)acrylate macromer

is essentially an assembly of pre-polymerized monomers

that has been modified to enable it to act as a monomer by

the addition of a polymerizable double bond.

The radical copolymerization of standard monomers and

macromers advantageously provides comb copolymers

(Fig. 1 & 2).

Purpose-designed comb copolymers with appropriate

combinations of monomer / macromer sequence distribution

and of pendant functional groups can in turn be used to

control the properties of additives. Using the macromer

technology, the properties of additives can be enhanced

through targeted design, for example, by introducing

hydrophobic or hydrophilic macromers in their polymeric

backbone. In this way, we designed specific comb copolymers

as surface-modifying additives that can dictate the surface

tension of coatings, meaning rendering their surfaces

hydrophobic or hydrophilic.

Due to the fact that silicone-modified polyacrylates have a

very flexible molecular design, coating properties such as

hydrophobicity, oleophobicity, anti-crater performance and

controlled slip can be adjusted very precisely. Using poly ether-

modified polyacrylates, reverse properties can be targeted

such as hydrophilicity, anti-slip, anti-fogging, improved re-

coatability and adhesion.

A new class of surface additives made with macromer technology

Silicone and polyether-modified polyacrylates represent a new class of surface additives. They are obtained by the copolymerization of silicone or polyether macromers with suitable monomers.

Authors: Dr. Guillaume Jaunky, Albert Frank, Dr. Jürgen Omeis

Macromer

Macromer comb copolymer

Monomer

Polymerization

R1

C CH2

C = O

O

R2

n

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i2 Our Vision

67


substrate wetting, slip, and oil and water repellency.

Compared to conventional silicone-based additives with

30-60% silicone, silicone-modified polyacrylates have a

significantly lower silicone content, typically in the range

of 2-15%. The significantly greater effect and orientation

is due to the orientation of the silicone chain to the coating

surface. With conventional silicone-based additives, the

silicone chains are oriented towards surfaces in the form of

loops. With silicone-modified polyacrylates, on the other

hand, the silicone chains can be oriented optimally with

their free ends, which gives them significantly greater

surface activity (Fig. 5).

Utilization as an easy-to-clean additive:

BYK®-SILCLEAN® 3700

With high silicone content in combination with a slightly

incompatible polyacrylate backbone, the polymer is strongly

oriented towards the surface, and with relatively high frac-

tions of silicone, it provides strong oil and water repellency

and significantly enhanced slip.

This results in a significant increase in surface slip, which in

turn enhances scratch resistance. The strong surface orien-

tation of the silicone chains creates very strong repulsion

effects against water and contaminants such as oil and dirt.

Moreover, this additive can also be used to equip coating

systems with anti-graffiti properties (Fig. 6) and significantly

enhance chemical resistance.

The reactive groups in the polymer can be used to anchor

the additive in the coating system to guarantee that the

effects are maintained over time. Moreover, the combination

of silicone content and polyacrylate chain results in very

good leveling of the coating surface.

Utilization as an anti-cratering additive in automotive

coating systems: BYK®-3550

The silicone and acrylate-based additives typically used in a

large number of modern automotive coating systems today

are reaching their limits. Silicone additives with a moderate

impact on surface tension provide good leveling, for

example, but are not particularly well suited for achieving

enhanced anti-cratering and substrate wetting characteris-

tics. In order to obtain these properties in the coating,

manufacturers mainly use active silicone additives. How-

ever, these can have a negative impact on recoatability,

intercoat adhesion, and leveling.

This often leads to problems, for example, when protective

foils detach from new vehicles during transport. When this

happens, they no longer perform their protective function

and can even create hazardous conditions if they end up on

the road or get caught in the railway system’s overhead

power lines.

This led to the development of BYK®-3550, a silicone-

modified polyacrylate characterized by low silicone content

Fig. 6: Easy-to-clean properties by using BYK®-SILCLEAN® 3700; two-component polyester coating, left panel: without additive, right panel: with additive.

The felt pen marks on the right panel can be easily wiped off with a dry cloth.

The right panel can be easily cleaned by simply flushing the surface with tap water.

Silicone-modified polyacrylates

Silicone and polyacrylate additives (Fig. 3) are used in

coatings and paints for a variety of reasons. They can be

used to help wet difficult substrates, i.e. non-polar or those

that are contaminated, and to optimize a coating’s leveling

or make coating surfaces smoother and more scratch-

resistant.

The silicones rarely consist of pure, unmodified polydimeth-

ylsiloxane, but rather they are almost always modified

through the addition of coating-compatible groups such as

polyether, polyester or alkyl structures.

Due to their very low surface tension, silicone additives

exhibit a strong affinity to interfaces, i.e. to the substrate,

to the coating surface, and between the different coating

layers in a multi-layer coating system. The saturation at

interfaces can influence both the surface tension of the wet

coating and the dried coating film. For this reason, silicone

additives are primarily used as substrate wetting and anti-

crater additives.

Polyacrylates, on the other hand, have a relatively high

surface tension and typically have little or no influence on

the surface tension of coatings. Their effect has more to do

with partial differences in surface tension at the coating

surface, which results in improved leveling.

Silicone-modified polyacrylates are manufactured via

radical polymerization of conventional acrylic monomers

with so-called silicone macromers that essentially consist of

a precisely defined chain of polydimethylsiloxane (Fig. 4).

The chemistry of silicone-modified polyacrylates is highly

variable and can be adjusted as necessary to meet specific

application requirements. The composition of the polyacryl-

ate chain can be varied by incorporating different mono-

mers. This can be used to control the polarity of the polya-

crylate block and the compatibility of the additive with the

coating system. The polyacrylate chain prevents cratering

when the additive is used in coating systems and enhances

leveling. Functional monomers can be used to incorporate

additional reactive groups such as hydroxyl, epoxy, and

carboxyl groups into the polymer. These reactive groups

can then be used to anchor an additive in the binder

matrix, and thus in the interface. By contrast, an additive

without reactive groups remains mobile and can migrate

to new surfaces during the recoating process. This can

eliminate many problems regarding intercoat adhesion.

The silicone part of the silicone-modified polyacrylates can

be varied both in terms of the length of the silicone chain

and, of course, in the amount of silicone macromer. The

strong incompatibility of the silicone chain reduces the

surface tension of the coating and, depending on the

amount of silicone, provides enhanced anti-cratering,

Fig. 5: Surface orientation of silicone-modified polyacrylates vs. conventional silicone-based additives.

Polysiloxane macromonomer Siloxane chain Polyacrylate chain Polyether chain

Silicone content approx. 1-15%

Silicone chain maintains free mobility

at one end for optimal orientation to

the interface

Silicone content approx. 30 - 60%

Silicone chain is interrupted by polyether

modification and cannot be optimally

oriented

Silicone-modified polyacrylates Polyether-modified silicones

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i2 Our Vision

69


Conclusion

Polymeric additives based on macromer technology repre-

sent a new class of surface-modifying additives. Versatile

chem istry and modular molecular structure make it possible

to adjust their properties for specific applications.

The macromer technology is an important innovative tech-

nology that BYK is using on an industrial scale to develop

customer-orientated, surface-active additives. The current

research is focused on the design of surface additives

specifically designated for solvent-based, waterborne,

powder, and UV-curable formulations.

Fig. 7: BYK®-3550’s low influence on surface energy of the dry film improves adhesion of automotive protective foils and adhesives compared to conventional silicone additives.

and a polyacrylate chain with high coating compatibility.

BYK®-3550 dramatically reduces surface tension similar to

conventional silicone-based additives but without signifi-

cantly affecting slip or surface energy (Fig. 7).

Polyether-modified polyacrylates:

first-generation hydrophilic additives

The incorporation of polyethylene glycol-based macromono-

mers into poly(meth)acrylate backbones led to the first gen-

eration of hydrophilic additives that increased the surface

tension of coatings, meaning rendering them hydrophilic.

This effect is required to obtain fogging-free surfaces, im-

proved overcoatability with waterborne formulations or to

realize the hydrophilic approach to self-cleaning surfaces.

The first additive, BYK®-3933 P, was especially developed

for powder coating formulations. Its performance was

optimized for leveling, transparency, gloss, and improved

overcoatability of the resulting coatings (Fig. 8).

Innovative macromers

The first product developments were based on commer-

cially available macromers. Because only a few macromer

raw materials with limited molecular weight range are

available, BYK launched its own macromer research in or-

der to use in-house developed products and processes to

produce macromers on an industrial scale.

BYK also went one step further by developing innovative

patented technologies based on hyperbranched hydrophilic

macromers. This unique macromer structure (Fig. 9) is

conducive to outstanding properties and crystallization

behavior (Fig. 10), allowing the development of specific

surface-active additives that are able to self-concentrate at

the air-coating interface.

Fig. 8: Improved surface wetting using BYK®-3933 P (right side) v/s a standard polyacrylate (left side) in a powder coating base coat – overcoated with a waterborne blue paint.

Fig. 10: Crystallization behavior of copolymers made with standard monomers and a commercial linear polyether macromonomer (left) or with a hyperbranched polyether macromonomer (right) at different temperatures.

Fig. 9: Schematic representation of copolymers made with a unique

hyperbranched macromonomer (left) and with a linear

macromonomer (right).

Polyether chain Polyacrylate chain

70 71


Headspace gas chromatography

Controlled temperature

of 100˚C

Glass vial

Sample

Injector

Detector

Gas chromatograph

Headspace gas chromatogram

There is no worldwide accepted standard which compre-

hensively and exhaustively documents all requirements of

“green” additives. The criteria and expectations established

by plastics manufacturers and processors differ from those

established by manufacturers of decorative coatings. So it

makes sense that green additives should try to address a

multifaceted range of needs which varies just as broadly as

the industries which use the additives in the formulation of

their products. The proportion of renewable resources, low

or zero VOC content, and compliance with the requirements

of various eco-labels are some of the demands placed on

additives manufacturers. But issues such as the biodegrada-

bility and the CO2 footprint of the additives used also have

to be considered.

Above all VOC-free

More and more coatings and plastics manufacturers are

making efforts to counter the growing problem of VOC

pollution by developing innovative VOC-free solutions. As a

result, VOC content has long since become one of the most

important criteria when it comes to determining the

eco-friendliness of a product or a raw material. This also

affects the development of new, innovative additives.

Today, two methods are applied to determine the VOC con-

tent of products. In Europe, the headspace gas chromatogra-

phy is used. This means that the corresponding

sample is securely enclosed in a glass vial and the composition

of the gas space above the sample (or “headspace”) is analyzed

by given criteria.

“EPA Method 24” is also used to determine VOC content

for the North American market. A gravimetric method for

determining VOC, EPA Method 24 determines the content

of non-volatile components by drying. The volatile share

is calculated by subtracting the content of non-volatile

components from the total initial mass. Finally, the content

of water and of solvents excluded from EPA 24 is also

determined. The values obtained in this way are subtracted

from the quantity of non-volatile components as well.

Author: Verena Skelnik

Greenability.

Achieving „green“

goals together.

72 73


BYK®-1740, a defoamer based on vegetable oil derivatives,

offers first-class defoaming properties which compare favo-

rably to – or even exceed – those of conventional mineral

oil-based defoamers. Suitable for emulsion paints with a

pigment volume concentration of 40-85% and for emulsion

plasters, this additive does not degrade color acceptance

and is also odorless. In addition, the “green” defoamer also

exhibits extraordinary stability against yellowing. And the

excellent storage stability of both the additive itself and of

the paint is also characteristic of this newest addition to

BYK’s “Greenability” product portfolio.

The “green” features of BYK®-1740 also speak for them-

selves: This defoamer is based on 100 % renewable raw

materials, which makes it a long-term alternative to mineral

oil-based products – products which will someday no longer

be available and are therefore becoming increasingly

expensive. Specially developed for the formulation of

state-of-the-art “green” paints, this VOC-free product

complies with worldwide Ecolabel standards.

Customers who have already tested the product confirm

that its technical properties compare favorably with those

of mineral oil defoamers – but with the major advantage

that BYK®-1740 is a 100% sustainable product.

The highlight: 100% green, 100% sustainability, 100% performance!

ByK’s responses to environmental trends in the plastics industry

Reduction of VOCs in polyolefins and PVC applications • Viscosity reducers with low emission values

for wall coatings and floors • BYK®-P 4200 stripping agent for automotive

applications

Phthalate-free PVC plastisols • BYK®-1161 and BYK®-1162

Additives for lightweight composites • BYK process additives

Additives based on renewable raw materials • BYK process additives • BYK viscosity reducers

1 = excellent

5 = poor

BYK®-1740 – excellent defoaming of a VAE interior paint (PVC 58)

Micro foam

Macro foam

0.3%Mineral oil

5

4

3

2

1

00.5%

Mineral oil0.3%

BYK®-17400.5%

BYK®-1740

BYK’s portfolio of VOC-free additives spans the complete

range from wetting and dispersing additives and defoamers

to silicone and wax-based surface-modifying additives, as

well as rheology additives and UV absorbers.

Setting an example

Environmentally conscious consumers are making more

and more of their purchasing decisions with the support

and influence of eco labels from independent institutions

and testing agencies. And, for their part, manufacturers

can also apply for labels such as these for their eco-friendly

products.

When a company applies for an eco label for one of its

products, it has to be certain that all of the raw materials

used meet the standards of the respective eco label.

Additives represent a low share of the overall formulation,

certainly lower than those of the other raw materials used.

Nevertheless, they have to meet the standards as well.

Due to the large number of different eco labels, it is im-

possible to make any definitive statement about the con-

formity of our products, but we have already reviewed our

portfolio with regard to Blue Angel (Germany), Ecolabel

(Europe) and also with regard to the regulations of

Green Seal (USA). “A large share of our products meet the

requirements listed there,” confirms Dr. Gerald Kirchner,

Head of Innovation Management at BYK.

Life cycle assessment and carbon footprint

Life cycle assessment is a systematic analysis to determine

the environmental effects of products or processes throug-

hout the entire product life cycle. Systematically compiling

an eco-balance sheet in this way serves to identify optimi-

zation potentials. Apart from the consistent “cradle-to-

grave” perspective, which examines the entire life of a pro-

duct from the extraction of the raw materials all the way to

final disposal, it is also possible to focus on only one part of

the product life cycle. In this latter case, the analysis com-

piles a partial balance sheet from the extraction of the raw

materials up until the moment when the end product leaves

the factory gate.

One element of the life cycle assessment for a product is

the product carbon footprint. The product carbon foot-

print is an instrument to describe the greenhouse gas

emissions of a product‘s life cycle and a customer-friendly

way to communicate eco-friendly products.

“Without such systematic analysis, we cannot make reliable

assessments of the environmental impacts of our products,”

explains Dr. Kirchner. “Initial calculations have shown that

our additives based on renewable materials offer advantages

over our petrochemical products.”

Greenability.

Achieving „green“

goals together.

74

Imprint

Publisher:

BYK-Chemie GmbH

www.byk.com

Editing:

Verena Skelnik

Bettina Robertz

Frank Dederichs

Articles:

Christian Biecker

Dörte Claußen-Dietsch

Friedhelm Fensterseifer

Albert Frank

Stefan Gollnick

Dr. Ralf Hoffmann

Dr. Guillaume Jaunky

Dr. René Nagelsdiek

Dr. Jürgen Omeis

Verena Skelnik

Jill St. John

words unlimited, Düsseldorf

Support:

Hong Feng

Thomas Goebel

Dr. Gerald Kirchner

Wilhelm Klammer

Carina Kraft

Dr. Stefan Mößmer

Carsten Nagel

Sachiko Namasuya

Lindsay Oddo

Markus Rößner

Design:

Klunk Kommunikation, Düsseldorf

Copy editing:

Claudia Heinrich, Textkultur

Andrea Willms, LLINGUA

Illustrations:

BYK

fotolia

Dirk Moll, Köln

Sabine Nollmann, Bremen

plainpicture, Hamburg

photocase, Berlin

Print:

Druckstudio GmbH, Düsseldorf

“ My best ideas occur to me either when I’m around people or when I’m dreaming – and also sometimes when I have to wait for a plane or a bus.”

“ My most innovative moments are when I am outside in natural surroundings – on a hike along a river, for instance, or bathing in a hot spring. Being in the company of others – friends or customers – often has a very inspiring effect on me as well.”

“ I’ve always thought it would be great if we had a TV screen on our foreheads that showed what we were really thinking...now that would be innovative!”

“ Innovations most important to me are those that improve and positively impact my life and the lives of those around me.”

“ My best ideas come when I am interacting with other people. They may say something that can trigger a thought and then we can bounce it back and forth to come up with something really interesting.”

“ Personally I get my best ideas when I’m relaxed – while jogging, just before falling asleep, or when I’m together with friends. Sometimes customer meetings are also extremely inspiring.”

our vision of innovation

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