i 2 Innovation at BYK Our Vision

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1 Our Vision

2 Seek Opportunities Achieve Results: that s the innovative culture of BYK USA. Page 22 China is a market with strategic priority for us and we maintain several branches there. Page 18 Dr. Michael Berkei on the advantages of our ready-touse CNT dispersions. Page 60 Inkjet printing is indispensible in advertising. Our BYKJET additives improve color quality. Page 44 In our customer seminars we communicate important practical knowledge for everyday situations. Page 12 Adhesives and sealants are an attractive market for BYK, says Jan Lenz. Page 46

3 WHAT IS INNOVATIVE? Our vision of innovation 8 Conversations with customers inspire: voices from Asia WHO ARE THE INNOVATORS? 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? WHAT IS INNOVATIVE? 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 We listen to what our customers around the globe are saying and that s why ideas for new solutions flourish. WHY ARE WE INNOVATIVE? 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 5

4 Our vision of innovation 2 i2 We provide our customers with solutions and services that offer them a competitive edge of their own. 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 technical 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. 6 2 i 2 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. 7

5 Conversations with customers inspire: voices from Asia 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. Akihiro Wakahara Technical Manager, Additives Tokyo Shinji Hino Assistant Lab Manager Technical Service Lab Hyogo 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. 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. Alec Li Innovations these are the truly major advancements in technology. In the Technical Manager recent past, telecommunications and computer technology have brought us Shanghai 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. 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. 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 innovation process. They put us in a reflective mood and that can give rise to new ideas. 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 attitude, 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. You Yu Fe Head of Industrial Applications Business Line Nanjing Keisuke Sakuragi Lab Manager Technical Service Lab Hyogo 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. 8 9

6 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. He Jidong Director of Sales and Marketing, Paint Additives Shanghai 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. WHO ARE THE INNOVATORS? Pan Yong Product Group Manager / Laboratory Department Head Shanghai 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. Together we can achieve more. That is why teamwork often extends between the continents. Impressive solutions are born in the process. 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 customers in the past. These customers received customized innovations to meet their very specific needs. This approach to tailor-made LP products has an extraordinarily 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

7 The perspective makes the difference Our customer seminars communicate important practical knowledge about additives

8 Sonja Wydra (left) does behind-the-scenes planning. Kirsten Siebenmark (right) is an on-site customer consultant. 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 The platform established for this purpose is our customer seminar program that we have been running for many years 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 respective 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. 15

9 Holger Wach welcomes our customers at the seminar. Presentations and practice-related demonstrations elucidate the way our additives function. 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 promoters, UV absorbers and nano additives, for example. Other seminars are dedicated to specific application areas. Seminars 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 presentations, 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 headquarters 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 transparent-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 success 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 participant experience. This includes compiling the information materials which the guests can use to get a clearer understanding of the course content. The team also compiles the presentation materials and training documentation for the participants on an individual basis. In addition, our seminar team is responsible for registrations, hotel bookings, room assignments, and bus transfers during the seminar days, along with the organization of the entertainment program. Upon completion of the sessions, 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 seminars. 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

10 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, 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 local 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

11 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 representatives are always ready to share the latest know-how about products and technologies when they meet with customers. Our main Chinese sales center is located in the metropolis Shanghai. COATINGS PLASTICS INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS Our sales organization is structured both by region and also according to the three Business Lines: Coatings, Plastics, and Industrial Applications. Each field representative 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 assessments 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 communicate the required solutions. Having our service laboratories 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 customers 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 customers. 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 Guangzhou, 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 reputation in what is one of the most important markets in the world. The BYK brand is associated with reliable, high-performance 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

12 The innovation team fosters innovative and creative thinking throughout the whole enterprise. 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 SMT teams ensure first-class support for our customers. 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 employees 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 employ 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 marketing organization was restructured with a principal group dedicated to supporting the efforts of distribution. This core team liaises and provides technical resources for distribution customers while allowing direct accounts unparalleled access to BYK USA s technical sales team, end use, and market managers. manager, SMT (sales, marketing, and technology) teams were formed to ensure streamlined and cohesive technical and commercial service for defined customers. This innovative and collaborative approach maximizes knowledge, and promotes communication essential to best service customers needs. Innovative thinking Recently, BYK USA made a pledge to formally instill a culture of innovation into each and every area of the company. A diverse team of BYK employees trained in innovation and creative thinking now functions to infuse this commitment 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 walkingthe-walk and not just talking-the-talk and at BYK USA that is exactly what you ll find. walking-the-walk and Successful marketing by SMT teams not just talking-the-talk. Author: Jill St. John 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 22 23

13 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. Innovations make life easier: voices from the 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! Erik Hulting, Technical Sales Representative & Innovation Team Leader, BYK USA Bruce Seeber, Business Line Manager, BYK 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, 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 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 24 25

14 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 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 & Innovation Team Leader, BYK USA 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 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 26 27

15 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. Attitude is everything. Our support team sees itself as a problem solver. Satisfied customers are our prime objective. Our customer service employees know that innovation and working closely with the customer are intrinsically linked. 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 products sent express? What is the shelf life of the additive? Information such as this is important for smooth operation and order processing. The 16-person support team is also ready to provide a few innovative services. Most orders arrive in our customer center in Wesel by fax or 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 questions 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 management, packaging, technical specifications or other supply agreements. Some want to register complaints about goods received. Sometimes when highly detailed information is required, the company s technical experts are consulted; but with most questions, the team can provide the right information immediately. 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. Our customers can test each additive because we send them free-of-charge samples within a few days. 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

16 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. 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 tomers 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 products were registered with the responsible EU central office before the deadline on November 30, 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: Are BYK additives food safe? This differs from product to product and depends on whether 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 / examining 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 products in detail. The information in the Additive Guide also includes the shelf life of each of our additives. HOW ARE WE INNOVATIVE? An excellent infrastructure, a dedicated workforce, and an outstanding knowledge of the markets that is our recipe for success for attractive new products

17 Well-equipped for the future Dedicated workforce and first-class facilities 32 33

18 With the help of our excellent facilities we are able to simulate specific customer problems in our end-use labs. 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 laboratories, which act worldwide in close cooperation with the customer 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 laboratories, we simulate the typical production processes and applications of our customers. 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 remaining space will be used by the Plastics and Industrial Applications business units. 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 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 34 35

19 We are close to our customers everywhere with our service labs. SMC materials, and a modular PVC plant with extruders and calenders. In the planning of the new building and its functional integration 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 employees to exchange opinions and ideas. Many years of experience have taught us that nothing is more important for innovation than openness and effective communication. 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 implemented immediately, of course. 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 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

20 Innovation award BYK Advance Brilliant and universally applicable DISPERBYK is suitable for all standard dispersion systems. 38 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. Today, 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 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-containing grinds. That was followed by the development of DISPERBYK -190, which has become the standard for resinfree 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 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 development of a new wetting and dispersing additive for resinfree 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 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 Then in 2010 we were able to launch the product under the name DISPERBYK The new product is the additive of choice for water-soluble resin binders and emulsions with organic or inorganic pigments. It is particularly well suited for automotive and industrial 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 especially true for metallic coatings. With black coatings, high jetness values i. e., deep black colors with a bluish undertone 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 DISPERBYK unifies variations of different pigment-affinic groups and interacts particularly 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 permits the presence of amines, rheology additives, co-solvents and surfactants without negative effects on the end result. 39

21 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 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 distributed 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 industrial 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 crosslinkers. 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 subject to limitations and accordingly require additional effort and expense. The incompatible components always have to be mixed together right before use in the production facility 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 Emulsifier or T.A.P.E. for short. 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 interaction between the two components of our additives comes into play: Their opposite electrical charge incites the attraction of the components to one another. This electrostatic 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 effectively 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. High interfacial activity leads to improved emulsion stability Polyol Chain extender Arrangement of amphiphilic polymers at the interface Hydrophobic phase (polyol) Hydrophilic phase (chain extender) Amphiphilic polymers Amphiphilic block copolymer prepared by CPT methods Interfacial area 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

22 Successful concept now for aqueous systems ANTI-TERRA -250 stabilizes fillers and pigments. Dispersing agents for organic pigments and carbon blacks The newest member of the DISPERBYK -190 family is an ideal addition: DISPERBYK Authors: Dörte Claußen-Dietsch, Stefan Gollnick Authors: Dörte Claußen-Dietsch, Stefan Gollnick The trend towards environmentally friendly aqueous coating systems already extends to coating systems that use traditional 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 stabilization, 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, ANTI-TERRA -250 is suited for primers, architectural coatings and floor coatings. 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 hydrogen 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 aqueous systems: ANTI-TERRA 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. Differences in chemical properties or in the surface treatment 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 exhibited 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 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 concentrates and inks in which DISPERBYK -198 is used eliminates 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 surface 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

23 BYKJET additives for brilliant advertising Our new products for inkjet printing are compatible with standard systems. 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. to optical properties, processability, application and other parameters. Additives for different applications Inkjet is currently considered one of the most innovative printing methods. Industry experts believe it has tremendous 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 technology 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 relative 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 Compatible with all standard systems Ultimately, the additives should also enhance the processability 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 distribution 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 industrial 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 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 and BYKJET 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 exhibits superior properties. And finally, BYKJET 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 applications. They satisfy all of the required demands: outstanding stabilization of the CMYK pigments and therefore excellent 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

24 i 2 _Wer 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. Which products does BYK offer for the adhesives and sealants area? The most important products for the adhesives and sealants area are undoubtedly rheology additives, products for wetting and dispersing, defoamers, 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 portfolio of suitable additives. Our challenge is to establish these additives 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 adhesives area. Problems in the adhesives area are often very similar to problems encountered in the coatings or plastics industry: How do I defoam an aqueous dispersion without any negative impact 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 46 47

25 i 2 _Wer 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. 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 example. The use of wetting and dispersing additives can often reduce the high viscosity of filled systems. This gives adhesives manufacturers two opportunities: Either they lower the viscosity, thereby improving processability, or they can incorporate more filler material at the same viscosity, which enables them to achieve a significant cost advantage. 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 positioned here and takes this topic very seriously. Even maximum permissible dosing quantities comply with the require 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. 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 practice 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 dedicated 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 reduce 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 solutions for them. Which products do you consider to be the special highlights of your product portfolio? The first one that comes to mind is BYK This is a polymer defoamer that contains no mineral oil or silicone. It offers broad and especially effective action in aqueous adhesive 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 dispersions 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 applications. 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 adhesives industry

26 With both feet firmly planted in the clouds The portable cloud-runner is a great help in production control. Objective instrument cloud-runner replaces Author: Friedhelm Fensterseifer visual inspection. 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 extremely 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 detrimental coating defects or an uneven appearance. One particularly conspicuous problem with light colored metallic hues is often referred to as cloudiness or mottling 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 disorientation 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 influenced 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 simultaneously 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 measured 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 cloudrunner 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 graphically documented with the new smart chart software

27 Coupling agent success story BYK -C 8000 creates chemical bond in polymer concrete. 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? 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. 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 factors. 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. 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 coupling 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 compressive strength of up to 130 N/mm 2, for example. The flexural strength can reach as high as 55 N/mm 2. One important prerequisite: The filler must not contain too much moisture. 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. 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 52 53

28 BYK -C 8000 improves the absolute quality of polymer concrete, thereby achieving excellent compliance with quality standards. 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. 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. WHY ARE WE INNOVATIVE? 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 mechan 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. 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. The future begins now. We identify key technologies early on and use them with the specific aim of opening up new markets. BYK -C 8002 enhances mechanical properties in ATH-filled acrylate systems 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 polar groups, there are no negative effects 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! 54 55

29 Tools for new surfaces Industrial biotechnology is opening up new possibilities for innovations

30 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. 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 materials and new processes. Biotechnology offers us universal application 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. Biotechnological techniques will enable us to conserve resources while carrying out processes. Within ALTANA AG, BYK is playing a key role in establishing the new technology 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 biotechnology. Biotechnological techniques will enable us to conserve resources while carrying out processes. We can create new sources of raw materials 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. Products based on biotechnology have many advantages. Their performance is comparable on all counts with that of traditional solutions. Biotechnology and additive chemistry how do they go together? Biotechnology is an interdisciplinary science which involves the use of enzymes, cells, and complete organisms in technical applications. It can be used, for example, to develop products from renewable raw materials. It is also conceivable that additives 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 processes 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 innovation 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 conventional 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 discussions with colleagues are also particularly valuable. I have already been able to collect a lot of interest ing suggestions. The different perspectives 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

31 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. Is nanotechnology a cross-industry technology? It most certainly is. It is being applied in many different industries 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 nanometers 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, previously 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 aluminum 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 sustainability 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, 60 61

32 anti-static floor coverings, printed electronics, and transparent 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 distribution 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 graphite. 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 multiwalled 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 expensive. 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 performance 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 complicated 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. What are the characteristics of these dispersions? In designing our dispersions, we pursued two main objectives: 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 concentrations 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 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. Safety and responsible action are top priorities at BYK. 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 manufacturing 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 themselves, but also to the shape of the particles. For example, we use only spherical, amorphous silicon dioxide nanoparticles. 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

33 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. R 1 C CH 2 C = O R 1 = - H (acrylate) - CH 3 (methacrylate) Polymerization Macromer Monomer Authors: Dr. Guillaume Jaunky, Albert Frank, Dr. Jürgen Omeis O R 2 n R 2 = - Alkyl - Reactive groups - Polyether - Polysiloxane Macromer comb copolymer Fig. 1: Repeating units of polyacrylates. Fig. 2: Macromer technology. Polyether-modified silicones Polyacrylates Comb-shaped polyacrylates as surface-modifying additives The simplest way to produce comb copolymers is to proceed with the free-radical polymerization of standard (meth)acrylate monomers in combination with special (meth)acrylates, the so-called macromonomers, or macromers 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 ethermodified polyacrylates, reverse properties can be targeted such as hydrophilicity, anti-slip, anti-fogging, improved recoatability and adhesion. Fig. 4: Silicone-modified polyacrylates patented technology. Advantages of highly effective polyethermodified silicone-based additives: Reduced cratering sensitivity Improved substrate wetting Silicone chain Polyether chain Secure bonding of silicone chain to the polyacrylate (NOT a blend) Production via free radical or controlled radical polymerization Polysiloxane macromonomer Polyacrylate chain Advantages of polyacrylates: Good leveling Virtually no impact on surface tension Monomer A Monomer B O O O O Alkyl O CH 3 Si CH 3 O CH 3 n Si CH 3 Fig. 3: Conventional surface additives

34 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 scratchresistant. The silicones rarely consist of pure, unmodified polydimethylsiloxane, 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 anticrater 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. 66 Silicone-modified polyacrylates Silicone content approx. 1-15% Silicone chain maintains free mobility at one end for optimal orientation to the interface Polysiloxane macromonomer Polyacrylate chain Polyether-modified silicones Silicone content approx % Silicone chain is interrupted by polyether modification and cannot be optimally oriented Siloxane chain Polyether chain 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 polyacrylate chain can be varied by incorporating different monomers. This can be used to control the polarity of the polyacrylate 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 siliconebased additives. 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. 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 fractions 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 orientation 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 right panel can be easily cleaned by simply flushing the surface with tap water. 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 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 characteristics. In order to obtain these properties in the coating, manufacturers mainly use active silicone additives. However, 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 67

35 Fig. 7: BYK s low influence on surface energy of the dry film improves adhesion of automotive protective foils and adhesives compared to conventional silicone additives. Fig. 9: Schematic representation of copolymers made with a unique hyperbranched macromonomer (left) and with a linear macromonomer (right). Polyether chain Polyacrylate chain and a polyacrylate chain with high coating compatibility. BYK dramatically reduces surface tension similar to conventional silicone-based additives but without significantly affecting slip or surface energy (Fig. 7). Polyether-modified polyacrylates: first-generation hydrophilic additives The incorporation of polyethylene glycol-based macromonomers into poly(meth)acrylate backbones led to the first generation of hydrophilic additives that increased the surface tension of coatings, meaning rendering them hydrophilic. This effect is required to obtain fogging-free surfaces, improved overcoatability with waterborne formulations or to realize the hydrophilic approach to self-cleaning surfaces. available, BYK launched its own macromer research in order 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. Conclusion Polymeric additives based on macromer technology represent 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 technology 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. The first additive, BYK 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 commercially available macromers. Because only a few macromer raw materials with limited molecular weight range are Fig. 8: Improved surface wetting using BYK 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

36 Headspace gas chromatography Detector Injector Gas chromatograph Controlled temperature of 100 C Glass vial Sample Headspace gas chromatogram Author: Verena Skelnik Greenability. Achieving green goals together. There is no worldwide accepted standard which comprehensively 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 biodegradability and the CO 2 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 content of products. In Europe, the headspace gas chromatography 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

37 Greenability. Achieving green goals together. The highlight: 100% green, 100% sustainability, 100% performance! 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 impossible to make any definitive statement about the conformity 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 throughout the entire product life cycle. Systematically compiling an eco-balance sheet in this way serves to identify optimization potentials. Apart from the consistent cradle-tograve perspective, which examines the entire life of a product 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 compiles 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 footprint 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. BYK -1740, a defoamer based on vegetable oil derivatives, offers first-class defoaming properties which compare favorably to or even exceed those of conventional mineral BYK excellent defoaming of a VAE interior paint (PVC 58) % Mineral oil Micro foam Macro foam 0.5% Mineral oil 0.3% BYK = excellent 5 = poor 0.5% BYK 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 also speak for themselves: 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 is a 100% sustainable product. 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 and BYK Additives for lightweight composites BYK process additives Additives based on renewable raw materials BYK process additives BYK viscosity reducers 72 73

38 Imprint Publisher: BYK-Chemie GmbH Design: Klunk Kommunikation, Düsseldorf Editing: Copy 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 Claudia Heinrich, Textkultur Andrea Willms, LLINGUA Illustrations: BYK fotolia Dirk Moll, Köln Sabine Nollmann, Bremen plainpicture, Hamburg photocase, Berlin Print: Druckstudio GmbH, Düsseldorf Support: Hong Feng Thomas Goebel Dr. Gerald Kirchner Wilhelm Klammer Carina Kraft Dr. Stefan Mößmer Carsten Nagel Sachiko Namasuya Lindsay Oddo Markus Rößner 74

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

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