Chemspec fuels growth in PIB portfolio

In response to the significant growth trajectory anticipated in the global polyisobutylene (PIB) market, ChemSpec Ltd., Uniontown,Ohio, a member of the Safic-Alcan Group family of companies, continues to expand its portfolio to a range of more than 150 versatile product series offerings. This growth is reflected in ongoing exclusive distributorship relationships in North America with Shandong Hongrui Petrochemical Co., Ltd. (Pingyin, China) and Elastomer Trading, Ltd. (Essex, UK)-for medium and high molecular weight PIB specialty polymers respectively.

Estimated at $4.33 billion in 2015, the PIB market’s growth is rising due to demand from end-users in a myriad of manufacturing industries, including: adhesive and sealants, medical, pharmaceutical, automotive, fuel, lubricant/grease and chewing gum, amongst others.

A management-owned distributor of specialty chemical additives and specialty elastomers for many polymer industrial and cosmetics compounding markets, ChemSpec’s expansive, eco-friendly and FDA compliant medium and high molecular weight PIB portfolio offerings will enable innovative formulators to benefit from their inherent property benefits such as superior impermeability, oxidation resistance, ozone resistance, weather resistance, and improved physical stability.

Chemspec / HRD / medium molecular weight (MMW) PIB
Shandong Hongrui Petrochemical Co., Ltd. (HRD) has powerful research and scientific strength featuring the largest base in China for the continuous development R & D and production of medium molecular weight polyisobutylene. The company also possesses modern petrochemical unit operation facilities and production equipment, advanced automatic control systems, testing instruments, and sophisticated devices for product inspection and quality control. Additionally, they operate strictly in compliance with ISO9000, ISO1400, GB/T28001, and ISO22000 management systems.

In conjunction with HRD, ChemSpec focuses their attention for medium molecular weight PIB on key market applications including adhesives and sealants, such as caulking for windows, doors, and roofs; lubricants/greases; fuel additives; liquid polymers/elastomers; chewing gums; food grade products, etc.

HRD industrial grade series:
Key property benefits include: good humidity and gas barrier, cold flow and self-healing, excellent chemical aqueous solution barrier, low conductivity, high water proof, food grade available. Notably, for building/roof applications, they also deliver excellent humidity barrier, weather resistance, no shrinkage, are environmentally friendly, and require no external plasticizers.

HRD food grade and gum base series
Key property benefits include: high compatibility with fillers, long-lasting fragrance release, excellent age resistance, improves taste of chewing gum, good compatibility with gum base components like polymers, resins, waxes, fillers, fatty acid esters, emulsifiers, etc. Additionally, they are clear and colorless, deliver a soft/smooth taste and, at low temperature conditions, chewing gum still displays good flexibility.

Chemspec / Elastomer Trading / high molecular weight (HMW) PIB
Elastomer Trading Ltd. (ETL) was founded in March 2006 and is registered in England (Business No. 5763152). Their capacity of HMW PIB is presently 5,500 tons per year, with 90% of total production available for export. ETL’s Russian production location is currently increasing capacity at their HMW PIB plant, which will grow capacity to 8,000 tons per year. Targeted for completion at the end of 2017, the increased capacity will allow ETL to be more customer-focused within their range of HMW PIB products.

ETL produces unique molecular weight types of HMW PIB. Notably, ETL produces HMW PIB products at a higher molecular weight (Dalton range/Staudinger Index) versus its competitors. As an illustration, our Efrolen P-230 product has a Staudinger Index range between 710 and 820. Moreover, recently ETL developed and is commercially producing a much lower molecular weight HMW material. ETL made this strategic decision because there exists so few producers of this product range. That said, ChemSpec is excited to announce that ETL is now able to offer lower molecular weight forms of HMW, such as Efrolen P-50 [Staudinger Index: 47-64].

ETL / HMW PIB series
Due to its molecular structure, the HMW PIB material is relatively inert and resistant to chemical or oxidative attack. Chemically stable and featuring good processability, they are also odorless, tasteless, and nontoxic. Because of these unique properties, HMW PIB is an important ingredient for variety of applications including: roofing films, coatings, adhesives, sealants of all kinds, magnetic films, pipe wrap, electrical and cable insulation and others. Notably, for medical applications, their properties are anti-allergic and non-irritating to skin, display good skin adhesion, and are easy to peel from skin.

CHEMSPEC / PIB
According to ChemSpec’s President, Dave Moreland, “Progressively expanding our exclusive distribution with our PIB partners allows us to provide end-users with a wider range of possibilities for innovative advantages in product development and production. We’ve been involved with ETL for over 25 years and HRD for over 6 years-both have outstanding technology and a global presence in PIB.” “Ultimately, this will allow us to aggressively react to the growing PIB market with expanded offerings in growth market segments including: medical, pharmaceutical, adesives and sealants, and beyond,” Moreland concludes.