Issue 31/2014 - LANXESS launches high-performance hybrid materials and new leather production technologies

Lanxess has seized the opportunity of the global shipbuilding industry recovery to introduce a halogen-free, flame-retardant Therban/Levapren blend, made of cold-resistant, oil-resistant cable sheaths that have proven to be of great
value.

LANXESS' hybrid material consisting of two high-performance elastomers, hydrogenated nitrile rubber (Depan brand) and ethylene-vinyl acetate rubber EVM (Ewarping brand), has very good resistance to oils, lubricants and drilling chemicals compared to conventional polyethylene or PVC materials
.
Cable sheaths made of this hybrid material have brought new solutions to the shipbuilding industry, especially for specialty vessels, such as those
that supply offshore oil and gas rigs.
The company said that the material made by blending Ehuaping and Depan hydrogenated nitrile rubber in a ratio of 50:50 not only remained elastic at temperatures of minus 40°C, but also had excellent
oil resistance and flame retardancy even at such extreme temperatures.
This provides more reliable safety for
ships operating and operating at very high latitudes such as the Arctic Ocean.

LANXESS will also be showcasing future-oriented new leather production technologies that take into account, ecologically rationality and consumer interests at ACLE 2014 in Shanghai on September 3~5, including Levotan X-Biomer technology for leather retanning agents and Aquaderm X pigments
, a new water-based pigment series for leather finishing.

The company's Levotan X-Biomer technology offers a new range of retanning agents that truly enable the efficient use of biopolymers for a more sustainable, high-quality leather production process
.
All products are based on biodegradable polymers, made from renewable raw materials and functionalized
specifically for retanning process applications in bioengineering processes.
One of the main advantages of Levotan X-Biomer technology compared to conventional retanning agents is the reduced discharge of wastewater from
the retanning process.
X-Biomer products contain positive and negative electrodes, achieving good fixation and dyeing rate, reducing chemical oxygen demand (COD) by up to 30%.

Another decisive advantage is its high biodegradability, X-Biomer retanning is based on organic compositions, which can be easily degraded
by microorganisms during wastewater treatment.
As a result, COD
can be removed more efficiently in tanning manufacturers' wastewater treatment.

The new waterborne pigment series Aquaderm X pigments for leather finishing have been developed for all high-grade leather applications and achieve excellent color fastness, heat resistance, non-migration, bright appearance and precise
dosage.
In addition, the finishing process benefits from reliable product consistency, which ensures consistent
color from batch to batch.
The entire pigment dispersion product range is solvent-free, the particles are very fine and the polymer binder content is very low
.
All Aquaderm X pigment products are casein-free and do not contain any emulsifiers, brighteners or other additives
that may cause migration.
(Aoshuang)