“Finding safer alternatives to the traditional toolbox of industrial chemicals”
Dr Daniel Weinmann, market development manager, Coatings, Construction & Adhesives – Americas at Westlake Epoxy, provides insight into the market for adhesives and the challenges and drivers of innovation. Interview by Vanessa Bauersachs
What current trends do you see in raw materials for adhesives?
Dr. Daniel Weinmann: After the Covid-19 pandemic, there are significant industry changes underway where supply chain optimization, local inventory (close to the customer) and reducing risk exposure via multiple source qualifications are important strategic actions being taken by manufacturers. Purchasing raw materials from domestic suppliers offers environmental benefits because of lower carbon emissions from transport compared to overseas cargo shipments.
Recent disruptions caused by transportation issues at the Panama Canal and the Suez Canal are increasing lead times for imported raw materials. There is growing demand for improved sustainability through increased renewable carbon content in resins and curing agents, as well as less energy-intensive manufacturing processes. In Europe, REACH registration and product safety testing are important drivers. Globally, there is an increased focus on using safer chemical constituents (e.g., eliminate SVHC compounds) for improved GHS labeling.
What market demands or shifts in consumer preferences are emerging?
Weinmann: Customers are looking for adhesives that offer identifiable and marked reductions in environmental impacts and sustainability. They are carefully reviewing the product’s GHS labels and anything with a CMR designation is not acceptable. The shift from solvent-borne to waterborne epoxy formulations continues to be an important option for meeting these initiatives.
For industrial applications, automated on-line application and lower odor adhesives are important options for customers. With growth of electronic vehicles and the increasing use of composites and plastics to reduce weight, high performance epoxy adhesives are an important and growing technology for customers. Adhesives formulators are asking for epoxy resin systems that offer higher performance over a wider range of application temperatures (e.g., from greater than 40 ˚C, down to 0 ˚C).
Are there specific compliance issues that the sector is facing?
Weinmann: There is increasing pressure from regulators to ensure that chemicals are compliant with EU REACH and the EU Green Deal emission targets. Stricter regional regulations are being introduced in a growing list of countries outside of Europe. As the adhesive market looks for ways to meet their sustainability initiatives, there are increasing requests for Environmental Product Declarations, as well as for Life Cycle Assessment.
Increased testing costs and addition of chemicals to the SVHC list have resulted in several chemicals being effectively eliminated from the list of available raw materials. Finding safer alternatives to the traditional toolbox of industrial chemicals offers opportunities to innovate new products for the adhesives market.
Reading Tip: Adhesives and Sealants
The book Formulating Adhesives and Sealants provides a two-step approach to adhesive and sealant formulation. Each section begins with an overview of the application and chemical basis for the specific type, followed by formulation guidance and an analysis of existing recipes. This analysis includes step-by-step calculations of important characteristic values, making it accessible for beginners.
