CVC Thermoset Specialties to Increase Capacity of ERISYS Epoxy-functional Monomers at its N.J. Facility

CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH -- CVC Thermoset Specialties, a business group of Emerald Performance Materials, will increase capacity of its line of ERISYS epoxy-functional monomers, debottlenecking the reactor train used for production at its Maple Shade, N.J. facility. The project is slated for completion prior to the end of 2013.

"We continue to see a rising demand for our products from formulators seeking high performance materials that enable lighter weight construction and increased durability in applications such as adhesives, composites, structural reinforcement and coatings," said Charles Zarnitz, product line manager for specialty epoxy materials. "Even though our ERISYS monomers and modifiers represent a relatively small component of many formulations, they are critical to enhancing select performance characteristics. For example, some epoxy monomers act as reactive cross-linkers in acid functional acrylic polymer based formulations to optimize chemical, corrosion and impact resistance. As a manufacturer of a wide range of resins, reactive liquid polymers, modifiers and accelerators, we have a technical service laboratory that is ideally suited to assist customers - whether it is to provide lower VOC solutions, improve processing or achieve their challenging end-product performance objectives."

ERISYS monomers and modifiers are well known among thermoset formulators for their ability to reduce viscosity and improve handling, processing and application properties of formulations. These products can provide the formulator with a wide set of tools to increase or decrease cross-link density, alter the flexibility of the base resin, increase or decrease cure speed, enhance flame resistance and act as acid scavengers. They also enhance features in the final product, such as flexibility and toughness, and maintain chemical resistance and UV stability.

ERISYS modifiers and monomers are offered in a broad range of products, from mono-epoxy functional to multi-epoxy functional materials. Chemistries include aromatic and aliphatic glycidyl ethers, glycidyl amines and glycidyl esters. The product line has expanded in recent years to include product grades that utilize starting materials based on renewable resources, offering the formulator an option with high bio-renewable content ingredients.

"Improving sustainability is not only a key driver for our customers choices in materials, it is also an important objective for our company and operations," said Frank Prolizo, vice president of operations. "Emerald has set a 2020 goal to implement productivity improvements and reduce our companys overall environmental footprint by 25% over our 2010 baseline. Projects such as this one align perfectly with our objectives, increasing capacity while enabling us to reduce energy consumption and wastewater generation at the Maple Shade location."

Previous strategic investments have already allowed Emerald to increase productivity while reducing emissions by 50% across the company since its formation in 2006. For example, Emeralds plant in The Netherlands was the first consumer to join the R