New ZnO PRO vulcanization accelerator for greater sustainability and cost efficiency
BrüggemannChemical ( www . brueggemann . com ), a specialist for zinc-based additives used in the vulcanization of rubber , has developed a new range of reaction accelerators with its ZnO PRO series . The products , which are produced by a wet chemical process , combine the latest findings in rubber compounding with lower costs and reduced heavy metal content . At the same time , they allow the direct substitution of conventional thermal zinc oxide without the need to modify the formulation or make compromises on performance . ZnO PRO is suitable for the entire range of application of sulfur-vulcanizable rubber – from technical parts and consumer goods to tires .
At present , the new product range comprises the A250 ( the lowest-price type ), the R260 and the A280 . All three new products result in vulcanizates with a high crosslinking density and uniform mechanical properties . They are also readily dispersible . As regards the attainable vulcanization level , A250 more or less corresponds to the existing industry standard Red Seal that causes considerably higher costs , while the other two are significantly more effective than Red Seal despite their favorable price . This means that the members of the ZnO PRO series offer currently the best cost-to-benefit ratio in this class . The special formulations for the relevant types result in comparatively low heavy metal contents in the end product , ranging from below 1.0 % with A280 and R260 ( 1.6 % for Red Seal ) to less than 0.6 % with the A250 type . The ZnO PRO series thus supports the striving for greater sustainability known in the elastomer sector as “ Green Rubber ”.
Fully equipped Technical Center for in-house and customer developments
Only recently , BrüggemannChemical opened its new Technical Center , fully equipped with the very latest machines and systems . These include a Banbury internal mixer , a mixing mill , a vulcanizing press and a variety of testing devices to determine the processing , vulcanization and performance properties of elastomers . A major role is played there by the tailor-made , application-oriented optimization and synthesis of zinc-based activators – for example of the ZnO PRO series – for in-house developments and on the customer ’ s behalf . With the possibility of driving developments jointly with its customers and being able to comprehensively and immediately test the result , the company is underlining its outstanding industry-wide R & D competence as an additives producer in the rubber segment .
BrüggemannChemical L . Brüggemann KG is a renowned manufacturer of specialty chemicals with some 200 staff . Founded in 1868 , the company , headquartered in Heilbronn , Germany , specializes in developing and manufacturing high performance additives for engineering thermoplastics with a focus on polyamides , as well as zinc derivatives and sulfur-based reducing agents . Customers from more than 60 countries have come to value the company ’ s flexibility and innovative product solutions , while subsidiaries in the USA and Hong Kong emphasize its international outlook . The cornerstones of corporate policy are in-house research and development activities , a consistent focus on customer requirements , and major investment in know-how and plant .
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