Specialty Surfaces

Once that was done, the newly appointed head of Surface Specialties (the former head of UCB Chemical) started to reflect on the form and staffing of his management structure, the integration organization and schedule, as well as the aspiration for the new organization and its name. In parallel, the contractual agreements between seller and acquirer were finalized and the antitrust file was submitted ... 

At the end of this second phase - four months after the start of the integration -management had virtually fully finalized the re-organization, and on June 1 ( Day 1 ), Surface Specialties was a reality with one face to the outside world. 

Last but not least, top-line and bottom-line results are exceeding expectations, and the extra profits UCB Pharma is making compensate for the profits lost due to the divestment of Surface Specialties. 

Global M A activity in the chemical industry peaked during 1998 and 1999 at about EUR 100 billion p.a., reflecting the equity markets support of such transactions. The market s focus on cost restructuring later led to a fall in M A to an annual volume of about EUR 15-25 billion. Recent industrial buyer-driven transactions in chemicals include Lubrizol s acquisition of Noveon in June 2004, Cytec s acquisition of Surface Specialties from UCB in early 2005, and Albemarle s acquisition of Akzo Refinery Catalysts in August 2004. 

Cytec Specialty Chemicals CYTEC INDUSTRIES INC Cytec Surface Specialties, Inc. CYTEC INDUSTRIES INC... 

Natureflex Cellulose based Iimovia Films (formerly Surface Specialties-UCB) UK www.mnoviafihns.com... 

Source Evaluation of Resins in UV Offset inks , Cytec Surface Specialties SA/NV, Pub. No. 210115E, Version B. 

Fluorine was first produced commercially ca 50 years after its discovery. In the intervening period, fluorine chemistry was restricted to the development of various types of electrolytic cells on a laboratory scale. In World War 11, the demand for uranium hexafluoride [7783-81-5] UF, in the United States and United Kingdom, and chlorine trifluoride [7790-91 -2J, CIF, in Germany, led to the development of commercial fluorine-generating cells. The main use of fluorine in the 1990s is in the production of UF for the nuclear power industry (see Nuclearreactors). However, its use in the preparation of some specialty products and in the surface treatment of polymers is growing. 

The low surface tension of highly fluorinated organic compounds is commercially important for their appHcation in surfactants, antisoiling textile treatments, lubricants, and specialty wetting agents. 

The fiber stmcture is very fine near the surface of the skin and this fine stmcture imparts a silky feel to the leather. The smaller the animal of a given species the finer the surface fibers. The value of the skin or hide is then dependent in part on this smoothness (2). Calfskin leathers are smoother and have a silkier feel than cattle hide leathers. Calfskin leather is used in the shoe uppers of high quahty, expensive men s and women s shoes, and specialty items. 

Leather finishes penetrate to a greater or lesser extent and have a profound effect on the grain or wrinkle characteristics of the leather. Penetration of the resia into the leather tightens the grain but may produce a surface stiffness and a tendency toward grain cracking upon flexing. The development of leather finish resins and the appHcation of these finishes is done by specialty houses. 

Alkenylsuccinic anhydrides made from several linear alpha olefins are used in paper sizing, detergents, and other uses. Sulfosuccinic acid esters serve as surface active agents. Alkyd resins (qv) are used as surface coatings. Chlorendric anhydride [115-27-5] is used as a flame resistant component (see Flame retardants). Tetrahydrophthalic acid [88-98-2] and hexahydrophthalic anhydride [85-42-7] have specialty resin appHcations. Gas barrier films made by grafting maleic anhydride to polypropylene [25085-53-4] film are used in food packaging (qv). Poly(maleic anhydride) [24937-72-2] is used as a scale preventer and corrosion inhibitor (see Corrosion and corrosion control). Maleic anhydride forms copolymers with ethylene glycol methyl vinyl ethers which are partially esterified for biomedical and pharmaceutical uses (189) (see Pharmaceuticals). 

Attempts have been made to use cold-set adhesives in the cormgating operation, such as poly(vinyl acetate) and modified, precooked starch formulations, but these have not achieved any appreciable degree of commercial acceptance (20). The use of a polyethylene film appHed to the inside surface of the linerboard facing, which serves as a hot-melt cormgator adhesive, has achieved some commercial usage. However, its use is limited to the small, specialty product niche of fast-food hamburger cartons (see Olefin polymers, polyethylene). 

Adhesives. Contact adhesives are blends of mbber, phenoHc resin, and additives suppHed in solvent or aqueous dispersion form they are typically appHed to both surfaces to be joined (80). Evaporation of the solvent leaves an adhesive film that forms a strong, peel-resistant bond. Contact adhesives are used widely in the furniture and constmction industries and also in the automotive and footwear industries. The phenoHc resins promote adhesion and act as tackifiers, usually at a concentration of 20—40%. In solvent-based contact adhesives, neoprene is preferred, whereas nitrile is used in specialty appHcations. The type and grade of phenoHc resin selected control tack time, bond strength, and durabiHty. 

The large majority of activated alumina products are derived from activation of aluminum hydroxide, rehydrated alumina, or pseudoboehmite gel. Other commerical methods to produce specialty activated aluminas are roasting of aluminum chloride [7446-70-0], AIQ calcination of precursors such as ammonium alum [7784-25-0], AlH2NOgS2. Processing is tailored to optimize one or more of the product properties such as surface area, purity, pore size distribution, particle size, shape, or strength. 

Specialty alumina derived from the Bayer process resemble SGA, except for a higher a-Al202 content, which is usually >80%, and a lower surface area, typically <20 m /g. The remaining material is generally sodium P-alurnina (Table 2) formed as a result of the soda contamination common to the process (2—7). The mineralogical and stmctural properties of calcined aluminas are given in Table 2 (3). 

Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives. SiHcoae PSAs are used primarily ia specialty tape appHcatioas that require the superior properties of siHcoaes, including resistance to harsh chemical environments and temperature extremes (398,399). SiHcone PSAs are also used ia appHcatioas requiring long service Hfe, electrical iasulatioa, and protection from moisture. Another distinctive advantage of siHcone PSAs is their abiHty to wet low surface energy tape substrates such as PTEE. 

Eggs. Eggs are not used much in breadmaking, except for specialty egg breads. Egg whites are occasionally used on the surface of hard roUs to impart a crispy cmst. Yeast-leavened sweet doughs or danish doughs often contain egg, up to 20%, based on flour, to achieve richness and to influence color and flavor. Some bakery foods, eg, sweet goods, croissants, and puff pastry, are often washed with egg wash (a mixture of egg and water or milk)... 

Cellulose esters, especially acetate propionate and acetate butyrate mixed esters, have found limited use in a wide variety of specialty appHcations such as in nonfogging optical sheeting (171), low profile additives to improve the surface characteristics of sheet-molding (SMC) compounds and hulk-molding (BMC) compounds (172,173), and controlled dmg release via encapsulation (174). 

---