AOC Atlac 430E resin formulation reduces Versteden styrene emissions
Developed for composite piping systems development, the novel system has proven low levels of styrene concentration during hand lamination and filament winding processes.
Versteden’s facility in the Netherlands. Source | AOC AG
AOC (Schaffhausen, Switzerland), Büfa Composite Systems (Rastede, Germany) and Versteden B.V. (Bergen op Zoom, Netherlands) have collaborated on AOC’s novel Atlac 430E low styrene emission formulation developed for making composite piping systems. Versteden has confirmed it can significantly reduce styrene emissions, improving workshop air quality.
Versteden manufactures and installs composite piping systems, applied in a broad variety of industrial end-use applications. For instance, the company’s products and services are used for making firewater networks, cooling water systems and transport piping for process installations (including conveying of hot water for liquified natural gas/LNG processing, and for transporting corrosive liquids and gases).
“Customers rely on us for delivering piping systems that work, and once installed, require only minimal maintenance,” explains Peter Bogers, commercial director of Versteden. “They know Versteden has the right experience and expertise in-house for ensuring these pipes can persist in corrosive environments. This enables operators to run their processes seamlessly, avoiding interruptions associated with equipment failure.”
At the company’s manufacturing operations in Bergen op Zoom, Netherlands, hand lamination and filament winding are used for making the composite parts. Being a highly responsible employer, Versteden says it is doing its utmost to provide a healthy working environment for its workers.
“It is complicated to retrofit emission control equipment in existing buildings,” says Erwin Simons, technical director of Versteden. “So when we built our new production plant 7 years ago, we wanted to do things right from the start. We invested in a state-of-the-art ventilation system, ensuring the air in the workshop is continuously refreshed and styrene concentrations can be effectively kept at low levels.”
At the top of the workshop fresh air is blown in, while at the bottom air with styrene traces can be taken out. There are specific extraction points underneath filament winding machines and close to the hand lamination areas, with additional extraction above lamination work spots.
“While we believe the current air management system is working well, we like to be ready for the future and make our operations even greener,” adds Simons. “So we were very interested when AOC and Büfa approached us with a new vinyl ester formulation that shows significantly reduced styrene emissions.”
Versteden has been successfully evaluating the novel Atlac 430E low styrene emission formulation developed by AOC. The product contains ingredients that suppress styrene evaporation after application, reducing styrene emissions by roughly 30% and at the same time improving surface cure. The simply formulation also enables the production of high-quality laminates in a variety of thickness, whether in single- or multi-process steps. The resulting piping systems demonstrate the same chemical resistance as components made in the conventional Atlac 430 formulations.
“This is a great example of how we like to collaborate with our customers,” adds Fons Harbers, vice president of marketing and sales at AOC EMEA. “The open exchange of information and sharing of experience have been instrumental for introducing at high speed a radically new, sustainable technology to the market, which is an obvious win for all of us.”
