Süd-West-Chemie focusses on sustainability and saving resources

A new development to replace hazardous substances

In line with this ambition, SWC has developed a new product, Supraplast 3616. This special low-molecular phenol novolak is synthesised in an extremely narrow molecular weight distribution. This tremendously improves its properties in most high-performance applications. The free-monomer content approaches zero, which means that Supraplast 3616 does not require labelling as a hazardous substance.

Supraplast 3616 can be used to cure epoxy resin systems, for high-performance coatings and coatings for laminates, as well as in construction. In all these fields of application, it replaces hazardous substances and thus improves both the environmental compatibility as well as the occupational safety for users.

Investment in technical centre

In addition, SWC is investing in a new technical centre in the 50 kg range. It can be used to produce larger and more homogenous samples which are more useful for the development partner. Moreover, significantly more realistic results can be achieved and specialty products with batch sizes up to 50 kg produced.

Another advantage lies in the opportunity to more actively evaluate and research larger projects, such as the use of regenerative raw materials or recycling materials. The “PhenOlefin” project, which is carried out by SWC together with reputable research and industrial companies, is an example of such an initiative.

Promising PhenOlefin project participation

Biorefineries meanwhile offer a significant contribution to the provision of materially useful products from biomass. This is the fundamental idea behind the project. By further developing existing approaches, this can be expanded and improved even more.

The thermo-catalytic reforming (TCR) of biogenic raw and residual materials offers a highly promising approach to improving oil quality in this context. The decisive benefit of this process lies in the production of thermally stable, low-acid, and virtually water-free oils. Moreover, TCR produces phenol-rich process water, which can also be used to produce technical phenol-based products.

The goal of the “PhenOlefin” project lies in developing necessary procedures for the secondary refining of the TCR-oil platform as well as in making the TCR process water, which is a by-product, technologically and economically usable in the form of bio-based phenols and olefins.

With the project, SWC strives to additionally develop duroplastic resins based on renewable raw materials. These contain the phenols gained from the TCR oil as well as the process water. The resins are intended for use in demanding applications such as grinding discs, brake and clutch linings, moulding compounds, adhesives, and coatings. Moreover, conventional synthetic additives should be replaced by suitable bio-based phenols. Not least, sufficient insights into the functional properties and reactivity of the new phenols, as well as the capacity to formulate and process them, should be gathered to better evaluate practice-oriented questions.

Further projects are ongoing

In addition to “PhenOlefin”, SWC currently has other running projects that strive to more sustainably shape the use of recycling material in moulding compound production. In the course thereof, SWC is, for example, developing products for application in the automotive industry which consist of recycled carbon fibres, while furthermore evaluating the processing of melamine wastes into moulding material for sanitary fixtures.

With these projects, SWC wants to contribute to saving resources and protecting the environment. You can receive more information by sending an e-mail to info@swc.de and sales@swc.de.