Shanghai, China - Bayer MaterialScience displayed its wide portfolio of polyurethane resins for textile coating and coagulation at the All China Leather Exhibition 2008 in Shanghai, 4 Sept 2008, held at the same time as UTECH ASIA/PU CHINA 2008 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre in Pudong.
"In China, environmental protection is increasing, recognised as a priority by China's government and people. We believe this awareness will underpin demand for our environmentally friendly raw materials, such as high solids and waterborne polyurethane dispersions (PUDs)," pointed out Rolf Irnich, head of Textile Coating APAC of BMS' Coatings, Adhesives, Specialties unit, in a company statement.
Irnich added that, "Waterborne systems can even be superior to the traditional systems in certain respects, such as physical properties, depending on the manufacturing process and the raw materials used," and said this means PU synthetic leather based on solvent-free formulations can be made with lower levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
BMS' stand featured uses of its products in the automotive, furniture and footwear industries, including two car seats, with contrasting synthetic leathers using two different PU systems: one was based on a high solids resin, while the other was coated with purely waterborne PUDs.
Also on display was the "Europass" ball from adidas, official match ball of the 2008 European Soccer Championship. With its PSC-Texture (Power-Swerve-Control) surface structure, the new ball made using a high solids resin, combines "outstanding flight characteristics with greater power transmission and control," said Bayer.
BMS set up a textile coating laboratory at its Polymer Research & Development Center (PRDC) in Shanghai in 2006. Via this unit, equipped with advanced coatings and coagulation facilities and test machines, the group offers APAC customers tailor-made solutions and expertise from its global network.
To meet demand for environmentally friendly coatings materials, BMS said it also has a 20-kilotonnes-a-year facility for PUDs coming on stream during September 2008.
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