New Dyneon Emulsifier Eliminates APFO from Production of Fluoropolymers

Published January 3rd, 2009 - 02:12 GMT
Al Bawaba
Al Bawaba

Dyneon, a 3M company, has announced the introduction of its new Dyneon™ ADONA™ Emulsifier that eliminates the use of ammonium perfluorooctanoate (APFO), a salt derived from perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), completely from its production of fluoropolymers.
The company will be highlighting the new emulsifier at the ArabPlast Exhibition 2009, the Middle East's premier trade show for rubber, plastics and plastic processing, to be held from January 10 to 13, 2009, at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre.
Mr. Shome Bag, Marketing Specialist ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
3M Gulf said: "With the development of its new emulsifier technology, Dyneon is on track to be the first to achieve the goal of eliminating the use of PFOA, in particular, its ammonium salt, APFO, which has played a historical role as a polymerization aid in the manufacture of certain fluoropolymers."
Bag added: "Dyneon and seven other companies have participated in a voluntary program to try to eliminate global emissions of PFOA by 2015. In many respects, the program extends the environmental, health and safety measures that 3M and Dyneon have implemented for a number of years. In fact, 3M announced its phase-out of the production of APFO in 2000. Dyneon’s stewardship strategy includes sophisticated systems to minimize the release of APFO into the environment and recapture and reuse APFO in its processes.”
Dyneon has offered to license this APFO containment technology to other companies in the industry. In 2006, Dyneon became the first manufacturer to introduce reduced APFO dispersions. With the introduction of Dyneon™ ADONA™ Emulsifier, the company is now the first to take the final step in eliminating APFO entirely from manufacturing processes.
The new technology is consistent with the company’s longstanding tradition of responsible chemical management and demonstrates the company’s support of environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing processes.
“We believe that sustainable technology is one of today’s leading business issues,” said Bag. “We are building the foundation for a new generation of products made using a new, environmentally responsible technology, affirming our reputation for innovation and differentiation.”
Al Fajer Information and Services and German exhibitions organizer Messe Dusseldorf are in a joint partnership to promote the ArabPlast exhibitions. On display at Arab Plast 2009 will be new products and technologies in injection moulding, blow moulding, wrapping & packaging, pre and post plastic processing techniques as well as raw materials, such as master batches, additives and polymers. The show covers a wide spectrum of plastic machinery, plastic/rubber processing technology, pre and post-processing systems, plastic packaging technology, injection moulding, blow moulding, wrapping technology, extrusions, chemicals and additives, semi finished goods, engineering plastics and plastic products.
Dyneon’s products using Dyneon™ ADONA™ Emulsifier will help customers stay competitive in their field and meet the increasing market demand for environmentally responsible products and processes, while maintaining the properties customers demand from fluoropolymer products, notably, chemical and thermal resistance.