Excellent for closed molding applications, Arkema Inc.’s BlocBuilder® RC-50 reactivity controller offers an extended potlife and improved stability to the composites industry.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Amy Bosshardt
Phone: 215-419-7230
Philadelphia, PA - May 15, 2008

BlocBuilder^® RC-50, a reactivity controller, is used in the closed mold composites industry for fabricators using pultrusion, sheet molding compound and bulk molding compound manufacturing methods. 

“With BlocBuilder^® RC-50, unsaturated polyester resin manufacturers and composite molders have more control in their high temperature curing applications,” said Bob Dixon, market manager for Arkema Inc.  “Upon heating to temperatures above 60ºC, the BlocBuilder^® RC-50 additive will unblock from the polyester resin, and allow the organic peroxide to initiate the reaction.”

Benefits Include:
• Extended potlife stability
• Longer storage time
• Reduced scrap, labor and clean-up
• Allows faster initiator systems and faster line speeds
• Improved consistency and quality

BlocBuilder^® RC-50 reactivity controller has been designed to work with many commercially available polyester and low temperature organic peroxide products.  However, it has been designed to work with the Luperox^® organic peroxides family of high quality products.

Arkema Inc., a global chemical manufacturer, will introduce its new BlocBuilder^® RC-50 reactivity controller at SAMPE ’08 at the Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach, California, May 18-22.  Additionally, Michael O. Wells, applications engineer for Arkema Inc. will present “Using Controlled Radical Polymerization to Modify Thermoset Resin Cures” on May 19 at 1:00 pm PST at the Resins/Interfaces Session, as well as serve as co-chair for the session scheduled from 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm.

The presentation will describe how Arkema’s new nitroxide-mediated controlled radical polymerization (NM-CRP) technology, can allow a high degree of control and manipulation in highly reactive resin systems.  The key molecule is a stable nitroxide capable of both limiting the inherent termination step in free radical reactions and providing control over the cure kinetics in free radical thermoset systems. 

Dixon will be available to discuss BlocBuilder^® RC-50 at Arkema’s booth # 953 during the SAMPE ’08 show.  SAMPE '08, presented by the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering, is one of the world's advanced materials conference and exhibition.

For more information, visit www.BlocBuilder.com or call 800-331-7654.

About Arkema Inc.
A global chemical player, Arkema consists of three strategically related business segments: Vinyl Products, Industrial Chemicals, and Performance Products. Present in over 40 countries with 15,200 employees, Arkema achieved sales of 5.7 billion euros in 2007. With its 6 research centers in France, the United States and Japan, and internationally recognized brands, Arkema holds leadership positions in its principal markets.

BlocBuilder^® and Luperox^® are registered trademarks of Arkema Inc.