Patents and applications in use for K-FLEX 975P, a low-VOC dibenzoate plasticizer and coalescent produced by Emerald Kalama Chemical, a business group of Emerald Performance Materials, were recently granted in Europe, the United States, Canada and Russia, as well as other countries in Asia. Emerald has validated the European patent in many EU countries and has additional patent applications pending.

K-FLEX 975P comprises a unique dibenzoate-based composition designed for improved processing and handling and to deliver enhanced performance in the end product. Enhancements include stain resistance, durability and scrub resistance in applications traditionally requiring or utilizing plasticizers or coalescents, such as vinyl plastisols, adhesives, caulks, sealants, paints and coatings. The novel composition is commercially available from Emerald, the only company with a product in this category that is REACH-compliant.

The two new patents, which are based on International Patent Applications PCT/US2011/067572 and PCT/US2011/67584, relate to the use of K-FLEX 975P alone or as a blend with general purpose and specialty plasticizers in end products containing a wide range of common polymers.

“It is important in end uses to optimize and tailor performance properties specific to that application. As a result of the patent covering K-FLEX 975P when it is used by itself or in blends with other common plasticizers, there are endless combinations and results that formulators can achieve that are not seen elsewhere,” said Wendy Herbst, K-FLEX director of marketing.

Emerald Kalama’s applications lab team — including the inventors of K-FLEX 975P, William D. Arendt, research fellow, and Emily McBride, applications lab supervisor — has performed extensive testing with plastisol systems and blends in addition to the background in the patents, with the goal of balancing the performance benefits and fast fusion of K-FLEX 975 with the processing rheology of general purpose plasticizers.

Herbst explained that this ensures that formulators have “a great deal of control and flexibility for optimized end product performance. Our applications expertise sets Emerald apart in the industries we serve, and we have leveraged that expertise to continually bring new value, innovation and performance to manufacturers in many segments. Bill [Arendt] alone holds nearly 20 patents in the field of benzoates; his technical expertise in this field coupled with the talents of Emily McBride and our growing team of scientists attest to how much we value and focus on continual innovation.”

K-FLEX benzoate technology has a proven track record of more than three decades for delivering performance, providing a highly effective alternative that eliminates the health and environmental concerns of increasingly regulated phthalate plasticizers and high-VOC coalescents. The REACH-compliant K-FLEX platform provides a range of low-VOC, non-phthalate, non-SVHC products, including those with certain clearances for use in food-contact applications.

In recent years, the company has focused on product innovation to deliver benefits to an expanding range of adhesives, sealants, caulk, paints, coatings, graphic arts and plastisol and vinyl applications. For example, in adhesive and sealant applications, K-FLEX products are known for enhancing film formation and adhesion, processing characteristics and resistance of the end-products to oil, grease and water. Other important benefits include improved scrub resistance and higher gloss in paint and coatings. In vinyl applications, performance can be greatly enhanced by blending the fast-fusing K-FLEX plasticizers with many other general purpose plasticizers to increase line speed and/or lower processing temperature, as well as improve stain resistance and toughen wear layers in plastisols.