Atlac® 430E - Reducing styrene emissions in your workshop
AOC, BÜFA and Versteden have been working together evaluating the novel Atlac® 430E low styrene emission formulation developed by AOC for making piping systems in composites. Versteden has confirmed styrene emissions can be reduced significantly, with a clearly positive effect on workshop air quality.
Versteden B.V. is a well-known manufacturer and installer of composite piping systems, applied in a broad variety of industrial end-use applications. For instance, the products and services of Versteden are used for making firewater networks, cooling water systems, and transport piping for process installations (including conveying of hot water for LNG processing, and for transporting corrosive liquids and gasses).
“Customers rely on us for delivering piping systems that work, and once installed, require only minimal maintenance”, explains Peter Bogers, Commercial Director of Versteden. “They know Versteden has the right experience and expertise in house, for ensuring these pipes can persist in corrosive environments. This enables operators to run their processes seamlessly, avoiding interruptions associated with equipment failure”.
Care for people and environment
At its manufacturing operations in Bergen op Zoom (Netherlands), both hand lamination and filament winding are used for making the composite parts. Being a highly responsible employer, Versteden is doing its utmost to provide a healthy working environment for its workers.
“It is complicated to retrofit emission control equipment in existing buildings”, explains Erwin Simons, Technical Director of Versteden. “So when we built our new production plant 7 years ago, we wanted to do things right from the start. We invested in a state-of-the-art ventilation system, ensuring the air in the workshop is continuously refreshed and styrene concentrations can be effectively kept at low levels.”
At the top of the workshop fresh air is blown in, while at the bottom air with styrene traces can be taken out. There are special extraction points underneath filament winding machines and close to the hand lamination areas, with additional extraction above lamination work spots.
Ready for the future
“While we believe the current air management system is working well, we like to be ready for the future and make our operations even greener”, adds Erwin Simons. “So we were very interested when AOC and BÜFA approached us with a new vinyl ester formulation that shows significantly reduced styrene emissions.”
Versteden has been successfully evaluating the novel Atlac® 430E low styrene emission formulation developed by AOC. The product contains highly effective ingredients that suppress styrene evaporation after application, reducing styrene emissions by roughly 30 % and at the same improve surface cure. With this easy-to-use formulation, high quality laminates can be made in a variety of thickness, whether it is in single or in multiple process steps. The resulting piping systems demonstrate the same chemical resistance as components made in the conventional Atlac® 430 formulations.
“Both AOC and BÜFA gave us great support during the extensive testing period”, concludes Erwin Simons. “We feel very comfortable in moving forward and in broadly introducing the technology, so we can make quality parts in an even better way.”
“This is a great example of how we like to collaborate with our customers”, adds Fons Harbers, Vice President Marketing & Sales AOC EMEA. “The open exchange of information and sharing of experience have been instrumental for introducing at high speed a radically new, sustainable technology to the market, which is an obvious win for all of us.”
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