ChemWorld | 8 | January 1991
ChemWorld Briefs
Paraclor® CPE Enters New Markets
Paraclor® CPE, one of Uniroyal Chemical’s specialty elastomers, is proving to be ideally suited for a number of new applications – both elastomer and plastic. Introduced last year, the elastomer’s versatility is guiding the company into new markets.
One such market is automotive, which takes advantage of the product’s high heat and oil resistance. These characteristics, combined with CPE’s low temperature flexibility and superior outdoor aging properties, make Paraclor CPE a leading candidate for use in injection-molded parts such as air inlet ducts or any under-the-hood hose.
Perhaps the largest slice of the market that Paraclor CPE intends to capture for Uniroyal Chemical is in wire and cable applications, where the product is used as jacketing for flexible cords such as portable power tools as well as for instrumentation, and control and mine cable. The product is easily made flame retardant for such uses, as it meets 60, 90, and 105 degree centigrade UL classifications.
Paraclor CPE also can be used to complement Uniroyal Chemical’s polymer product line, which includes Royalene® EPDM and Paracril® nitrile rubber for traditional markets such as hose, sheeting, gaskets, wire and cable, and roll covers. Used as an impact-modified plastic, Paraclor CPE intends to break through new markets, including wire and cable, with residential and industrial applications.
For example, when two to ten percent of Paraclor CPE is added to vinyl, it serves as an impact modifier for residential applications such as vinyl siding and electrical conduit, lending increased toughness and durability to these applications. The product may be blended with existing vinyl for industrial flat roof coverings to add strength and durability against the elements. Similarly, Paraclor CPE is used as a wire and cable thermoplastic material for jacketing.
Paul Hinckley, business development
manager for the Paraclor CPE line, expects sales of the product to grow rapidly in these market areas; a significant portion of these sales will be attributed to Paraclor CPE’s displacing competing products, due to its superior retention of heat aging properties. “Currently, we find that the opportunities for this product in the U.S. and Canada are abundant,” he said. “We expect to see a tremendous increase in sales volume over the next 12 months.” ■
Dr. Byron A. Hunter Recipient Of The 1990 Thomas Midgley Award
Dr. Byron A. Hunter, a retired research chemist from Uniroyal Chemical Company, has been named the recipient of the 1990 Thomas Midgley Award sponsored by the American Chemical Society (Detroit section), in cooperation with Ethyl Corporation. The Award was presented to Dr. Hunter at a formal awards ceremony held at the Engineering Society of Detroit, Michigan on Tuesday evening, October 30, 1990.
Founded in 1965, the Thomas Midgley Award, named after the late inventor known for his creative, far-seeing research efforts, is presented annually for outstanding research contributions and inventive genius in the chemistry field related to the automotive industry.
One of the most significant contributions of Dr. Hunter’s career is the development of chemical blowing agents for the production of closed-cell rubber foams used in automotive applications. The commercialization of one type foam (benzene sulfonyl hydrazide) (OBSH) serves as the predominant type of blowing agent used to produce dual durometer weatherstrip. Today, this weatherstrip type comprises about 80 percent of total worldwide use of weatherstrip for automotive and truck seal applications.
Dr. Hunter’s efforts have also increased weatherstrip productivity by 20 percent, due to the lower decomposition temperature and more gas release properties of OBSH.
OBSH also produces a soft textured sponge, which is used in new down-sized and lower weight automotive door and truck lids to facilitate acceptable closing efforts.
Most recently, Dr. Hunter was awarded the 1989-90 Outstanding Achievement Award from the Thermoplastics and Foams Division of the Society of Plastic Engineers (SPE), and is recognized as a leading worldwide authority on blowing agent technology in the areas of rubber and plastics compounds, applications and process technology. To date, he has received 67 United States patents in the rubber and plastic additive fields. ■
Uniroyal Chemical Introduces New Lubricant Additive
Uniroyal Chemical Company has introduced a new antioxidant lubricant additive, Naugalube® 680, especially formulated for high performance automotive engine and gear oils.
Naugalube 680 has a high nitrogen content providing advanced performance, lower volatility and improved solubility, which helps meet the most demanding engine specifications.
In the next several months, the company plans to introduce additional high performance lubricant additives, furthering its commitment and responsiveness to the high performance engine oil marketplace.
Current Uniroyal Chemical products that are part of the lubricant additives family include: Naugalube 403, 440, 443, 438, 438L, 445, 500, 690, and Naugard® 529, BHT, PANA and Q. ■
ChemWorld, a publication of Uniroyal Chemical Company worldwide, is distributed to company employees and retirees.
Robert J. Petrausch
Director, Communications
Maureen C. Fama
Marketing Communications Coordinator
Uniroyal Chemical Company
World Headquarters
Middlebury, CT 06749
(203) 573-2000
UNIROYAL CHEMICAL