Polymer Powder based on renewable raw materials via the biomass balance approach
Renewables-Based Dispersible Polymer Powder for Construction Applications
Ecological and sustainable building construction plays a key role in global efforts to reduce CO2-emissions. As architects and property developers increasingly turn to renewable raw materials, ever more manufacturers of construction materials are now offering such solutions. The new redispersible polymer powder is mainly suitable for producing construction materials, such as waterproofing membranes or dry-mix mortars.
The production of the new dispersible polymer powder, on the biomass balance approach using bio-based acetic acid. This substance is formed as a byproduct of wood-industry processes such as preparing fibrous material for paper manufacturing. The wood comes from sustainable forestry and the bio-based acetic acid is certified in accordance to the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC® ). The bio-based acetic acid is extremely pure with a low water content and, represents a real alternative to fossil sources such as natural gas or petroleum.
The biomass balance approach
In the biomass balance approach, fossil raw materials are partly replaced by renewable raw materials (bio-based acetic acid instead of fossil acetic acid). By means of the biomass balance approach, it is possible to assign the bio-based raw materials used to individual sales products. No new production facilities are needed. By purchasing the product, the customer receives a REDcert2 certificate to guarantee that he has purchased a product using renewable raw materials within the production.
The quality and properties of the binders are absolutely identical, irrespective of whether the VAE they contain has been made from conventional or biobased acetic acid. The compound always has the same chemical and physical properties.
The resulting product is rheologically neutral and improves the adhesion, flexural strength, deformability, abrasion resistance and processability of the modified compositions without significantly influencing their flow, thixotropy or water retention. The binder is particularly suitable for formulating low-emission mortars with high flexibility and very good adhesion to organic substrates such as polystyrene.
The biomass balance approach gives companies like the Wacker Chemie AG a recognized and external certified method for tracking its use of renewable resources throughout the entire production process, up to the finished product.