JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #84 - October 2013 - 43

More information

About AkzoNobel
AkzoNobel is a leading global paints and coatings company and
a major producer of specialty chemicals. Its portfolio includes
well-known brands such as Dulux, Sikkens, International and Eka.
Headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, the company is
consistently ranked as one of the leaders in the area of sustainability. With operations in more than 80 countries, our 50,000 people
around the world are committed to delivering leading products and
technologies to meet the growing demands of our fast-changing
world.
Its Functional Chemicals business supplies curing systems for
thermoset resins, coatings and specialty monomers - including
Butanox, the world's leading brand of methyl ethyl ketone peroxides.

About Holonite
Since its establishment in 1969, Holonite has been leading the way
in producing cast composite stone products for the building industry.
Holonite provides doorsteps, window sills, wall covers and façade elements for both interior and exterior use. Many European architects and
builders use its products to beautify buildings and give them a unique
signature. Holonite Cradle to Cradle certified products are designed and
manufactured as extremely durable elements with a minimum impact
on the environment, but with a maximum impact on the aesthetics
and comfort of homes and buildings. The products are waterproof and
insensitive to frost and chemical exposure. Furthermore, they require
virtually no maintenance. Products can be returned to the company
at the end of their life cycle, where they can be totally reused in the
production process to create a new high-quality building element.

trial runs for a series of cast articles. Parts ranging from 3
to 8 cm in thickness and various mould types (steel and
epoxy) were successfully tested. The data derived from
the lab results were reproduced in the factory. The shrinkage levels and residual styrene levels remained the same
while keeping same high quality product and mechanical
properties.

Conclusions and path forward

Fig. 2: Door sill with seating block (picture courtesy of Holonite)

perature curves for the various systems. In Figure 1 the
curves for Nouryact CF13 in combination with Butanox
M-50 are shown. It can be concluded that 2 phr Butanox
M-50 in combination with 2 phr Nouryact CF13 (curve
2) is most similar to the standard curing system, i.e. Trigonox 44B plus a Cobalt 1%-solution (curve 1). The gel
time was the same and the peak exotherm slightly higher
which was not a problem. Curve 3 and 5 both have a too
long gel time. Curve 4 shows a much lower peak exotherm
which is caused by a sub-optimal dose ratio between Nouryact CF13 and Butanox M-50 (i.e. too much accelerator
in relation to the amount of peroxide). The time-temperature curves from tests using Nouryact CF31 and Nouryact
CF32 are not included in the graph. Both showed peak
exotherms which were approx. 10°C lower than the one
from Nouryact CF13. As a consequence Holonite prefers
using Nouryact CF13 for their process.

The experience of Holonite shows how cobalt can be
successfully replaced by a cobalt-free accelerator. In
retrospect, it can be said that the change-over to a cobaltfree curing system was easy with almost 1:1 replacement
of the cobalt-based curing system. Nouryact CF13 will
be used in part of the production to show customers and
stakeholders this innovative step forward to a cleaner
and more sustainable end product. Holonite received the
EPEA Cradle-to-Cradle Basic certification for their existing production process in July 2013.
AkzoNobel's Nouryact product range allows all thermoset
market segments to switch to cobalt-free curing. In fact, in
several cases cobalt-free accelerators can even outperform
cobalt enabling a more robust curing and faster Barcol
development (shorter cycle times). Further developments
and new application approvals are in progress. n

More information:
www.akzonobel.com/polymer
www.holonite.nl
Contacts:
roel.zuijderduin@akzonobel.com
pkonings@holonite.nl

Plant introduction at Holonite
Based on the above-derived recipe, Holonite carried out
No84 October 2013 /

jec composites magazine 43

http://www.akzonobel.com/polymer http://www.holonite.nl

JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #84 - October 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #84 - October 2013