Huntsman presents new testing data at World Pultrusion Conference

Auburn Hills (Detroit), Mich. — Huntsman Polyurethanes will present new physical property and part assembly testing data along with processing guidelines for the pultrusion industry at the  8th World Pultrusion Conference (www.pultruders.com) in Budapest, Hungary, on March 23, 2006.

As more and more manufacturers seek to expand their markets and differentiate their product offerings, they are looking to polyurethanes for commercial use. To share their expertise in this area, Huntsman Polyurethanes will follow-up on their well-received practical guidelines presentation at Composites 2005 in September by showcasing a new paper using data compiled from testing completed in the past six months. The paper will discuss benefits and comparative physical and mechanical properties of pultruded urethane profiles versus those of alternative resins such as unsaturated polyesters (UPE), vinyl esters (VE), and hybrid resins – all in the same profiles with identical reinforcements.  The paper will conclude with general processing guidelines to help ensure success when pultruding urethane composites.

“We believe the best approach to helping pultruders succeed with two-part urethane resins is to demystify their processing and handling parameters versus more traditional resins,” says David Bareis, Sales Manager for Polyurethane Composites at Huntsman. “Once these differences are understood, processors can begin producing higher performing composites in moderately complex profiles that take advantage of the many benefits urethanes offer.  As processors gain more experience and comfort, we expect to see even higher levels of performance in very-complex profiles, which should provide opportunities for new applications and market segments for pultruded composites. We hope our presentation at the World Pultrusion Conference will encourage other pultruders to consider switching to urethane systems.” 

Over the past five years, several new resin systems and processing methods have been commercialized in the pultrusion industry to meet processor demands for higher performing polymers capable of overcoming the mechanical and processing limitations of traditional resins such as UPE and VE.  Pultruded profiles in traditional resins may be limited due to brittleness and insufficient durability, and/or by reaction line speeds, which in turn affect productivity and therefore profits on the pultrusion line. 

Hybrid urethane-polyester and two-component urethane resins have been developed in an effort to help pultruders expand their markets and differentiate their products. 

Two-component polyurethanes have emerged as the highest performing resin system, exhibiting superior physical and mechanical performance and offering processing enhancements vs. other pultrusion-grade resins. For instance, urethanes provide excellent wet-out and high adhesion to glass reinforcements, low void content, and low shrinkage.  These features lead to significant property improvements over traditional pultrusion resins, such as higher stiffness and strength without loss of ductility.  Hence, with urethane composites, processors can maintain existing mechanical properties in thinner, lighter cross-sections, or they can maintain existing wall thicknesses to achieve higher stiffness and strength without loss of durability.

In addition to better physical and mechanical properties, pultruded urethanes are also capable of being processed at higher line speeds and of providing superior secondary finishing with less waste vs. alternative resins. These factors can greatly improve manufacturing productivity.  Cost models developed at Huntsman Polyurethanes demonstrate opportunities to reduce profile cost and mass – features that are important in almost any market segment.

The material handling and processing requirements for polyurethane materials are different from, and to date, less well understood than those of traditional resins, a factor that has slowed polyurethane use in commercial applications. 

The 8th World Pultrusion Conference is being organized by the European Pultrusion Technology Association (EPTA). This organization was formed in 1989 by Europe’s leading pultruders handling fiber-reinforced composites to promote the responsible use of fiber-reinforced composite materials, and for the exchange of information between members.  For more information, see www.pultruders.com .

Huntsman’s pultrusion-grade RIMLINE® polyurethane resins offer superior mechanical performance, the potential for faster line speeds, and improved secondary finishing with less waste compared to traditional resin families. They are available for use in a wide range of applications, including complex fenestration profiles (window lineals and architectural moldings), sporting goods, and structural shapes.

For technical or commercial information on Huntsman’s pultrusion-grade RIMLINE® polyurethane resins, contact the company at Huntsman Polyurethanes, in Amercia : 2190 Executive Hills Boulevard - Auburn Hills - Michigan  48326 – USA - Tel +1.248.322.7300, or in Europe : Everslaan 45 – B-3078 Everberg – Belgium – Tel +32 2 758 9874 or see www.huntsman.com/pu/ .

Huntsman is a global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated and commodity chemicals. Its operating companies manufacture basic products for a variety of global industries including chemicals, plastics, automotive, aviation, footwear, paints and coatings, construction, technology, agriculture, health care, textiles, detergent, personal care, furniture, appliances and packaging. Originally known for pioneering innovations in packaging, and later, rapid and integrated growth in petrochemicals, Huntsman today has 11,300 employees, 57 operations in 22 countries and had 2004 revenues of $11.5 billion.

Statements in this release that are not historical are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management’s current beliefs and expectations. The forward-looking statements in this release are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances and involve risks and uncertainties that may affect the company’s operations, markets, products, services, prices and other factors as discussed in the Huntsman companies’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Significant risks and uncertainties may relate to, but are not limited to, financial, economic, competitive, environmental, political, legal, regulatory and technological factors. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the company’s expectations will be realized. The company assumes no obligation to provide revisions to any forward-looking statements should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by securities and other applicable laws.

RIMLINE® is a registered trademark of Huntsman Corporation or an affiliate thereof in one or more, but not all, countries.