Momentive Performance Materials Introduces Niax* Surfactants for Microcellular Polyurethane Foam Applications

Momentive Performance Materials today announced an innovative family of Niax* silicone surfactants that may be cost-effective for use in low-density foam formulations for important applications such as footwear and automotive.

Generally providing improved performance over the current industry standard, Niax silicones L-1501, L-1502, L-1503 and L-1504 are “cell regulators” that may be highly useful in a variety of polyurethane systems and across a wide range of microcellular foam densities. Niax silicones L-1505, L-1506 and L-1609 are “shear stabilizers” to be considered for use with the Niax cell regulators in ester, ether or mixed ester/ether systems.

“This new family of Niax silicones provides manufacturers with the best of both worlds – options for outstanding value and high performance,” said Alberto Melle, global marketing manager, Momentive. “Through the use of our new line of surfactants, in conjunction with our new generation cell-opening Niax catalysts, customers may achieve outstanding end product performance without sacrificing cost efficiencies.”

Cell regulating Niax silicone L-1501 typically helps provide the broadest use level latitude and allows the greatest cell opening. Niax silicone L-1502 may help improve skin formation. Niax silicone L-1504 may be a more cost-effective surfactant alternative within a narrower use range. Niax silicone L-1503 is an excellent candidate to consider as a potential cost-effective alternative for automotive applications where reduced silicone fugitivity is a requirement.
Below a foam density of 0.32 g/cc the cell-regulating surfactants tend to work synergistically with Momentive’s shear-stabilizing surfactants. Shear stabilizers Niax silicone L-1505 (high performance for ester-based systems), Niax silicone L-1506 (cost-effective for both ester and ether-based system) and Niax silicone L-1609 (high performance for ether-based systems) typically reduce cell collapse and improve surface skin formation in the end product foam.

To find out more about Niax silicones, please call 00.800.431.1000 or +31.164.293.276 or visit www.momentive.com.

*Niax is a trademark of Momentive Performance Materials Inc.

Press Contact Momentive Performance Materials

Momentive Performance Materials GmbH
Robert Scheib
Communications Leader EMEA & India
D-51368 Leverkusen
Germany

Phone: +49 (0) 214 30 4 05 32
Cell Phone: +49 (0) 172 2 47 53 93
E-Mail Robert.Scheib@momentive.com
Website Information: www.momentive.com

Momentive Performance Materials – Business Overview

Momentive Performance Materials was created from the sale of GE Advanced Materials and its former Joint Ventures GE Bayer Silicones and GE Toshiba Silicones to Apollo Management, L.P. in December 2006. Momentive is the world’s second-largest producer of silicones and silicone derivatives and a global leader in the development and manufacture of products derived from quartz and advanced ceramics. Silicones are a multi-functional family of materials used in thousands of products and serve as a critical ingredient in many construction, transportation, personal care, electronic, consumer and agricultural uses.

Silicones are generally used as an additive to a wide variety of end-use products in order to provide or enhance certain of their attributes, such as resistance (heat, ultraviolet light and chemical), lubrication, adhesion or viscosity. Some of the most well-known end-use product applications include bath and shower caulk, pressure sensitive adhesive labels, foam products, cosmetics and tires. Our Quartz division manufactures quartz, specialty ceramics and crystal products for use in a number of high-technology industries, which typically require products made to precise specifications.

These materials solutions are used as springboards for innovation in hundreds of consumer and industrial applications ranging from car engines to biomedical devices to integrated circuits. Industries served include aerospace, agriculture, appliances, automotive, construction, electronics, furniture and furnishings, healthcare, home care, industrial, lighting, packaging, personal care, plastics, semiconductor, telecommunications, tire, transportation, and water purification.

World Headquarters: Wilton, Connecticut
President & CEO: Jonathan Rich
Number of Employees: Approximately 5,000
Revenue in 2006: $2.5 Billion
Website information available under: www.momentive.com

This release was published on openPR.