Wacker, the Munich-based chemical group, will be presenting a wide range of polymeric binders for nonwovens and textiles at INDEX 2020. The company’s focus will be on sustainable solutions based on the biomass balance approach. Wacker will also unveil a new name for the portfolio in question: products that until now have been marketed under the Vinneco brand name will be called Vinnapas eco going forward. From this point onward, the suffix “eco” will apply to all Wacker products that conserve fossil raw materials and instead use raw materials certified as sustainable according to the biomass balance approach.
Aqueous dispersions are indispensable starting materials for manufacturing nonwoven fabrics and technical textiles. When added to table napkins, wet wipes and feminine hygiene products, for example, dispersions improve the properties of these nonwovens, such as softness, mechanical stability and absorbency. Here Wacker offers a comprehensive portfolio of technologically mature dispersions suitable for a wide array of applications in both its classic Vinnol and Vinnapas product lines, as well as its exceptionally sustainable Vinneco products.
Wacker uses bio-based acetic acid to manufacture its Vinnapas eco polymeric binders. This substance is formed as a byproduct of wood-industry processes such as preparing fibrous material for paper manufacturing. The bio-based acetic acid used at WACKER has been certified by the PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) and stems from sustainably managed forests located within a radius of 400 km of WACKER’s Burghausen site. WACKER uses bio-based acetic acid and ethylene to produce vinyl acetate monomer, which – again using ethylene – is copolymerized to form vinyl acetate-ethylene (VAE). In production, bio-based acetic acid can be blended with conventional acetic acid, and is thus directly coupled into Wacker’s existing production line. The compound always exhibits the same chemical and physical behavior, regardless of whether it was derived from fossil-based or renewable raw materials, ensuring uniformly high quality.