Degussa is partnering with SpecialChem to present their Dynasylan^® organofunctional silane technology and its latest advancements to the Paints, Coatings & Inks industry and related expert communities at www.specialchem4coatings.com.

This partnership allows SpecialChem’s global community of 43,000 users like Paints & Coatings formulators, manufacturers, specifiers including other interested end-users to gain a thorough understanding of the benefits Dynasylan^® silanes can provide from the leader of this technology, and discover the various possibilities silanes can offer to solve specific application issues.

Silanes are well established as adhesion promoters and surface modifiers in coatings applications, says Gerrit Schneider, Market Segment Manager Paints & Coatings, but they are increasingly used in many different ways as they can make a huge impact on a formulation, even in small amounts. Using the chemistry of silanes can help formulators to offer new solutions to customers in their application fields.

As the market leader in organofunctional silanes, Degussa has proven that it is able to establish cutting edge technology in the Paints & Coatings market. A very successful example is the use of Dynasylan^® HYDROSIL products for metal-coating or metal-pretreatment applications. These special silane types allow for the substitution of chromium-containing formulations and can help to match demanding quality standards in corrosion protection for various substrates or applications. With Dynasylan^® HYDROSIL Degussa is the first and only company to offer a broad portfolio of patented waterbased silane specialties, which are produced using the latest sol-gel processes and are commercially available in a tons scale.
And there are more innovations to come at the 2007 European Coatings Show…

“We are really pleased to contribute to Degussa’s success in Paints & Coatings”, says Bernard Hasson, Founder and CEO of SpecialChem. “Silanes offer many possibilities to the Paints & Coatings industry although their use has been limited so far. We are convinced that our collaboration with Degussa will help our community get a better knowledge of this technology and help them solve technical issues, where, as of today, there are no solution with existing raw materials.”

Among other features, formulators will discover the brand new Expert Zone “Dynasylan^® for Paints & Coatings”. This Silane Center has been developed to present the original possibilities offered by this technology as well as case studies to show how silanes can “make it possible”. Furthermore, interested experts can contact the Degussa silane experts via the SpecialChem platform to ask for advice or samples. This service is called “Tech Direct”.

To visit the Silane Center, go to: www.specialchem4coatings.com/tc/silanes

Additional service upgrades are expected throughout the year on the SpecialChem platform. With all of these services, effective online support is also available to deal with any specific technical requirements.

With a sales turnover of € 11.8 billion of which three-quarters originate from outside Germany, Degussa is a multinational corporation consistently aligned to specialty chemistry, one of the top 10 companies in the chemicals field that stands for innovation, reliability, excellence and intelligent linking. Degussa, as its claim "creating essentials" expresses, provides products and system solutions that are valuable and indispensable for the success of its customers. For more information, please visit www.degussa.com

The Aerosil & Silanes Business Unit employs 1,900 staff worldwide at 9 sites in Europe, the USA and Asia. During the financial year 2005, sales of approx. € 502 million were generated.

The extremely finely dispersed AEROSIL^® is directly used to improve the surfaces and mechanical properties of diverse materials. It is used, for example, to improve the scratch resistance of lacquers, to reinforce silicone, and to adjust the ultraviolet protection of suntan lotions. At the same time, the chip industry uses AEROSIL^® to polish wafers (wafer crystals).

Dynasylan^® organofunctional silanes have a wide application field. They are deployed in adhesives, fillers, foundry resins, isolation materials, as additives in paints and lacquers, as well as in the electronics industry. In addition, Protectosil^®, a Silane Group product, protects buildings from graffiti and the resulting need for expensive removal work. Degussa’s Chlorine silanes are the basic raw material for the optical fibre industry.

The products from the Aerosil & Silanes Business Unit occupy leading global positions founded on 60 years’ experience. To ensure that this position is maintained in the future, we focus our research activities on the continuous further development of customer-specific solutions. Innovative products in the fields of edifice protection, electronics and high-performance ceramics are opening up new fields of application for Degussa.

Since January 1, 2005, Degussa Advanced Nanomaterials, the in-house start-up, has been integrated into the Aerosil & Silanes Business Unit. Degussa Advanced Nanomaterials offers its clients innovative problem solutions thanks to high-quality, nano-structured materials such as zinc oxide, indium zinc oxide and ceroxide. AdNano^® products are in widespread use in the growth markets of the optical, electronic and paint, lacquer and varnish industries.

SpecialChem is an online Innovation & Solutions Accelerator focusing on Specialty Chemicals and Engineering Plastics. Through a series of online services, it helps the specialty chemical industry develop new and innovative products much faster with innovative raw materials. It is active in various markets including Polymer Additives and Colors, Adhesives and Sealants, Paints, Coatings and Inks, and Cosmetics. SpecialChem was founded in 2000 and is based in Paris, France.