AOC's EcoTek line is being launched with a range unsaturated polyester and vinyl ester resins, which are listed on the new www.green-resins.com website (which goes live on 5 February).
“AOC pioneered green resin technology in the 1980s when the company introduced unsaturated polyesters which chemically incorporate recycled polyethylene terephthalate, or PET,” claims Emilio Oramas, Business Manager - Open Mold Reinforced. “Over the years, we expanded development of Earth-friendly materials that support customer preferences and requirements for greener practices. Our work has grown to the point where we can launch our new class of EcoTek materials.”
AOC reports that its EcoTek product technologies follow three major paths toward 'greenness'. Many products follow more than one path:
- Renewable content. AOC can offer several resin options that use building blocks derived from renewable resources instead of fossil fuels. The renewable content comes from agricultural products such as corn, plant oils and/or other sustainable resources that are precursors to the building blocks of the polymeric backbone.
- Recycled content. EcoTek recycled content comes from reclaimed polyethylene terephthalate (PET) that would otherwise be destined for a landfill and/or from reclaimed glycols that would require diversion into a chemical waste stream.
- Styrene free. AOC has patented a new resin technology that is entirely free of styrene. New resin formulations incorporate alternative reactive diluent monomers that have very low volatility for reduced exposure in the workplace and lower emissions in the environment.
EcoTek technologies are available for the primary composite manufacturing processes and end-use market sectors. The initial product listings are:
- cast polymers;
- cured-in-place pipe;
- closed mould;
- corrosion;
- open mould laminating; and
- styrene-free.
AOC will officially launch EcoTek Green Technologies during Composites 2010, the annual trade show of the American Composites Manufacturing Association, which takes place on 9-11 February in Las Vegas.
