Arkema S.A. is a publicly listed , multi-national manufacturer of specialty materials, headquartered in Colombes , near Paris, France. It has three specialty materials segments (or divisions); adhesives , advanced materials and coatings . A further segment covers chemical intermediates.
65-636: Bostik is a manufacturer and distributor of adhesives and sealants for the construction, industrial and consumer markets. With annual sales of €2.1 billion, the company employs 6,000 people and has a presence in more than 40 countries. Bostik is part of the French-based Arkema group. In 1889, the Boston Blacking Company, a producer of leather colourings and dyes, was founded in Chelsea, Massachusetts . The company became
130-618: A health hazard in their own right, it dissolves in moisture and breaks down onto surfaces, particularly in areas where the air is cool enough to breathe, so would not be inhaled. PVC is widely and heavily used in construction and building industry, For example, vinyl siding is extensively is a popular low-maintenance material, particularly in Ireland , the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. The material comes in
195-668: A clear correlation between dioxin formation and chloride content and indicate that PVC is a significant contributor to the formation of both dioxin and PCB in incinerators. In February 2007, the Technical and Scientific Advisory Committee of the US Green Building Council (USGBC) released its report on a PVC avoidance related materials credit for the LEED Green Building Rating system. The report concludes that "no single material shows up as
260-417: A commitment to eliminate the use of cadmium (previously used as a part component of heat stabilizers in window profiles) and phase out lead-based heat stabilizers (as used in pipe and profile areas) such as liquid autodiachromate and calcium polyhydrocummate by 2015. According to the final report of Vinyl 2010 , cadmium was eliminated across Europe by 2007. The progressive substitution of lead-based stabilizers
325-469: A compound by the incorporation of additives (but not necessarily all of the following) such as heat stabilizers , UV stabilizers , plasticizers, processing aids, impact modifiers, thermal modifiers, fillers, flame retardants , biocides , blowing agents and smoke suppressors, and, optionally, pigments. The choice of additives used for the PVC finished product is controlled by the cost performance requirements of
390-587: A gasket-sealed joint. The most common type of gasket utilized in North America is a metal-reinforced elastomer, commonly referred to as a Rieber sealing system. PVC is often used as the insulating sheath on electrical cables . PVC is chosen because of its good electrical insulation, ease of extrusion , and resistance to burn. In a fire, PVC can form hydrogen chloride fumes; the chlorine serves to scavenge free radicals , making PVC-coated wires fire retardant . While hydrogen chloride fumes can also pose
455-407: A range of colors and finishes, including a photo-effect wood finish, and is used as a substitute for painted wood, mostly for window frames and sills when installing insulated glazing in new buildings; or to replace older single-glazed windows, as it does not decompose and is weather-resistant. Other uses include fascia , and siding or weatherboarding . This material has almost entirely replaced
520-542: A rare disease. Since that time, studies of PVC workers in Australia, Italy, Germany, and the UK have all associated certain types of occupational cancers with exposure to vinyl chloride, and it has become accepted that VCM is a carcinogen. PVC produces HCl and carbon dioxide upon combustion. Studies of household waste burning indicate consistent increases in dioxin generation with increasing PVC concentrations. According to
585-846: A rigid solid to a soft gel, and almost 90% of all plasticizer production is used in making flexible PVC. The majority is used in films and cable sheathing. Flexible PVC can consist of over 85% plasticizer by mass, however unplasticized PVC (UPVC) should not contain any. The most common class of plasticizers used in PVC is phthalates, which are diesters of phthalic acid . Phthalates can be categorized as high and low, depending on their molecular weight. Low phthalates such as Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) have increased health risks and are generally being phased out. High-molecular-weight phthalates such as diisononyl phthalate (DINP) and diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP) are generally considered safer. While DEHP has been medically approved for many years for use in medical devices, it
650-524: A white solid inside a flask of vinyl chloride that had been left on a shelf sheltered from sunlight for four weeks. In the early 20th century, the Russian chemist Ivan Ostromislensky and Fritz Klatte of the German chemical company Griesheim-Elektron both attempted to use PVC in commercial products, but difficulties in processing the rigid, sometimes brittle polymer thwarted their efforts. Waldo Semon and
715-407: Is autocatalytic . Many diverse agents have been used including, traditionally, derivatives of heavy metals (lead, cadmium). Metallic soaps (metal "salts" of fatty acids such as calcium stearate ) are common in flexible PVC applications. PVC is a thermoplastic polymer. Its properties are usually categorized based on rigid and flexible PVCs. The heat stability of raw PVC is very poor, so
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#1732780037619780-458: Is water-resistant , used for its weather-resistant qualities in coats, skiing equipment, shoes, jackets , and aprons . The two main application areas for single-use medically approved PVC compounds are flexible containers and tubing: containers used for blood and blood components, for urine collection or for ostomy products and tubing used for blood taking and blood giving sets, catheters, heart-lung bypass sets, hemodialysis sets etc. In Europe
845-632: Is 46 percent lower than conventional produced PVC. So the use of recycled material leads to a significant better ecological footprint . The global warming potential is 39 percent lower. In November 2005, one of the largest hospital networks in the US, Catholic Healthcare West , signed a contract with B. Braun Melsungen for vinyl-free intravenous bags and tubing. In January 2012, a major US West Coast healthcare provider, Kaiser Permanente , announced that it will no longer buy intravenous (IV) medical equipment made with PVC and DEHP-type plasticizers. In 1998,
910-418: Is also confirmed in the same document showing a reduction of 75% since 2000 and ongoing. This is confirmed by the corresponding growth in calcium-based stabilizers, used as an alternative to lead-based stabilizers, more and more, also outside Europe. Some of the most crucial additives are heat stabilizers. These agents minimize loss of HCl , a degradation process that starts above 70 °C (158 °F) and
975-457: Is also used to produce thin, colored, or clear, adhesive -backed films referred to simply as "vinyl". These films are typically cut on a computer -controlled plotter (see vinyl cutter ) or printed in a wide-format printer . These sheets and films are used to produce a wide variety of commercial signage products, vinyl wraps or racing stripes on vehicles for aesthetics or as wrap advertising , and general purpose stickers . PVC fabric
1040-567: Is an olefin elastic high-performance attachment adhesive." Darius Deak accepts an Adhesives and Sealants Council award. In 1937, Boston Blacking built a Streamline Moderne headquarters building in Cambridge, Massachusetts , signposted as "B B CHEMICAL", and used it until 1966. The building has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1982. Bostik is among the four top adhesives and sealants producers in
1105-728: Is called, is produced by chlorination of aqueous solution of suspension PVC particles followed by exposure to UV light which initiates the free-radical chlorination. Phthalates, which are incorporated into plastics as plasticizers, comprise approximately 70% of the US plasticizer market; phthalates are by design not covalently bound to the polymer matrix, which makes them highly susceptible to leaching. Phthalates are contained in plastics at high percentages. For example, they can contribute up to 40% by weight to intravenous medical bags and up to 80% by weight in medical tubing. Vinyl products are pervasive—including toys, car interiors, shower curtains, and flooring—and initially release chemical gases into
1170-451: Is easier to handle, resists corrosion and abrasion, and may be color-coded for increased visibility. It is found in a variety of industries and environments both indoor and out. Molded PVC is used to produce phonograph, or "vinyl," records . PVC piping is a cheaper alternative to metal tubing used in musical instrument making; it is therefore a common alternative when making wind instruments, often for leisure or for rarer instruments such as
1235-712: Is the temperature of the combustion gases. Oxygen concentration also plays a major role on dioxin formation, but not the chlorine content. Several studies have also shown that removing PVC from waste would not significantly reduce the quantity of dioxins emitted. The EU Commission published in July 2000 a Green Paper on the Environmental Issues of PVC" A study commissioned by the European Commission on "Life Cycle Assessment of PVC and of principal competing materials" states that "Recent studies show that
1300-456: Is the world's third-most widely produced synthetic polymer of plastic (after polyethylene and polypropylene ). About 40 million tons of PVC are produced each year. PVC comes in rigid (sometimes abbreviated as RPVC) and flexible forms. Rigid PVC is used in construction for pipes, doors and windows. It is also used in making plastic bottles, packaging, and bank or membership cards. Adding plasticizers makes PVC softer and more flexible. It
1365-481: Is used in plumbing, electrical cable insulation, flooring, signage, phonograph records , inflatable products, and in rubber substitutes. With cotton or linen, it is used in the production of canvas . Polyvinyl chloride is a white, brittle solid. It is soluble in ketones , chlorinated solvents, Dimethylformamide , THF and DMAc . PVC was synthesized in 1872 by German chemist Eugen Baumann after extended investigation and experimentation. The polymer appeared as
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#17327800376191430-449: Is €1,9 billion. As of 31 December 2010, the major stockholders of Arkema (owning at least 5% of capital declared to AMF) were Greenlight Capital (5,5%), Dodge & Cox (5.2%), Groupe Bruxelles Lambert (10%). Since January 1, 2012, the level of 5% reported to AMF was passed by: Polyvinyl chloride Polyvinyl chloride (alternatively: poly(vinyl chloride) , colloquial : vinyl or polyvinyl ; abbreviated: PVC )
1495-646: The B.F. Goodrich Company developed a method in 1926 to plasticize PVC by blending it with various additives, including the use of dibutyl phthalate by 1933. Polyvinyl chloride is produced by polymerization of the vinyl chloride monomer (VCM), as shown. About 80% of production involves suspension polymerization . Emulsion polymerization accounts for about 12%, and bulk polymerization accounts for 8%. Suspension polymerization produces particles with average diameters of 100–180 μm, whereas emulsion polymerization gives much smaller particles of average size around 0.2 μm. VCM and water are introduced into
1560-622: The European Chemicals Bureau of the European Commission released a final draft risk assessment of BBzP which found "no concern" for consumer exposure including exposure to children. Lead compounds had previously been widely added to PVC to improve workability and stability but have been shown to leach into drinking water from PVC pipes. In Europe the use of lead-based stabilizers has been discontinued. The VinylPlus voluntary commitment which began in 2000, saw European Stabiliser Producers Association (ESPA) members complete
1625-423: The contrabass flute . An instrument that is almost exclusively built from PVC tube is the thongophone , a percussion instrument that is played by slapping the open tubes with a flip-flop or similar. PVC is also used as a raw material in automotive underbody coating. PVC can be usefully modified by chlorination, which increases its chlorine content to or above 67%. Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride , (CPVC), as it
1690-778: The 1940s and the company took on Bostik as a company name in the 1960s. In 1980, Bostik was taken over by the Connecticut group Emhart Corporation, which nine years later was, itself, bought up by Black & Decker . Black & Decker split apart the mechanical and chemical activities of the group to leave Bostik as a stand-alone concern. In 1990, the French oil and gas group Total acquired Bostik and merged its own adhesive affiliates into it. In 2000, Totalfina and Elf Aquitaine merged to form TotalFinaElf, subsequently renamed Total. Their respective adhesives divisions, Bostik and Atofindley, were brought together to form Bostik Findley, and
1755-813: The Arkema management, industrial and social guarantees as well as support measures designed to protect the rights of employees should the Klesch group implement redundancies following their take-over of the vinyl products activities. Hence two trust funds of €20 M were set up to secure compensation payments and the rights of employees of the companies that were sold off. Following the sale, Arkema reorganized its activities into three business segments: High Performance Materials, Industrial Specialties and Coating Solutions. Each represented about one third of Group turnover. 2015 : Purchase of Bostik from Total S.A. The company also joined CJ Group of South Korea to invest in
1820-544: The European Directives on End-of-Life Vehicles , Packaging and Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment). Since June 2011, it is followed by VinylPlus, a new set of targets for sustainable development. Its main target is to recycle 800,000 tonnes per year of PVC by 2020 including 100,000 tonnes of "difficult to recycle" waste. One facilitator for collection and recycling of PVC waste is Recovinyl. The reported and audited mechanically recycled PVC tonnage in 2016
1885-1219: The Group has built a presence across the coating market. Its portfolio of coating materials and technologies includes waterborne, solvent borne, powder coating resins and additives from Arkema Coating Resins, rheology additives for waterborne coatings from Coatex and photocured resins for optic fibers, graphic arts, electronics, etc. from Sartomer. Brands are EnVia, Rheotec, Sarbio. Includes thiochemicals (for animal nutrition, gas natural odorant), fluorochemicals (for refrigeration, air conditioning, blowing agent for insulating foam) and hydrogen peroxide (pulp and textile bleaching, chemical synthesis, water treatment). Brands include Albone (hydrogen peroxide), Paladin ( DMDS agricultural fumigant) and Forane (refrigerants). Arkema operates through industrial facilities in Europe , North America and Asia and marketing subsidiaries in around 40 countries. Arkema has 144 production facilities worldwide, including 61 in Europe , 43 in North America , 40 in Asia and in
1950-423: The Klesch group for reasons of profitability, but also to re-center its operations exclusively on specialty chemicals. As part of this divestment, Arkema made a 100 million euro cash payment to the Klesch group and took on debts amounting to 470 million euros to help revive the activity. In response to fears of redundancy and to protests from employees at a number of production sites, the trade unions negotiated, with
2015-448: The U.S. EPA dioxin inventory, landfill fires are likely to represent an even larger source of dioxin to the environment. A survey of international studies consistently identifies high dioxin concentrations in areas affected by open waste burning and a study that looked at the homologue pattern found the sample with the highest dioxin concentration was "typical for the pyrolysis of PVC". Other EU studies indicate that PVC likely "accounts for
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2080-427: The addition of a heat stabilizer during the process is necessary in order to ensure the product's properties. Traditional product PVC has a maximum operating temperature around 60 °C (140 °F) when heat distortion begins to occur. As a thermoplastic, PVC has an inherent insulation that aids in reducing condensation formation and resisting internal temperature changes for hot and cold liquids. Roughly half of
2145-429: The air. Some studies indicate that this outgassing of additives may contribute to health complications, and have resulted in a call for banning the use of DEHP on shower curtains, among other uses. In 2004 a joint Swedish-Danish research team found a statistical association between allergies in children and indoor air levels of DEHP and BBzP ( butyl benzyl phthalate ), which is used in vinyl flooring. In December 2006,
2210-499: The approval of professionals and the general public: Arkema The company was created in 2004, as part of French oil major Total 's restructuring of its chemicals business, and floated on the Paris stock exchange in May 2006. Turnover in 2021 was €9.5 billion. Arkema operates in more than 55 countries and has 20,200 employees, 13 research centers and 144 production plants. Arkema
2275-403: The best across all the human health and environmental impact categories, nor as the worst" but that the "risk of dioxin emissions puts PVC consistently among the worst materials for human health impacts." In Europe the overwhelming importance of combustion conditions on dioxin formation has been established by numerous researchers. The single most important factor in forming dioxin-like compounds
2340-453: The chain gives a few percent crystallinity that is influential on the properties of the material. About 57% of the mass of PVC is chlorine . The presence of chloride groups gives the polymer very different properties from the structurally related material polyethylene . At 1.4 g/cm , PVC's density is also higher than structurally related plastics such as polyethylene (0.88–0.96 g/cm ) and polymethylmethacrylate (1.18 g/cm ). About half of
2405-477: The chemical branch of United Shoe Machinery Corporation (USMC) – an American leader in the shoemaking industry – and grew in several countries through mergers, acquisitions and organic growth. By the late 1920s, the Boston Blacking Company was established in 12 countries across three continents and employed over 1,000 chemists and technicians. A number of products had been launched under the Bostik brand as early as
2470-433: The consumption of PVC from medical devices is approximately 85,000 tons each year. Almost one third of plastic-based medical devices are made from PVC. PVC has been applied to various items such as: bottles, packaging films, blister packs , cling wraps , and seals on metal lids. PVC may be extruded under pressure to encase wire rope and aircraft cable used for general purpose applications. PVC coated wire rope
2535-432: The end use specification (underground pipe, window frames, intravenous tubing and flooring all have very different ingredients to suit their performance requirements). Previously, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were added to certain PVC products as flame retardants and stabilizers. Among the common plastics , PVC is unique in its acceptance of large amounts of plasticizer with gradual changes in physical properties from
2600-581: The formation of The Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. by five Philadelphia Quakers in 1850. The Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. changed its name to Pennsalt Chemicals Corp in 1957 and merged with Wallace and Tiernan Inc. to form Pennwalt Corp in 1969. The year 1990 saw another reorganization of chemical production in France. Orkem's petrochemicals, styrenics, fertilizers and acrylics businesses were integrated into Atochem, while specialties (resin and paint) moved to Total. Montedison's organic peroxide business
2665-586: The industrial level, Bostik products are used in many sectors including aeronautics, household appliances, automotive, transport and construction. Bostik products are also used in the packaging industry and advanced packaging, as well as in the assembly sector and disposable hygiene products. Bostik is also for the General Public with preparation, assembly and repair products as well as a range of adhesives and glues, stationery and artisanar for DIY and hobby (including Blu Tack ). Two products have received
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2730-491: The infractions between May 1995 and December 2000. Arkema was fined €78 million in May 2006 for breaching EU antitrust law. Research and development spending totaled roughly 150 million euros, with half allocated to “green chemistry.” Arkema employs more than 1,200 researchers, whose work focuses on two main areas: ultra-high performance polymers and sustainable development solutions. Arkema generates sales of €7.9 billion, broken down as follows: Arkema's net debt in 2020
2795-668: The manufacture of L-methionine in Malaysia. In 2019 Sartomer won an Adhesives and Sealants Council (ASC) Innovation Award for "An electron Beam curable Resealable Adhesive that only sticks to itself." 2020 : Plexiglas business sold to the American group Trinseo for $ 1.1 billion. 2021 : Acquisition of Ashland's Performance Adhesives business for $ 1.65 billion. 2022 : Acquisition of Permoseal, an adhesive solutions company in South Africa. Formed in 2020 by
2860-475: The name was subsequently changed in 2004 to Bostik. In 2013 Bostik revisited its brand identity, with a new signature "smart adhesives" and a gecko inspired from nature with a science-based connection to Bostik's adhesives business. In 2015, Arkema, a global chemical major with leadership positions in specialty chemicals and high performance materials, acquired Bostik. In 2019 Bostik won an Adhesives and Sealants Council (ASC) Innovation Award for " "Brilliance" which
2925-444: The overwhelming majority of chlorine that is available for dioxin formation during landfill fires." The next largest sources of dioxin in the U.S. EPA inventory are medical and municipal waste incinerators. Various studies have been conducted that reach contradictory results. For instance a study of commercial-scale incinerators showed no relationship between the PVC content of the waste and dioxin emissions. Other studies have shown
2990-490: The plant. These turned out to be "small container ruptures" of burning organic peroxides. A 1.5 mile evacuation zone was set up around the site. Total, Elf Aquitaine and Arkema were investigated by the EU Commission for involvement in an illegal supply, sales and pricing cartel in the hydrogen peroxide and sodium perborate markets. The Commission found that Arkema's predecessor companies Atochem and Atofina committed
3055-488: The presence of PVC has no significant effect on the amount of dioxins released through incineration of plastic waste ." In Europe, developments in PVC waste management have been monitored by Vinyl 2010, established in 2000. Vinyl 2010's objective was to recycle 200,000 tonnes of post-consumer PVC waste per year in Europe by the end of 2010, excluding waste streams already subject to other or more specific legislation (such as
3120-405: The reactor along with a polymerization initiator and other additives. The contents of the reaction vessel are pressurized and continually mixed to maintain the suspension and ensure a uniform particle size of the PVC resin. The reaction is exothermic and thus requires cooling. As the volume is reduced during the reaction (PVC is denser than VCM), water is continually added to the mixture to maintain
3185-403: The replacement of Pb-based stabilisers in 2015. In the early 1970s, the carcinogenicity of vinyl chloride (usually called vinyl chloride monomer or VCM) was linked to cancers in workers in the polyvinyl chloride industry. Specifically workers in polymerization section of a B.F. Goodrich plant near Louisville, Kentucky , were diagnosed with liver angiosarcoma also known as hemangiosarcoma ,
3250-567: The rest of the world. Arkema has 13 research centers worldwide: 7 in France ( Lacq ; Serquigny ; Cerdato ; Carling; Genay; Pierre-Benite; and Verneuil), three in the United States ( Cary, North Carolina ; Wauwatosa, Wisconsin ; and King of Prussia, Pennsylvania ) and two in China ( Shanghai and Changshu ). Most of Arkema's sales are generated in Europe , which accounts for 36% of
3315-452: The suspension. PVC may be manufactured from ethylene , which can be produced from either naphtha or ethane feedstock. The polymers are linear and are strong. The monomers are mainly arranged head-to-tail, meaning that chloride is located on alternating carbon centres. PVC has mainly an atactic stereochemistry , which means that the relative stereochemistry of the chloride centres are random. Some degree of syndiotacticity of
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#17327800376193380-484: The total. North and South America represents 31% of sales. Arkema has had a strong presence in China for over 13 years. Asia alone now accounts for 33% of sales. In August 2017, Hurricane Harvey caused the flooding of Arkema's Crosby, Texas plant. Arkema said it would be unable to prevent an explosion at the plant, after refrigeration equipment failed that kept temperature sensitive organic peroxides cold. On August 31, explosions were reported to be coming from
3445-482: The transfer of Bostik from the High Performance Materials segment. This segment gathers together four main product lines: specialty polyamides, fluoropolymers (PVDF), molecular sieves for filtration and adsorption and organic peroxides. Brands include Rilsan (polyamide 11), Luperox ( Organic Peroxide ), Kynar ( PVDF ), Siliporite ( Molecular Sieves ). Starting from upstream acrylic monomers,
3510-580: The use of cast iron for plumbing and drainage , being used for waste pipes, drainpipes, gutters and downspouts . PVC is known as having strong resistance against chemicals, sunlight, and oxidation from water. Polyvinyl chloride is formed in flat sheets in a variety of thicknesses and colors. As flat sheets, PVC is often expanded to create voids in the interior of the material, providing additional thickness without additional weight and minimal extra cost (see closed-cell PVC foamboard ). Sheets are cut using saws and rotary cutting equipment. Plasticized PVC
3575-445: The world's PVC production capacity is in China , despite the closure of many Chinese PVC plants due to issues complying with environmental regulations and poor capacities of scale. The largest single producer of PVC as of 2018 is Shin-Etsu Chemical of Japan , with a global share of around 30%. The product of the polymerization process is unmodified PVC. Before PVC can be made into finished products, it always requires conversion into
3640-431: The world's PVC resin manufactured annually is used for producing pipes for municipal and industrial applications. In the private homeowner market, it accounts for 66% of the household market in the US, and in household sanitary sewer pipe applications, it accounts for 75%. Buried PVC pipes in both water and sanitary sewer applications that are 100 mm (4 in) in diameter and larger are typically joined by means of
3705-506: The world. Bostik employs over 5,000 workers in 50 countries and five continents. Bostik has a well recognized name in industrial markets . It has some divisions such as: Industrial/Nonwovens, Construction and Distribution, and High-performance polymers . Its brands include Bostik, Blu Tack , Prestik , Sader, Quelyd, Simson, Evo-Stik, Alliance, Ardal, Cementone, Mem, Technik, Hey'Di, SB Mercier, Chem-Calk, Hydroment, Durabond, Anchor Weld, Clag, Gripfill, Flexacryl and Aquamac weatherband. On
3770-540: Was 568,695 tonnes which in 2018 had increased to 739,525 tonnes. One approach to address the problem of waste PVC is also through the process called Vinyloop . It is a mechanical recycling process using a solvent to separate PVC from other materials. This solvent turns in a closed loop process in which the solvent is recycled. Recycled PVC is used in place of virgin PVC in various applications: coatings for swimming pools, shoe soles, hoses, diaphragms tunnel, coated fabrics, PVC sheets. This recycled PVC's primary energy demand
3835-789: Was achieved on 18 May 2006 when Arkema debuted on the Paris stock market. In June 2011, Arkema joined the CAC Next 20 French stock market index. 2007: Arkema sells its agrochemical business (Cerexagri) to United Phosphorus and its urea-formaldehyde activities to Hexion . 2007: acquires Coatex company (specialty acrylic polymers) 2010: acquires acrylic Dow assets in the US 2011: acquires Total coating resins (Cray Valley and Sartomer) 2012: acquires Chinese Company Hipro Polymers (producer of bio-Polyamides) and Casda Biomaterials (producer of plant raw materials) In July 2012, Arkema sold for 1 symbolic euro its vinyl products business segment to
3900-510: Was acquired. Atochem was renamed Elf Atochem in 1992 and merged with Total's chemical businesses into Atofina a year after the takeover of Elf by TotalFina in 1999. In February 2004, Total, the French-based multinational oil conglomerate announced a reorganisation of its chemicals business. A new company under Total's ownership, named Arkema, was formed on 1 October into which Total placed certain assets held by its Atofina subsidiary, which
3965-460: Was created when French oil major Total restructured its chemicals business in 2004, but the company's roots go back many years. In 1971, Elf and Total merged their chemical operations into Aquitaine Total Organico (ATO), a joint subsidiary. The same year saw the creation of Produits Chimiques Ugine Kuhlmann (PCUK). The joint venture was renamed ATO Chimie in 1973. A second company, Chloé Chimie (40% Elf Aquitaine, 40% Total and 20% Rhône-Poulenc)
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#17327800376194030-568: Was formed in 1980 to take over Rhône-Poulenc's chlorochemicals business. Three years later, Total sold its stake in Chloé Chimie to Elf and chemical production in France was reorganized around Atochem, a wholly owned Elf Aquitaine subsidiary that incorporated the activities of ATO Chimie, Chloé Chimie and most of PCUK. In 1989, Elf Aquitaine acquired the American, Pennwalt Corporation and along with M&T Chemicals and Atochem Inc formed Atochem North America Inc. Pennwalt can trace its roots to
4095-488: Was permanently banned for use in children's products in the US in 2008 by US Congress; the PVC-DEHP combination had proved to be very suitable for making blood bags because DEHP stabilizes red blood cells, minimizing hemolysis (red blood cell rupture). However, DEHP is coming under increasing pressure in Europe. The assessment of potential risks related to phthalates, and in particular the use of DEHP in PVC medical devices,
4160-752: Was subject to scientific and policy review by the European Union authorities, and on 21 March 2010, a specific labeling requirement was introduced across the EU for all devices containing phthalates that are classified as CMR (carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction). The label aims to enable healthcare professionals to use this equipment safely, and, where needed, take appropriate precautionary measures for patients at risk of over-exposure BaZn stabilisers have successfully replaced cadmium-based stabilisers in Europe in many PVC semi-rigid and flexible applications. In Europe, particularly Belgium, there has been
4225-525: Was then dissolved. The kem part of Arkema's name references the company as a chemicals producer. Arkema was structured into three divisions producing vinyl products (chlorochemicals and PVC , vinyl compounds and pipes and profiles), industrial chemicals (acrylics, fluorochemicals , hydrogen peroxide , PMMA and thiochemicals ) and performance products (additives, organic peroxides , agrochemicals and urea-formaldehyde resins). Total's intention to spin off Arkema into an independent listed company
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