LANXESS’s Rhein Chemie Additives (ADD) business unit is to rename its predispersed cellulose fiber masterbatches, previously known as Santoweb. The new name for this product group will be Rhenogran WP (wood pulp) as of July 1, 2016. “As a result, our predispersed reinforcement additives based on pulp now follow a uniform nomenclature, thus giving our customers a better overview,” says Philipp Junge, head of the Rubber Additives business line in LANXESS’s ADD business unit. LANXESS markets its extensive range of predispersed polymer-bound additives for the rubber industry under the brand name Rhenogran. “At the same time, we are introducing a new cellulose fiber grade with which we want to increase supply reliability for our customers,” adds Junge.

With rising requirements on the technical performance and quality of rubber components, particularly in the automotive sector, the demand for reinforcement additives is also growing. With its predispersed cellulose fiber and aramid short-fiber masterbatches, LANXESS offers rubber processors a wide variety of reinforcement options for different requirements and applications ranging from hoses, conveyor belts and timing belts to ultra-high-performance and special-purpose tires.

The fiber masterbatch product group is characterized by the predispersion of various fiber pulps in special polymer matrices. This enables good miscibility and homogeneous dispersion of the fiber pulp in the rubber compound. Only by being fully dispersed can the fiber pulp have its complete impact and achieve an optimal reinforcement effect in the end product.

In Rhenogran WP, cellulose fiber pulp enables the reinforcement of end products made of polymers such as EPDM, SBR, NR and PVC. This is an economical solution for increasing the quality and service life of end products that are exposed to high temperatures, media and pressures.

Under extreme mechanical, dynamic and thermal stresses, an excellent reinforcement performance can be achieved in the end product with Rhenogran P91-40, which incorporates the highly resilient and very lightweight Twaron aramid short-fiber pulp evenly in the rubber compound. Rhenogran P91-40 is suitable for many rubber grades including NR, IR, BR, SBR, EPDM, CR, NBR and HNBR.

The LANXESS ADD business unit supplies the rubber industry with a broad range of predispersed polymer-bound additives, processing promoters, vulcanization and filler activators, anti-sun check waxes, release agents, tire marking inks and high-performance curing bladders.