MechChem Africa June 2019

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Highly fire-retardant coating from biomaterials developed by VTT

A fire-retardant coating is set to revolu- tionise the market for coatings used in the fire-retardant treatment of constructionmaterials.Made fromnanocellu- lose and spray or brush applied, the coating is well suited for improving thefireproperties of wood-based materials. It reduces the access of oxygen to the surface, thus significantly inhibiting combustion.

VTT has found an effective production method for the coating through piloting and is currently seeking a partner to commer- cialise the technology. “The fire-retardant coating is based on HefCel technology (High-Consistency Enzymatic Fibrillation of Cellulose) developed and patented by VTT. HefCel technology enables the efficient and cost-effective production of nanocellulose from wood-based pulp,” says Panu Lahtinen, Senior Scientist, VTT. The solids content of HefCel materials is ten times the solids content achievedwith tra- ditional manufacturing methods. This makes them well suited for uses where low water content is preferred: for example, paints and coatings, packaging and composites, explains Lahtinen. “Nanocellulose has a natural tendency to adhere to wood and to form an airtight film on the surface of wood and various other small particles such as pigments. This makes nanocellulose-based coatings highly suitable fortheprotectivetreatmentofwoodsurfaces.

Afrox........................................................................................39 Air Products..........................................................................27 Atlas Copco...........................................................................16 Bonfiglioli.............................................................................IBC Comtest Group....................................................................21 EMVAfrica..............................................................................17 Festo.....................................................................................OFC Hahn & Hahn.......................................................................IFC Integrated Pump Rental...................................................37 Integrated Pump Technology.........................................11 Kendal Hunt Communications......................................33 KSB Pumps............................................................................12 LANXESS...................................................................................3 Mixtec................................................................................. OBC SKF............................................................................................14 Skyriders................................................................................23 Specialised Exhibitions.....................................................25 Verder SA...............................................................................13 Weir Minerals.......................................................................32 WIKA Instruments.............................................................19 Zest Weg Group..................................................................29 Index to advertisers on the expected consumption trends within Africa for these products in mining, utilities, oil and gas, construction and infrastructure. Attendees will gain insights into the current political and investment climates across the continent from local experts and international organisations with real case studies. Investors will also have the chance to assess greenfield and brownfield project showcase presentations. In other sessions, industry experts will discuss the latest global technological advances in wire, cable, tube and pipe manufacturing, and how these can be applied to African operations. q CombiningHefCel nanocellulosewithorganic pigments forms a spray- or brush-applied, airtight film that prevents the access of oxy- gen through the coating and at the same time significantly inhibits combustion.” The idea was developed by VTT research scientists Vesa Kunnari and Jaakko Pere as part of the DesignDriven Value Chains in the World of Cellulose (DWoC) project funded by Tekes (nowBusiness Finland) under VTT’s ‘New knowledge and business from research ideas’ funding programme. A project implemented under the funding programme studied, for example, was the suitability of HefCel technology as a paint and coating industry raw material. With its new piloting equipment, VTT is now able to manufacture bigger HefCel batches. The research scientistswere pleasedwith the quality of the first trial batch and the energy-efficiency of the production method. We havemanymore good ideas about how to simplify the process and make it even more efficient,” concludes Lahtinen. q

HefCel-coated wood (left) and untreated wood (right) after 30-second flame tests.

M etallic wire, cable, tube and pipe products are crucial to industries that form some of the key pillars of economic development across Africa, such as mining, construction, and power supply. For the first time, a conference will be held to bring together local stakeholders and international experts to discuss how to boost production and trade of these products throughout the continent. The inaugural Africa Wire, Cable & Tube Conference, co-organised by The Southern African-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK) and CRU, will be held on 11-13 November 2019 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Wire and Tube Düsseldorf, the world’s largest trade shows in this field are lead spon- sors of the conference. This unique partner- ship is the basis for creating an event inwhich the international wire, cable, tube and pipe Industry gathers for the inaugural Africa Wire, Cable & Tube Conference supply chain will meet and make new trade partnerships with key African stakeholders. Frank Aletter, Deputy CEO of The Southern Africa-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry commented, “We are excited to be co-organising this new conference, which will serve to benefit local enterprise and the region’s best interests as well as establish a dialogue with inter- national investors wishing to make contact with local manufacturers and producers. We look forward to helping to build long-lasting relationships between South African SMEs and their new partners, and to the many discussions around the future business op- portunities in the region.” Discussions at the conferencewill explore the main trends impacting the global steel, copper and aluminium wire, cable and tube products and what this means for Africa. Delegates will also be brought up-to-date

40 ¦ MechChem Africa • June 2019