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Hexion has said that impending regulatory changes announced by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) will favourably position its Versatic Acid 10 as a safer-to-use replacement for 2-ethylhexanoic acid (2- EHA). Versatic Acid 10, and other Versatics derivatives, are excellent building blocks that enable the production of high-performance emulsions, high solids and waterborne resins. They also have the more sustainable attribute of enabling the production of paints and coatings with lower volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions than before.
The industry’s move toward alternative products, such as Versatic Acid 10, follows the reclassification of 2-EHA and most of its salts as Reprotoxic Category 1B by the Risk Assessment Committee of ECHA beginning in November 2023. The ECHA 1B rating refers to materials that are presumed to be a human carcinogen (H340), mutagen (H350), or reproductive toxicant (H360), based on animal studies.
“Versatic Acid 10 is a proven technology that is a high-performance alternative for producers who will be impacted by the pending regulatory changes,” said Jeroen Jansema, Vice President and General Manager, Performance Materials (Versatic Acids and Derivatives). “Versatic Acid 10 is just one proven product in Hexion’s Versatic Acid portfolio and it delivers a variety of critical performance improvements that help customers improve hydrolytic and chemical stability, water repellency, durability and adhesion. We have been working with many market leaders as they prepare to transition away from 2-EHA to a higher-performance solution.”
Versatic Acid 10 is ideally suited for a variety of applications such as dryers for alkyd paints and inks, PVC heat stabilisers, and in the production of metal-based catalysts for polyurethane applications. Its unique performance profile compared to over other carboxylic acids also positions the intermediate as a preferred solution for a variety of growing applications, including: tyre adhesion promoters, fuel additives, metal working fluids, antifreeze, bitumen emulsifying agents, esters for solvents or lubricants, cosmetics, personal care, detergents, metal extraction, polymerization initiators, and more.
