Elements 35

Designing with Polymers
Perfectly lubricated
Green power made easy
Catalysis
Metathesis catalysts for oleochemical applications
Biotechnology
Evonik BioTechDay
elements35
Quarterly Science Newsletter Issue 2| 2011

02 CONTENTS
elements35 Issue 2|2011
08
20
NEWS
04 New plant for organic specialty surfactants in China
04 Catalysts for biodiesel: plant in Argentina planned
05 Fiscal year 2010: the best result so far in the Chemicals core business
06 PEEK polymer capacity to be expanded
06 First project house in Taiwan
07 Plans for isophorone plants in China
07 Evonik acquires the hanse chemie Group
07 VESTAKEEP enhances safety of automotive steering columns
DESIGNING WITH POLYMERS
08 Innovative engine oil additives reduce fuel consumption and
CO
2
emissions: perfectly lubricated
CATALYSIS
14 Metathesis catalysts for oleochemical applications: robust and selective
RESOURCE EFFICIENCY
17 Almost 5,000 km across Australia: pioneering trip by the Wind Explorer
NEWS
18 Prize awarded in the 2011 nano+art competition
19 Study veries effectiveness of conditioning agent against
hair breakage
19 Nitrogen oxide reduction: Lines made from VESTAMID compounds
satisfy requirements
DESIGNING WITH POLYMERS
20 PLEXIGLAS stands up to glass in photovoltaics systems:
green power made easy

BIOTECHNOLOGY
26 Evonik BioTechDay: on a growth course
NEWS
31 Robust, exible, and fast drying:
the new clear coating technology from Evonik
31 PLEXIGLAS Mineral for extremely weather-resistant structural shells

31 Credits
The cover photo shows sugar cane, a vital renewable
raw material for white biotechnology
26
EDI TORI AL 03

All set for the future
Patrik Wohlhauser
Member of the Executive Board of
Evonik Industries AG
If your cars transmission and engine oils contain Evoniks new comb polymers as
viscosity index improvers, your average fuel savings will be 1.5 percent. Youre not
impressed? Car makers see it differently. According to EU guidelines, average CO
2

emissions per vehicle and kilometer must be reduced by about 20 grams by 2015
and our new comb polymers can account for up to 2.5 of those grams.
Comb polymers are just one of about one hundred research projects in the eld
of resource efciency, out of a total of 500 projects currently underway at Evonik. In
2010, we increased spending on R&D by 13 percent to 338 million, having held it
constant at 300 million, despite the economic crisis.
This past nancial year shows how high the demand has been for Evoniks spe-
cialty chemicals: compared to most competitors our rebound was faster and stron-
ger. In 2010, we increased sales revenues by 26 percent over the previous year to
13.3 billion, and even tripled net income to 734 million. Weve generated the best
result so far in our Chemicals core businesswith an EBITDA margin that puts us
at the vanguard of our industry.
This demonstrates that in 2010 Evonik was more protable than ever before. We
already generate more than 80 percent of our chemical salesa solid 10 billion
from signicant market positions. We want to build on that in two ways. First, well
invest in high-margin businesses with above-average growth. To this end, we plan
to spend a total of 6 billion by 2015 for projects that include expanding our capaci-
ties for isophorone, DL-methionine, precipitated silicas, and chlorosilanes.
Second, through our innovative strength, we plan to tip the scales in our favor.
Our research projects are allowing us to move further and further into the so-called
emerging markets. The latest example is our new Light & Electronics Project House,
which began its work on April 1. Located in Taiwan, this project house will expand
our opportunities as we operate within one of the most important electronics mar-
kets in the world. And, as our rst project house outside Germany, it enables us to
intensify the global reach of our research activities and close ranks with our custo-
mers.
At its core, Evonik is now a specialty chemicals company. To advance our align-
ment to the future-oriented markets of health and nutrition, resource efciency,
and globalization of technologies, Evonik has appointed three new members to its
Executive Board: Dr. Yu, Dr. Haeberle, and me. My responsibilities include inno-
vation management and international salesa combination that underscores the vital
connection between research and market proximity.
4 NEWS
New plant for
organic specialty
surfactants in China
Evonik is building an integrated production
plant for organic specialty surfactants at its
site in Shanghai (China). With an investment
volume in the upper double-digit million
range, the production network is scheduled
to begin operation in mid 2013. The various
specialty surfactants based on renewable raw
materials will be used primarily for cosmetics
and laundry care products, as well as for in-
dustrial applications. Evonik is a leading sup-
plier in these areas.
By building the plant at the Shanghai site,
Evonik benets from the infrastructure of the
large Shanghai Chemical Industry Park (SCIP)
and close proximity to its customers produc-
tion facilities. The integrated production net-
work will feature state-of-the-art technology
and meet correspondingly high environment-
al standards. Last fall, in its most recent pro-
ject at SCIP, Evonik commissioned a plant for
the production of plastics and plastics ingre-
dientsa 250-million-euro investment for
the Group.
The new integrated production plant will
produce ingredients for cosmetics and laun-
dry care products, as well as specialty surfac-
tants for industrial applications. The Chinese
cosmetics industry accounts for the lions
share of production.
We are already well-positioned in the
market for cosmetic ingredients in Europe
and the United States, says Dr. Claus Rettig,
head of the Consumer Specialties Business
Unit. Now we are following our customers
to Asia, with state-of-the-art technology and
correspondingly high-quality ingredients.
This allows us to supply our customers at the
accustomed high level of quality.
China is expected to be the biggest mar-
ket for cosmetics in Asia short-term, leaving
Japan behind to number 2 position. The mar-
ket in China will account for 25 percent of the
global absolute growth of the upcoming ve
years. The Chinese market for cosmetic in-
gredients, which is mainly driven by multi-
national corporations, is growing by 10 per-
cent annually. The main reason for this
growth is the developing middle class in
China, whose consumption patterns have
changed in favor of higher qual ity products.
In Asia, the market for laundry care prod-
ucts is driven by a growing environmental
consciousness. Evoniks products are par-
ticularly eco-friendly. For industrial special-
ty surfactants, the market is growing based
on improved technology standards and
increas ing regulatory requirements. With
the con struction of the new integrated pro-
duction plant, Evonik is also increasing its
local capac ities in technical service, market-
ing and sales.
Catalysts for biodiesel: plant in Argentina planned
Evonik Industries is planning to build a new
facility to produce catalysts for the manufac-
ture of biodiesel in Argentina. Basic engineer-
ing for this plant, which will have capacity of
over 60,000 metric tons p.a., has now been
completed and construction work is expected
to start in July 2011. Following completion,
which is scheduled for the end of 2012 at the
latest, the plant will produce ready-to-use
alcoholates for use as catalysts in the produc-
tion of biodiesel from renewable raw mate-
r ials. The project is still contingent on the ap-
proval of the relevant authorities.
The plant will be located in Puerto
General San Martin, in the Rosario region, at
the heart of Argentinas biodiesel industry.
Evonik is planning to build the plant on the
same site as Terminal 6 S.A., which operates
a large biodiesel facility. Locating the facili-
ty at the Terminal 6 site enables us to use the
existing infrastructure and gives us excellent
logistics connections. It could therefore be
erected swiftly, enabling us to supply cata-
lysts competitively to customers in South
America, comments Jan Van den Bergh, who
heads the Advanced Intermediates Business
Unit. The new plant will supply especially
Argentina and Brazil.
Evonik has proven expertise in the pro-
duction of biodiesel catalysts, backed up by
many years of experience. In 2009 it started
up a new production facility in Mobile (USA)
with capacity of 60,000 metric tons p.a. This
plant, which was built in just nine months,
serves the growing North American market
for biodiesel.
Following the success of the new produc-
tion technology at this US facility, the plan is
to use the same technology for the new facil-
ity in Argentina. In the new process, alcohol-
ates are produced by reacting alcohol with a
lye.
Evonik is already a global market leader
in biodiesel catalystsa position it also holds
in South America. The planned new facility
in Argentina strengthens our commitment to
this region, says Van den Bergh. In the mid-
term, we are anticipating strong double-digit
growth in the biodiesel market. Evonik oper-
ates a facility in Niederkassel-Llsdorf, near
Cologne (Germany) as well as its facility in
the USA.
The Chinese market for cosmetic ingredients is
growing by 10 percent annually
NEWS 5
Fiscal year 2010: the best result so far in the Chemicals core business
2010 was an outstanding year for us, com-
mented Dr. Klaus Engel, Chairman of the
Executive Board of Evonik Industries AG, at
the nancial press conference. The Groups
core chemicals business reported by far the
best performance in its history. In order to
realize its focus on specialty chemicals, at the
end of 2010 Evonik agreed to sell a majority
stake in its energy business to a consortium
of municipal utilities in Germanys Rhine-
Ruhr region. As a result, the Energy Business
Area has been reclassied to discontinued
operations. In addition, further progress was
made in amalgamating the residential real es-
tate companies Evonik Immobilien GmbH and
THS GmbH.
Our refocusing has almost been complet-
ed. In the future, the name Evonik will be
synonymous with global leadership in special-
ty chemicals, said Engel. The focus is on the
most important global megatrends. We want
to grow and increase our protability further.
To achieve that, in future the management of
Evonik will be geared to making us faster,
leaner and more exible, with an even stron-
ger market focus, said Engel.
Additional Executive Board
members appointed
for chemicals business
The Executive Board has therefore been in-
creased to six members effective April 1,
2011. Patrik Wohlhauser (46) is the Executive
Board member responsible for the Consumer,
Health & Nutrition segment, Dr. Thomas
Haeberle (54) is responsible for the Resource
Efciency segment and Dr. Dahai Yu (49) for
the Specialty Materials segment. With an
EBITDA margin of 18.3 percent, Evoniks core
chemicals business ranks among the sector
leaders as of 2010. We want to remain
among the best in class in the future as well,
said Engel.
The Group has therefore embarked on
key strategic investment projects. It is plann-
ing to invest 500 million in a new methio-
nine facility in Singapore, which is scheduled
to start producing feed additives in 2014. In
addition, capacity for precipitated silicas in
Asia and Europe is to be increased by 25
percent by 2014. Further, Evonik is planning
to build a new facility for isophorone chem-
icals, prefer ably in Asia, to come on stream
in 2013. The Group already occupies sig-
nicant market positions in all three of
these businesses and now aims to strength-
en them selectively in the relevant growth
markets.
Group sales and
earnings considerably
higher than last year
Group sales advanced 26 percent to 13,300
million. Strong demand, high capacity utili-
zation and improved margins lifted earnings
before interest, taxes, depreciation, amorti-
zation and the non-operating result (EBITDA)
47 percent to 2,365 million. The Groups
EBITDA margin improved from 15.3 percent
to 17.8 percent. Earnings before interest,
taxes and the non-operating result (EBIT)
surged 89 percent to 1,639 million; net in-
come tripled to 734 million in 2010 (2009:
240 million).
In response to the economic crisis, Evonik
introduced the On Track efciency enhance-
ment program at the start of 2009. To bring
a lasting improvement in competitiveness, the
Group aims to achieve a sustained reduction
in costs of 500 million p.a. from 2012. All
key cost items were analyzed and structures
and processes were examined with a view to
attaining this goal. By the end of 2010, spe-
cic measures had been dened to meet all
target savings and over three quarters of the
savings (almost 400 million) had already
been achieved.
Chemicals reported a
record performance
The Chemicals Business Area grew sales by
a strong 29 percent to 12,867 million (2009:
9,978 million). This was driven mainly by
volumes and prices. In most business units
demand was back at or even above the level
seen in the rst half of 2008, before the re-
cession. As a result, many production facilities
operated at full capacity.
The effective action to cut costs and raise
efciency, together with a substantial rise in
volumes, high capacity utilization, and in-
creased margins boosted both EBITDA and
EBIT to record levels. Earnings in all business
units were well above the pre-recession level.
EBITDA grew 47 percent year-on-year to
2,357 million while EBIT surged 83 percent
to 1,702 million.
Spending on
R&D increased
Evonik increased research and development
spending by 13 percent to 338 million in
2010 (2009: 300 million). Around 60 per-
cent of this was spent on the development
of new products and new technology plat-
forms.
Chemicals Business Area: R&D spending [%]
Development of new products 40
Basic research for new key technologies 19
Improved production processes for established products 24
Improved applications for established products 11
Other 6
R&D in the Chemicals Business Area
R&D employees approx. 2,300
Locations more than 35
Total R&D projects approx. 500
R&D projects focusing on resource efciency approx. 100
Cooperation with universities and scientic institutes approx. 300
Number of new patent applications approx. 250
Patents (granted and pending) more than 24,000
Registered trademark (granted and pending) more than 7,500
6 NEWS
Evonik Industries is setting up its rst project
house outside Germany. Light & Electronics,
a research and development unit established
on April 1, is located in the Hsinchu Tech-
nology Park in Taiwan. The focus of its work
is new products and technologies for the
photovoltaics, display, LED, and lighting in-
dustries.
The project house seeks partnerships and
joint developments with Taiwanese institutes,
and above all, with local electronics compa-
nies. This is another strategic step in the con-
solidation of the Groups global position.
With the new project house, our goal is to
move closer to one of the most important
electronics markets in the world so that we
can tap into the growth opportunities the
region offers, explained Patrik Wohlhauser,
the member of Evoniks Executive Board re-
sponsible for innovation management. The
new site is a further development of our suc-
cessful project house concept. With this,
Evonik is intensifying its focus on business
development and customer loyalty and is
adapt ing its innovation processes for custo-
mers innovation cycles, which are becoming
progressively shorter.
Fast-growing electronics segments include
displays, LEDs, portable communication and
information devices such as navigation de-
vices and tablet PCs, as well as photovoltaics.
The key Asian regions are China, Japan,
Korea, and Taiwan, where a number of im-
portant R&D companies in this eld have
their headquarters. According to the German
Institute in Taipei, Taiwan stands out among
these countries as the world market leader in
such products as notebooks, scanners, moni-
tors, and LCD monitors. Evonik already main-
tains partnerships with Taiwanese companies
through the joint ventures Evonik Forhouse
Optical Polymers manufacturing acrylic poly-
mers in Taichung for TFT liquid crystal dis-
plays, and Evonik Cristal Materials Cor por-
ation, which produces glass lenses for the
next generation of LEDs.
Additional contacts will be made and cul-
tivated through the project house. Elec tron-
ics and lighting are extremely fast, dynamic
markets, whose innovation and product life-
First project house in Taiwan
cycles are becoming shorter and shorter,
says Dr. Michael Clle, head of the project
house. The task of this project house is to
acquaint ourselves better with customers
processes and value chains, and consolidate
our opportunities in these markets through
joint developments.
In the project houses, Evonik works on
medium-risk research topics involving mul-
tiple business units; the emphasis is there fore
on medium- and long-term success. Project
houses run for three years, during which time
roughly 15 to 30 employees typically develop
new products and technologies in collabora-
tion with cooperation partners and universi-
ties. As a rule, the new developments of the
project houses are marketed by a business
unit or continued through an internal start-up.
Light & Electronics is the ninth project
house to be set up by Evonik and its strategic
research and development unit Creavis
Technologies & Innovation. The companys
long-term strategic goal is to make the pro-
ject house the nucleus of another R&D com-
petence center for the Group in Asia.
Evonik Industries is signicantly expanding
its polyether ether ketone (PEEK) capacity in
response to growing global demand. Along
with a number of optimization measures, the
company is modernizing an existing plant.
The project at the Changchun site in China is
scheduled to be completed by 3rd quarter
2011. Evonik has been selling its highly tem-
perature-proof and chemical-resistant PEEK
polymers under the brand name VESTAKEEP
for a number of years. They are used for man-
ufacturing components that must withstand
long-term use under the most severe end-use
environments.
The capacity expansion not only reects
the continuous growth in all relevant indus-
tries, but is also the result of the successful
commercialization of numerous new projects.
This expansion testies to the on-going com-
mitment we are making to support our
customers continued growth, says Sanjeev
Taneja, Evoniks global business VESTAKEEP
PEEK polymer capacity to be expanded
manager. VESTAKEEP PEEK polymers are
used in demanding applications in medical as
well as in the automotive, aerospace, semi-
conductor, and entertainment electronics in-
dustry and in the oil and natural gas sectors.
Furthermore, thanks to the unique combina-
tion of mechanical, thermal and tribological
properties VESTAKEEP PEEK allows the
replacement of metal in these and several
other applications.
VESTAKEEP 5000G is the latest PEEK
polymer in addition to Evoniks product
range. The material offers significantly
higher impact resistance and a better fatigue
prole under dynamic stress as compared to
commercial available grades. It addresses the
unmet needs of the customers. The company
also introduced its VESTAKEEP M and
VESTAKEEP I series for applications in med-
ical and implant industry two years ago. The
comprehensive product portfolio covers vir-
tually all industrial applications and supports
Evoniks strategy of serving as a long-term,
reliable partner in the PEEK market.
Evoniks Changchun
site in China
NEWS 7
Evonik Industries plans to construct new iso-
phorone and isophorone diamine plants in
Shanghai (China). Basic engineering at the
Multi User Site China (MUSC), Evoniks pro-
duction site in Shanghai, should be complete
within the next few months, and the world-
scale plants are scheduled to go onstream in
2013. With this investment, Evonik is sending
out a clear signal for further growth in iso-
phorone chem icals, and is emphasizing the
high signicance of the strategically impor-
tant Asian region.
Growing global demand from a large
number of user industries is the driving force
behind the decision to construct the new
plants. The planned investment will allow the
company to benet from the future growth
of the market and in particular to satisfy
increasing demand from customers in the Asia
region. Evonik currently produces isopho rone
chemicals in Mobile (Alabama, USA), as well
as in Marl and Herne (Germany).
Evonik is the only company globally that
produces and markets the entire range of
isophorone chemicals, says Dr. Ulrich Kst-
hardt, head of the Coatings & Additives
Business Unit. And with the construction of
the new world-scale, state-of-the-art plants,
we plan to strengthen this position and at
the same time extend our global production
network into Asia. Isophorone, isophorone
diamine, isophorone diisocyanate, and their
derivatives are important components in the
production of industrial ooring, articial
leather, and paints and coatings, for exam-
ple. They are also used in high-performance
composite materials and in chemical synthe-
sis.
Plans for isophorone plants in China
Isophorone derivatives
are used in, among
other things, composite
materials for wind
turbines
The BMW Group has approved spindle nuts
made from VESTAKEEP PEEK, a polymer
made by Evonik Industries, for use in elec trical
steering column adjustment assemblies. The
VESTAKEEP L4000G-based spindle nuts do
not break, even under the most severe con-
ditions. In case of an accident, the spindle
nuts will not break and thus prevent ing any
plastic pieces from disabling the function of
safety-relevant features such as airbags.
VESTAKEEP enhances safety of automotive steering columns
The PEEK polymers that had been used in the
past were unable to meet BMWs stringent
requirements and failed during stress tests.
Thanks to its improved ductility and impact-
resistance, VESTAKEEP PEEK passed the
tests and also met the requirement of high
dimensional stability at different tempera-
tures.
VESTAKEEP spindle nuts are used in the
electrical steering column adjustment assem-
blies that are manufactured by Solingen,
Germany-based C. Rob. Hammerstein GmbH
& Co. KG. Thanks to their exceptional char-
acteristics, they may in the future also be used
in mechanical steering column adjustment as-
semblies.
Evonik`s PEEK polymers offer particu larly
high resistance to temperatures and chem-
icals.
VESTAKEEP based
spindle nuts passed
the stress tests
At the end of March 2011 Evonik Industries
closed a purchase agreement to acquire the
hanse chemie Group. By acquiring the Group,
which includes hanse chemie AG and nano-
resins AG, Evonik will be able to enter addi-
tional markets for specialty applications in sil-
icone chemistry. Both parties agreed not to
disclose the purchase price. The sale is still
subject to the approval of the corporate
bodies.
Based in Geesthacht, near Hamburg, the
hanse chemie Group produces high-quality
components and raw materials for the
man u facture of sealants and adhesives,
molding and casting compounds, for exam-
ple. Hanse chemie AGs products are used
Evonik acquires the hanse chemie Group
by end-consumers in such markets as the
construction industry, automotive manufac-
ture, dental technology, and in photovoltaic
systems. The silicate-based nanomaterials
and other specialties by nanoresins AG are
used in highly scratch-resistant coatings, ad-
hesives, ber composites, and embedding
materials.
8 DESI GNI NG WI TH POLYMERS
Innovative engine oil additives reduce fuel consumption and CO
2
emissions
Perfectly lubricated
To ensure the engine
runs smoothly: Engine
oils should work reliably
for about 30,000 kilo-
meters. Gear oils, which
are more complicated to
change, should retain
their lubricating action
for roughly 20 years
Lubricants for engines and drives are all-stars: they function as well in heat as in
ice cold, despite mechanical stresses, and remain stable for years. They owe these
advantages mainly to high-performance additives. Specialists at Evonik in
Darmstadt have developed comb polymers, which not only meet all the demands
of advanced drives but also noticeably reduce consumption and emissions.
[ text Boris Eisenberg, Dr. Torsten Sthr, Dr. Michael Mller ]
DESI GNI NG WI TH POLYMERS 9
333
NO MACHINE, PLANT, engine would be any use
with out lubricant. Wherever moving metal surfaces
come in contact with each other, a lubricant is vital.
They reduce friction, mufe noise, prevent prema-
ture wear and tear. Lubricants work best when their
viscosity is aligned to the application: if the oil is too
thick, it prevents the parts from moving. If it is too
thin, the metal surfaces can engage without any pro-
tectionmachines and engines then break down very
quickly.
The effectiveness of lubricants depends on their
viscosity, and the viscosity, in turn, depends on the
temperature. The colder the temperature, the higher
the viscosity, and the thicker the uid. At high tem-
peratures, viscosity decreases, and the liquid be-
comes thinner and more free-owing. This is based
on a simple molecular mechanism: particles of thick
liquids are strongly bound to each other by mole cular
interactive forces and, therefore, relatively immobile.
This inner friction resembles the movement of two
layers of molecules lying interlocked, one above the
other. Force must be used to overcome the inter -
l ocking. When the temperature rises, the interactive
forces weaken, and the molecules glide across each
other easier. The viscosity decreases as a result, and
the liquid becomes thinner.
This principle applies to all uidswhether honey,
water or oils. The viscosity index (VI) is key to the
evaluation of lubricants. It describes the temperature
dependency of the kinematic viscosity of the oilthe
force necessary to loosen the molecular interlocking
and get the oil to ow. Oils with a low VI change their
viscosity with the temperature more easily than oils
with a high VI. As a rule, engines require oils that
work reliably both summer and winter, which means
oils with a high viscosity index. These kinds of oils
provide adequate lubrication in summer, and are suf-
ciently free-owing in winter.

High standards for mineral oils
Pure mineral oils are suitable to only a limited extent
in applications with changing temperature ranges. At
15 degrees Celsius, they are already as thick as butter
and behave less like lubricants and more like brakes
on the moving parts. Today, a conventional engine
oil has to work reliably and efciently between minus
40 and plus 150 degrees Celsius. This is why existing
engine oils normally consist of a low-viscosity base
oil selectively thickened with additives.
Evonik has long produced polymer-based additives
that increase and optimize the viscosity index.
Low
Poor
The effect of temperature on polymer solubility.
Because polymers swell with rising temperatures, they ensure that the viscosity
of the solution stays as constant as possible compared to pure oil
Solubility in oil
Good
High
Temperature

The type of polymers and, above all, their molec-
ular mass, is key to the effectiveness of these viscos-
ity index improvers (adding 3 to 7 percent corres-
ponds to an additive content of 2.5 percent): the
larger the molecules, the more they swell with rising
temper atures and keep the lubricant sufciently
thick, even at high operating temperatures.
Large molecules do have one weak point, how-
ever: mechanical stress in the thin lubrication gap
can easily tear the polymer chain. For this reason, the
second key parameter for the suitability of a lubrica-
tion oil is the shear stability of the polymers used.
High shear stability means that the molecular chains
are split slowly, even with heavy mechanical loading,
so the polymer breaks down only after several years
of service. Gear oils are expected to retain their lu-
bricating effect for about 20 years, while engine oils
are supposed to work reliably for approximately
30,000 kilometers.
VI improvers ensure the viscosity
stays as constant as possible
Evonik has supplied VI improvers based on poly-
alkyl(meth)acrylate (PAMA) for decades under the
VISCOPLEX trademark. The molecules consist of a
long polymethacrylate chain with alkyl side chains
that ensure solubility in the base oil. In solution, the
PAMA chains form a ball, which wells up with in-
creasing temperature. When this happens, the balls
expand, thereby increasing the viscosity of the oil. To
be more exact, VISCOPLEX ensures that the viscos-
ity of the solution remains as similar as pos sible com-
pared to that of the pure base oil without additive.
What the chemists are doing, then, is thwarting
physics: The effect is contrary to the natural behav-
333
Measuring kinematic
viscosity, which indicates
how much force is
required to get a liquid
to ow
At low temperatures, the comb polymers reduce the kinematic viscosity
of the oil compared to PAMA by about one third. At high temperatures,
they achieve the same good values as PAMA polymers. Bottom line: comb
polymers reduce the temperature dependency of viscosity
Log log (KV [cst+0.8])
Oil-insoluble
PAMA backbone
oil-soluble
polyolen arms
Contracted
PAMA
Collapsed
comb
Base oil
Log T [K]
Expanded
comb
Expanded
PAMA
ior of a liquid, which always becomes thinner when
the temperature rises. The additives reduce the loss
in viscosity and expand the temperature window in
which the oil displays optimal lubrication.
In principle, the thinner the oil, the easier it is for
an engine to run, and the less fuel it consumes. The
art lies in keeping an oils viscosity as stable as pos-
sible within the highest possible temperature range.
Todays engines and transmissions are becoming
increasingly compact and powerful. This means
increasing standards for lubricants. For this reason,
the chemists at Evonik have searched for molecular
structures that hold the ow properties of the lubri-
cant nearly constant without becoming too thick in
cold temperatures and thin in hot temperatures.
Even more powerful: comb polymers
The specialists from Darmstadt have developed a
completely new architecture for the molecules of the
polymers. The backbone consists of extremely long,
polar molecule chains that carry non-polar polyole-
ns as side chains at regular intervals.
Chemists refer to these as comb polymers be-
cause their structure resembles a comb. The building
blocks of the long backbone consist of short-chained
methacrylates, and other co-monomers. By varying
the percentages of the monomer mixture, the pola-
rity of the chain and the number of side chains can
be selectively controlled during polymerization.
About 100 monomers have an aver age of 0.8 to 1.6
molecular teeth, each with some 400 carbon atoms.
The modied structure results in completely new
properties. The long side chains ensure extremely
good solubility in the base oil over a broad tempera-
ture range. The stiffness of the backbone is designed
in such a way that the large molecules collapse at
low temperatures by forming very small units, so that
the lubricant remains adequately free-owing. If the
temperature rises, the long side chains push apart and
the comb polymer wells up, which results in the desi-
red thickening effect.
Comb polymers have proven their outstanding
properties as lubricant additives on a number of en-
gine test stands. Compared to conventional PAMA ad-
ditives, they show signicantly better values for all key
parameters. The shear stability of the molecules is
many times higher, and the ow properties of the oil
are optimized during cold start. The kinematic viscos-
ity, measured at 40 degrees Celsius, is about one third
lower. This means that the lubricant is easy to pump
at relatively low operating temperatures, and the
movement of the engine parts and gear wheels in the
transmission slows only a littlean effect that has a
direct and positive impact on fuel consumption.
Lubricants must be precisely coordinated to oper-
ating conditions. Because thermal stress on the poly-
mers is particularly high in the engine, comb poly-
mers for engine oils contain fewer side chains than
those for gear oils. Shear stability is the most
Politicians demand
economical vehicles with
low CO
2
emissions
Today, engine developers and car manufacturers not only focus
their attention on the design and performance of their products but
on fuel consumption and emissions. The pressure is coming primar-
ily from the political arena: Over the next few years, the EU will be
reducing the permissible fuel consumption of new vehicles in several
stages. By 2015, manufacturers will have to reduce fuel consump-
tion to the point that exhaust emissions are, on average, below 130
grams of CO
2
per kilometer. In 2010, the average CO
2
value of
newly registered cars in Germany was 151 g/km. Car manufacturers
and importers who do not comply with EU limits in the future will
have to shoulder millions of euros in nes.
Engineers use an array of methods to reduce fuel consumption:
lower vehicle weight, improved aerodynamics, more efcient en-
gines and drive trains. Most of these methods are technical in nature.
But the more sophisticated the component, the more expensive and
time-consuming it is to increase its efciency and performance even
more. In addition to technical optimization, selecting a high-perfor-
mance lubricant can also reduce a vehicles fuel consumption and
emissions. Thanks to their modied chemical structure, the new
additives from Evonik each show optimal viscosity over a broad tem-
perature range, and guarantee highly efcient operation of engines
and transmissions. Test-stand results have shown that additives based
on comb polymers achieve fuel savings of about 1.5 percent. The
benet corresponds more or less to that obtained through high-ef-
ciency wheel bearings or an electronic start-and-stop system for
the engine. For engine developers and car manu facturers, then, this
margin is a giant leap.
333
RESOURCE EFFICIENCY
important factor in transmissionsin a fast turning
transmission, extremely small toothed gear anks are
subject to strong forces and signicantly higher pres-
sures than in the engine. Consequently, comb poly-
mers have to stand up to high shear forces while
retaining optimal viscosity values over a wide range
of temperatures.
Fuel consumption reduced once again
After many years of development work, chemists at
Evonik have developed four comb-polymer-based
high-performance additives that meet all the demands
of todays engines and transmissions. Most impor-
tantly, these developments also help reduce fuel con-
sumption and emissions. In a comparison with a stan-
dardized reference oil (RL 191), conventional PAMA
additives have been shown to reduce fuel consump-
tion by 3.5 percentcomb polymers in the engine oil,
on the other hand, lower fuel consumption by 4.4
percent. In combination with gear oils, which also
contain comb polymers, the savings increases to a
total of about 1.5 percent.
At rst glance, a 1.5 percent reduction in fuel con-
sumption does not seem particularly high. Compari-
son in absolute gures reveals the actual weight of
this relatively small percentage: the International
Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that, worldwide, road
trafc emits about ve billion metric tons of carbon
dioxide per year. Of this gure, 1.5 percent corres-
ponds to a savings of 75 million metric tons. Accord-
ing to EU standards, average CO
2
emissions per
vehicle and per kilometer must be reduced by about
333
Additives are supposed to keep
the viscosity of lubricating oils
constantly within an optimal
range over the widest possible
range of temperatures. The
viscosity index (VI) plays a
decisive role. Changing temper-
atures have a greater impact
on the viscosity of oils with a
low VI than on the viscosity of
oils with a high VI

20 grams by the year 2015and the new comb poly-
mers can eliminate up to 2.5 of those grams.
This shows how the chemists at the Oil Addi tives
Business Line are translating the ideas and wishes of
engine developers and lubricant manufacturers into
a chem ical structure of the required additives. They
act as mediator between the growing technical chal-
lenges of engines and drive trains, and the practical
experience of lubricant manufacturers. This requires
close cooperation with formulators in setting the very
specic properties of the lubricant and a continuous
exchange with customers and suppliers.
Every engine in the world is the same in this way:
They all have to run, and run as long and as trouble-
free as possible. But this alone is not enough anymore.
Trafc is increasing dramatically worldwide, and is
considered the problem child of climate policy be-
cause, thus far, it has been unable to noticeably curb
trafc-related greenhouse gas emissions.
This is why future vehicles will also be assessed
based on whether engineers and suppliers have
exhausted all potential for the lowest possible fuel
consumption and low emissions. Against this back-
drop, chemically custom-designed additives can help
ensure that advanced engines not only function
optimally but also consume as little fuel as possible.
Doing so is not only in the interest of the driver but
also car manufacturers, engine developers, and the
oil industryall of whom must ensure that, in the
future, vehicles offer substantially lower emission
levels and greater environmental compatibility. Only
then will traditional drive technologies continue to
be relevant.
777
Boris Eisenberg joined Evoniks Oil Additives
Business Line in 1995, and currently works in product
development in the Innovation Management unit.
Since 2008, he has been responsible for product devel-
opment with a focus on dened polymer architecture.
Eisenberg holds a degree in chemical engineering from
the University of Darmstadt (Germany) and is author
of more than 20 patents and scientic publications.
+49 6151 18-3028, boris.eisenberg@evonik.com
Dr. Torsten Sthr studied chemistry with a focus on
polymer science at Johannes-Gutenberg University
Mainz (Germany) and the University of Massachusetts
at Amherst (United States). He earned his PhD at the
Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research in Mainz, at
IBM Almaden Research Center in San Jose (California,
USA), and at Stanford University in Palo Alto (Califor-
nia). He joined Evonik Industries in 2000, and came to
the Oil Additives Business Line in 2002, where he
worked on dened polymer architectures. Since 2008,
he has been in charge of global product devel opment
of all viscosity index improvers and pour point depres-
sants of the business line.
+49 6151 18-4743, torsten.stoehr@evonik.com
Dr. Michael Mller is responsible for strategic mar-
keting in the Oil Additives Business Line. After study-
ing chemistry at the University of Freiburg and earning
his doctorate there at the Institute for Macro molecular
Chemistry in the working group of Prof. Gerhard
Wegner, Mller started his career in 1984 at Evonik
Rhm GmbH. He held different positions in research,
application engineering and technical service in the
Acrylic Polymers and Oil Additives Busi ness Lines, in-
cluding most recently Global Business Man ager Engine
Oil and Driveline for Oil Additives, before moving to
his current position.
+49 6151 18-4573, michael.mueller.mm@evonik.com
Inuence of the engine oil on gas consumption. The measure-
ment was taken on the engine test stand in Darmstadt, and a
standardized reference oil (RL 191) was used for comparison.
Compared to PAMA, oils with comb polymers can reduce
gas consumption by another 0.9 percent
Comb PAMA
Advantage vs. RL191 [%]
5.0
4.5
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0
4.4
3.5
25 50
Inuence of the gear oil on gas consumption, measured as torque
loss on the drive shaft. Here, too, comb polymers can help reduce
gas consumption by another 0.5 percent compared to PAMA
PAMA: 20C; 44C; efciency = 95.2%
Comb: 20C; 44C; efciency = 95.7%
Torque loss [Nm]
5
Applied torque [Nm]
0 75 100 125 150
1
4
3
2

14 CATALYSI S
333
METATHESIS IS A chemical reaction in which four
atoms receive new bonding afliates in a single step.
Depending on the sub strate combination, it is distin-
guished between ring-closing metathesis (RCM),
cross-metathesis (CM) and ring-opening metathesis
polymerization (ROMP). The development of well
dened catalytic systems for metathesis reactions
won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2005.
Today, metathesis is a highly signicant method
of the chemical industry, for instance in the develop-
ment and production of modern plastics or of active
pharmaceutical ingedients (g. 1). Ring-closing meta-
thesis is an elegant method for construction of macro-
cyclic ring systems and therefore is an indispensable
reaction step in the synthesis of modern active phar-
maceutical ingredients for the treatment of hepatitis
C or cancer. Ring-opening metathesis polymerization
is an effective method to produce specialty polymers
for large, complex and corrosion-resistant com-
ponents for automotive applications or chemical con-
tainers. In oleochemistry, metathesis reactions are
used for functionalizing unsaturated fatty acid deriv-
atives.
Evonik markets metathesis catalysts under the
name of catMETium RF (g. 2). All catalysts are
based on unsaturated N-heterocyclic carbene Ru
complexes (Ru-NHC). The catalysts all share the
characteristics of high temperature stability, high
turn-over numbers (TON), and high selectivity.
The metathesis of olens plays a particularly im-
portant role in oleochemistry, since this technology
Metathesis plays a key role in oleochemistry to make renewable resources
usable for the chemical industry. The metathesis catalysts used for this
purpose must be robust and highly active to convert the raw material
qualities, which are subject to frequent uctuations and occasional contam-
ination. The Evonik portfolio features two catalysts, catMETium RF2
and catMETium RF3, that can solve this difcult task.
[ text Dr. Renat Kadyrov ]
Robust and selective:
metathesis catalysts for
oleochemical applications
allows for direct access to renewable resources and
for their efcient use without creating any by-prod-
ucts. For example, metathesis turns triglycerides and
unsaturated fatty acid derivatives (from palm, soy,
canola or sunower oil) into ne chemicals, function-
alized monomers, polymers, biodegradable lubricants
and specialty chemicals such as cosmetics.
Cross metathesis of unsaturated fatty acids and
acid esters with functionalized olens, allow for ac-
cessing a diversity of double-functionalized olens.
These represent interesting raw materials for creat-
ing macrocyclical compounds, polyesters, poly-
amides, lubricants or surfactants for example. On the
other hand, the non-functional olens that are gener-
ated in the same process can be further converted to
-olens, oil eld chemicals, lubricant additives and
waxes.
Highly prized robustness and stability
at high temperatures
Metathesis catalysts for oleochemistry applications
must have special properties for operating economi-
cally. catMETium RF2 and catMETium RF3 meet
these requirements. They stand out for high tolerance
for a variety of raw material qualities, fulll ing an
essential prerequisite for the use of renewable re-
sources in oleochemistry.
The thermal stability of catMETium RF catalysts
represents another advantage, which is especially im-
portant in equilibrium-limited cross-metathesis
KATALYSE 15

+ + +
Cl
Cl
Ph
Ru
Mes Mes
N N
PCy
3
Mes Mes
N N
Ru
S
Cl
PCy
3
Cl
Me
Mes Mes
Ru
S
Cl
PCy
3
Cl
N N
Me
S
Cl
Ph
Ph Ph
Ru
N
N N
PCy
3
Cl
Figure 2
Evoniks catMETium RF
product family
Figure 1
Application areas of
olen metathesis
Ring-closing metathesis Cross metathesis
A A
Y
Y
Oleochemistry
Ring-opening metathesis
Pharma
Polymer
n
n
Antiviral active ingredients Functionalized oligomers
Bulk and
special polymers
Dosing of active
ingredients
Dental materials Coatings
catMETium RF1 catMETium RF2 catMETium RF3 catMETium RF4
16 CATALYSI S
+
O
O
O
O
O
O
333
Figure 3
Homo metathesis of methyl oleate
777
or homo-metathesis. The high thermal stability of
the catalysts allows for combining the catalytic meta-
thesis step with thermal separation and to return
non-converted starting materials to the process.
The high thermal stability of RF catalysts is evi-
dent in the homo metathesis of methyl oleate, in
which octadec-9-ene and dimethyl-9-octadec-9-ene-1,
18-dioate are obtained in an equilibrium reaction (g. 3).
While saturated Ru-NHC complexes quickly de-
grade at temperatures just above 70C and therefore
produce a wide range of by-products, the catalysts of
the catMETium RF technology show unparalleled
thermal stability and robustness, even at tempera-
tures above 100C.
As a result, reaction speed and productivity sig-
nicantly increase at high temperature (g. 4). Even
at high reaction temperatures, the catMETium RF2
catalyst achieves a turnover number of > 200,000
with a selectivity of > 98 percent. With an integrated
thermal separation of the products, the reaction equi-
librium can be shifted toward higher volumes and
yields without the risk of destroying the catalyst by
thermal stress.
Simple business model
In addition to the excellent activity, selectivity, and
robustness of the catMETium RF technology in var-
i ous application areas, Evonik offers further added
value with a clear, independent IP position that is also
reected in the business model. Evonik uses a simple
proven business model to market the catMETium RF
catalysts that makes license agreements superuous
and allows for transparency. The total kilogram price
for the catalysts includes all license fees for the use
of intellectual property; customers have no further
obligations.
This business model is also reected in the name,
since the acronym RF stands for Royalty Free. This
allows customers to make use of the new catalysts
without any restrictions.
Dr. Renat Kadyrov deals with synthe-
sis, up-scaling and production of homo-
geneous catalysts at Evoniks Catalysts
Business Line. He received his PhD from
Kazan Sate University in 1984 under
direction of Professor Boris A. Arbuzov.
Over the next ten years he worked at
the University of Kazan. He was as post-
doctoral fellow at the University Halle/
Saale (West Germany, 1986/87) and
in the Max-Planck-Group at Rostock
University (1993/94). From 1994 he
worked at the University of Greifswald
and at the Institute of Catalysis at Ros-
tock University before in 1999 he joined
Aventis R&T. Since 2001 he has been
an employee of Evonik.
+49 6181 59-8710
renat.kadyrov@evonik.com
catMETium RF2
Yield [%]
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Temperature [C]
100 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

Figure 4
Comparison of yield in C18 diester and C18 olen
in the homo metathesis of methyl oleate
(catalyst loading 3 ppm, reaction time 2h)
Theoretical conversion in case of thermodynamic
equilibrium of homo metathesis
Yield in by-products/isomers
Yield in C18 diester and C18 olen
Saturated Ru-NHC complex
Yield [%]
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Temperature [C]
100 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
RESOURCE EFFI CI ENCY 17

WERE INCREDIBLY proud. A dream has come true, com-
ment ed German extreme sportsmen Dirk Gion and Stefan Sim-
merer at the end of their two-and-a-half week pioneering trip
across Australia. The two piloted the Wind Explorer, a light-
weight electric vehicle, from Albany on the Indian Ocean to Cor-
por ation in 17 days and set three new records during their roughly
4,900 km trip: The rst time a continent had been crossed by a
vehicle power ed by wind and lithium-ion batteries, the longest
overall distance covered by an exclusively wind-powered land
vehicle, and the longest distance covered in 36 hours. Whats
more it was resource-efcient and had virtually no impact on
the climate, said Simmerer. The Wind Explorer was powered
by lithium-ion batteries, recharged by a portable wind turbine
whenever wind conditions permitted. The 200 kg vehicle there-
fore only notched up electricity costs of around 10 for the al-
most 5,000 km trip.
Gion and Simmerer came up with the idea for this record-
breaking trip last summer. Just weeks later they found the
necessary partners in German industry, led by Evonik Industries
AG. Evonik provided the materials for the lightweight bodywork
and the high-performance lithium-ion batteries. The battery
pack with power of 8 kWh enabled the Wind Explorer to run
for about 400 km in demanding temperatures of 60C. Dr. Klaus
Engel, Chairman of Evoniks Executive Board, congratulated the
team: This was a tremendous achievement by Dirk Gion and
Stefan Simmerer. It shows what pioneering spirit and German
high-technology are capable of.
The special feature of the Wind Explorer is that it is an elec-
tric vehicle with its own mobile power supply. When the battery
is empty, the pilots can recharge them via a portable wind tur-
bine, if wind conditions allow, or via the conventional power net-
work. It takes half an hour to erect the turbine and six-meter high
telescopic mast made of bamboo. In addition to wind power, the
Wind Explorer can be driven by kites. In this way, the lightweight
vehicle reached speeds of around 80 kph as it crossed the states
of Western and South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales.
The pilots started in Perth. Having carried out various tests
during the rst 500 km, the real trip began in Albany. For the
rst 800 km to Nullarbor Plain the Wind Explorer was driven
entirely by electric power. Strong winds then enabled the pilots
to use the kites. Finally the Wind Explorer achieved its best per-
formance within 36 hours at the south coast, covering 493 km.
Its great to see how lightweight construction and lithium-ion
technology can provide a response to the problem of global warm-
ing, said Simmerer.
The record trip from Albany to Sydney was not the rst feat
by Gion and Simmerer. Gion made headlines in 2004/2005 with
the Earthyer kiteboard project in Australia and in 2006 as a
water-skier towed by the MS-Deutschland cruise liner. In 1997
Simmerer was the rst person to cross Chang Tang, the Tibetan
high plateau, and climb Zangser Kangri (6,551 meters). He has
since led expeditions in South America, Africa and Kamchatka.
Pioneering projects like the Wind Explorer are a good op-
portunity for German industrial companies to test their technol-
ogy under extreme conditions and extend their technical edge.
Competition is particularly tough in the automotive sector, which
is increasingly turning its attention to electric and hybrid vehi -
cles. New lightweight materials such as ROHACELL, which was
used in the Wind Explorer, and smart tire technologies that re-
duce rolling resistance are in great demand. However, the race
for tomorrows technology to power electric vehicles will be
won principally by expertise in batteries. Through our sub -
sid iary Li-Tec we aim to become the European market leader in
battery cells, said Engel.
777
The Wind Explorer pilot vehicle is a two-seated
electromobile that weighs just 200 kilograms and
with a range of 400 kilometers per battery charge.
The bodywork consists mainly of a carbon ber
composite with ROHACELL structural foam from
Evonik. Its lithium-ion batteries, based on yet
another Evonik technology, are charged by a mobile
wind turbine orin exceptional casesin the
conventional way from the power grid
Almost 5,000 km across Australia
Pioneering trip by the Wind Explorer
18 NEWS
Prize awarded in the 2011 nano+art competition
What happens when art and science enter a dialogue, when space is
given to the tensions and synergies between both disciplines? This
years presentation of the prizes for the nano+art competition pro-
vided at least a visually impressive answer to these questions. In his
speech at the presentation ceremony, Dr. Harald Schmidt, head of
the strategic R&D unit Creavis Technologies & Innovation, stressed
the importance of nanotechnology for Evonik and highlighted the
great potential for development of new products and improved pro-
cesses.
1
With her entry Opera Ball (left), Julia Lambrecht
from Kassel was the grand prize winner of this
years nano+art competition, and grateful recipient
of the 1,000 prize money. The winning image shows a
photomicrograph of a crystallized organic semiconduc-
tor material. Some of the crystals formed on the surface
of the substrate during preparation of an organic tran-
sistor. In this process, the development of the visible
crystallites is an undesired side effect of the intended
generation of organic semiconductor nanowires.
2
Second place and a check for 500 went to Aruna Ivaturi
from the Nanoscience Centre of Cambridge University
for her Floral Bouquet (top right): The multi-colored
dandelions in this oral bouquet represent women all over the
worldvarious shades of personality, character and identity,
explains Ivaturi. Her Floral Bouquet is a scanning electron micro-
graph of tin oxide nanorods grown by a hydrothermal method.
The dominance of the homogeneous nucleus formation during
growth leads to the formation of dandelions. The stunningly
unusual architecture of these owers makes them promising
candidates for electrode material in such products as low-cost
batteries and solar cells for the energy storage and conversion
markets.
3
Third prize, which carried an award of
250, went to Claudia Mattheis for
her Dancer (bottom right), a digital
micrograph of electrospun polymer com-
posite nanobers. The thickened parts, and
their interplay with the bers, were inter-
preted as a pas sionate dancer, whose spirited
movements can vibrate the surrounding
area. This image addresses the theme of
Woman.
The competition invited entries from female students, graduates and
young scientists working in the eld of nanotechnology at universi-
ties, research institutes and other organizations in Germany and
Europe. Entrants were asked to submit images from their research
work on the themes of Woman and Man, with the ultimate goal
of raising awareness of nanotechnology among the broader public
and making it more understandable. This is why the Employer
Branding unit of Evonik Industries has organized the event for the
last six years.
NEWS 19
Study veries effectiveness of conditioning agent against hair breakage
Shampoos and conditioners that contain the
new silicone conditioning agent ABIL T Quat
60 from Evonik signicantly reduce hair ber
breakage. This is the result of a joint study by
Evoniks Care Specialties Business Line and
TRI/Princeton of Princeton (New Jersey,
USA), a leading independent research insti-
tute largely devoted to the study of human
hair. ABIL T Quat 60 also provides outstand-
ing conditioning features, such as easy comb-
ing and a superior feel in both wet and dry
states. The conditioning agent is universally
suitable for all shampoos and conditioners.
Broken hair bers are brittle, fray, and
lead to the formation of unsightly split ends.
As a result, they reduce the perception of hair
smoothness, lower shine, and hinder a uid,
owing motion. Because consumers rely on
hair care products to solve this problem, im-
proving the anti-hair breakage functionality
of shampoos and conditioners is an important
issue for the manufacturers of these products.
smoothness. All testing was performed on
hair damaged in the standard way, and in -
volved repeated combing with a custom-built
automated grooming device, followed by
counting the number of broken bers. To en-
sure statistical relevance, the experts evaluat-
ed eight tresses per treatment. The results of
the experiment show that the shampoo and
conditioner formulations containing the new
conditioning ingredient ABIL T Quat 60 pro-
vide a dramatic anti-breakage benet by 60%
for shampoo and 88% for conditioner.
The extreme effectiveness of ABIL T
Quat 60 against hair breakage is a result of
its excellent substantivity to hair keratin. This
silicone conditioning agent also provides
impressive heat protection properties, long-
lasting color protection, and a clean, silky skin
feel. It is highly suitable for use in condition-
ing shampoos, dandruff shampoos and con-
ditioners, and even leave-in formulations and
body washes.
Evonik always substantiates its hair prod uct
solutions through many hair performance
tests. As the experts from Evonik and TRI/
Princeton have proven, ABIL T Quat 60
reduces hair breakage in both shampoos and
conditioners. Their joint study examined the
breakage of hair that was treated with a
shampoo and a conditioner containing ABIL
T Quat 60. The treated hair underwent de-
ned tests that are often used to make claims
regarding anti-breakage, strengthening, or
Nitrogen oxide reduction: Lines made from
VESTAMID compounds satisfy requirements
Evonik offers a variety of VESTAMID poly-
amide 12 compounds that help automobile
manufacturers develop systems for reducing
nitrogen oxide in diesel vehicles. All the gra-
des offered by Evonik have performed excel-
lently in tests, and some are already in use.
A 32.5-percent aqueous solution of urea
serves as the reducing agent in systems de-
veloped today by car makers for the selective
catalytic reduction (SCR) of nitrogen oxides
AdBlue places heavy demands on lines in
SCR systems. They must be resistant to urea
and ammonia as well as any gas mixture ow-
ing back from the catalyst. Because the urea
solution is heated to up to 60C, but freezes
with expansion at 11 C, good hydrolytic
resistance and bursting strength at higher
temperatures are essential, along with high
impact resistance and elasticity at low tem-
per atures.
Various VESTAMID polyamide 12 com-
pounds satisfy all these requirements. Evonik
helps car makers develop their individual sys-
tems by offering them a variety of products.
All VESTAMID compounds have been sub-
jected to a recirculation test with AdBlue at
60C and 80C (with external air temper-
atures of 40C and 50C respectively) over
a period of 5,000 hours, to check for any
changes in their mechanical properties. All of
the grades tested have excellent values for
strain at break, bursting strength, and, in par-
ticular, low-temperature impact strength at
40C.
Of all the grades tested, VESTAMID
LX9008 best satised all the requirements;
VESTAMID L2140 and X7293 are already
being used in SCR systems.
from diesel engines. The VDA (German
Association of the Automotive Industry) has
registered this solution under the brand
AdBlue.
At temperatures above 60C, water de-
composes AdBlue, yielding carbon diox ide
and ammonia; the latter in turn reacts with
nitrogen oxides, forming water and nitro gen
and thus reducing the emission of nitrogen
oxides by about 90 percent.
Hair breakage, as revealed by a
scanning electron microscope
Illustration of catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides
PLEXIGLAS is transparent and formable, UV- and weather-resistantan
ideal material for manufacturing ultra-lightweight solar modules in shapes
and colors that are in tune with design. Experts from Evonik and Sunovation
are working together on lightweight-module solutions that open up com-
pletely new avenues to climate-friendly power generation in architecture,
vehicle construction and city planning.
[ text Peter Battenhausen, Markus Krall, Uwe Lfer, Andreas Wll ]
PLEXIGLAS stands up to glass in photovoltaics systems
Green power made easy
It is slated for mass-production this year: the SUNOVATION
ECO TECHNICS carport. Developed by Sunovation and
partners, the carport combines design with functionality. Its
8-square-meter photovoltaics surface can generate about one
kWp of electricity and cover the consumption needs of an
electric urban vehicle driving about 40 kilometers a day.
The power generated is fed into the network, and withdrawn
again, when needed, via the integrated power plug. Specially
fabricated for Evonik, the prototype shown in the photo has been
installed in May 2011 on the premises of the Darmstadt site. To
meet the design standards of this upscale carport, developers
used PLEXIGLAS materials in both the cover and carrier sheets
333
PLASTIC OR GLASS? This is the question that
countless car manufacturers, architects, packaging
designers, and city planners have racked their brains
over. Often, the answer is pretty simple: Plastic wins
out whenever weight or formability is a pivotal fac-
tor. Or put another way, plastic is the rst choice if
the focus is on fullling and implementing the de-
sign plans of the architect or designer.
Interestingly enough, however, this question has
played a minor role in photovoltaics (PV). The glass-
on-glass modules currently in use consist of a carrier
sheet and a cover sheet made of glass. Depending on
the structural specications for the glass strength,
these standard systems have one grave drawback:
Each square meter of glass module weighs at least
20 kilograms. In comparison, PV modules based on
PLEXIGLAS weigh half as much. Indeed, this is why
many construction projects fail to exploit the poten-
tial of photovoltaics. A case in point is renovating
existing buildings to make them more energy-ef-
cient. The existing substructure is unable to bear the
additional static loads of the glass modules.
Lightweight construction: an
attractive niche in photovoltaics
Conventional glass modules are, therefore, of limited
use on account of their weight. Obviously, then, the
glass has to be replaced with a transparent, resistant,
but above all lightweight material. This is where Elsen-
feld, Germany-based Sunovation GmbH began its
work. The company has been devoting itself to light-
weight construction modules for over 15 years and
has been successful at carving a niche for itself
The Alstersonne, a solar
catamaran that has sailed
the Alster since the year
2000. Sunovation has
installed its modules on a
total of four of these
catamarans, which are
operated in Heidelberg,
Hannover, and on Lake
Constance, in addition
to Hamburg. The
PLEXIGLAS solar
modules form a curved,
partially transparent roof
on the catamarans.
Their low-weight, high
weather resistance,
and formability make
them especially useful for
overhead applications
in the photovoltaics market. Currently, Sunovation
is the only company that produces lightweight solar
modules from plastic, keeps advancing their develop-
ment, and has gained a wealth of experience in the
eld worldwide. A host of applicationsbus stops,
golf carts, and solar portholes for boats, the solar cat-
amaran Alstersonne in Hamburg, the solar buttery
in Freiburg, which supplies energy to a radio tower,
and the largest lightweight solar module in the world,
measuring 1.5 meters by 4 meterstestify to the
companys success.
The best possible material for the lightweight
mod ules is poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA), which
Evonik Industries has sold for over 75 years under the
PLEXIGLAS trademark. PLEXIGLAS stands out
from other plastics by virtue of its longevity, high
UV- and weather resistance, high light transmission,
and its outstanding surface hardness. As a thermo-
plast, it can be handled and processed by all shaping
methods and is completely recyclable.
PMMA for freedom of design
In addition to its low weight, PMMA has another key
property that makes it superior to glass as a carrier
sheet for solar cells. The modules can be produced in
any shape desired. They can be easily bent into a roof
over a bus stop or into a gently arching roof con-
struction on solar boats, and they can be used in noise
barrier constructions over express train and subway
tracks, individually shaped for high-tech, power-
generating faades. The lightweight modules are in-
stalled either cold-formed, in which the module is
clamped into an existing space, or following treat-
ment in a heating furnace, in which it is shaped into
its nal three-dimensional form with the help of
forming tools.
With its lightweight modules, Sunovation has
opened up new areas of application in photovoltaics.
333
The worlds largest lightweight solar module with a cover sheet made of
PLEXIGLAS. The module measures 1.58 meters by 4 meters and has a maximum
power of about 880 Wp. The true record, however, is its low weight. The
SUNOVATION module weighs only 80 kilograms, which makes it over 60
percent lighter than a glass-glass module of this size for overhead use. In addition,
with a U-value less than 1 W/mK, the module boasts excellent heat-insulation
properties. The module exhibits outstanding structural properties, can withstand
high mechanically applied loads, and excels with its durable, highly transparent
and scratch-resistant surface
Schematic structure of a SUNOVATION module
4mm
approx. 3 mm
SS: 2 30mm
MWS: 6 32mm
Base sheet
Transparent
plastic
Solar cells
(crystalline or
thin-lm
technologies)
Cell-connector
technology
Permanently
elastic multi-
component gel
Cover sheet
Transparent
plastic
SS =
^ Solid sheet
MWS =
^ Multi-wall sheet
G
R
A
P
H
I
C
:

S
U
N
O
V
A
T
I
O
N
The substructures of buildings can be designed to
weigh less and use fewer materials. When existing
buildings are modernized, a relatively weak sub-
structure is no longer a problem. Vehicles can be de-
signed with curved roofs or interior constructions
that supply power to the on-board system or battery
and add no weight to the vehicle.
Advanced technology from Sunovation
Sunovation modules basically consist of three layers.
The upper cover sheet and the lower carrier sheet
are both made of transparent plastic, but the carrier
sheet can be a solid or a multi-wall sheet. Between
these layers is a special permanently elastic multi-
component silicone-based gel in which the photo-
active solar cells are embedded. The solar cells oat,
as it were, in the gel and are decoupled from the
carrier sheet and cover sheet.
333
STRENGTHENING SALES
Plastic modules for the
international market
Photovoltaics is a global business. This is why small, innovative
companies do well to look for internationally active partners to
strengthen their marketing position. Sunovation has therefore
established a joint venture with MAGE AG to market polymer-
based lightweight modules more effectively in other countries
with great potential for photovoltaics. A subsidiary of MAGE
AG, MAGE Solar GmbH, headquartered in Regensburg, special-
izes in marketing OEM-produced mono- and polycrystalline
standard modules. Another subsidiary of MAGE AG produces
for the systemic completion of solar panels on the substructures
and installation systems designed for PV modules. The company
is active throughout Germany and eleven other countries, in-
cluding France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Slovakia, and the
United States, the key market of the future.
The faade of the Photovoltaics Information
Center (PIZ) in Gelsenkirchen. The vertical
shading gills are made of holographic mir-
rors that focus the sunlight onto the interior
SUNOVATION modules. Another unique
feature is that the gills can be adjusted to the
suns position and aligned accordingly. This
allows regulation of shade for the interior
spaces behind them
The gel not only holds the solar cells in place but
plays a central role in the forces that occur during
forming. It consists of several components, and can
be adapted to the shearing forces that occur during
forming through formula modicationdepending on
how strong the sheets should be and whether the car-
rier is designed to be solid or hollow. The forces are
evenly distributed over the gel, which transfers the
mechanical load to the cells. Both crystalline and
amorphous silicon is used for the solar cells, but thin-
lm and dye cells are also possible.
The rst PLEXIGLAS roofs with integrated solar
cells by Sunovation were installed more than thirteen
years ago. But back then, photovoltaics was still not
a generally accepted form of renewable power gener-
ation. The only people interested in using PV modules
were committed environmentalists and a few trail-
blazers.
Since then, the times have changed dramatically.
An increasing number of architects and developers
have now gone in for green buildingthe idea of
building private and public buildings as sustainably
and ecologically as possible. A vital component of
green building is recyclable modern construction ma-
terials and environmentally and climate-friendly
energy supply. This also applies to energy-efcient
renovation and modernization of existing buildings,
which plays an important role in the energy concept
of the German federal government.
In green building, lightweight modules not only
generate energy, but play additional roles: they pro-
vide roong, thermal insulation and sound insulation,
and create shade. To put it another way, why produce
expensive roofs or faades that you have to equip with
modules and thermal protection systems when all of
your key requirements can be met with multi-func-
tional solar modules?
High potential in
the automotive industry
A revolution similar to that in the construction in-
dustry can be observed right now in the automotive
industry. The vehicles of the future are no longer
being developed and marketed based solely on tech-
nical and aesthetic criteria. To reduce trafc emis-
sions and allow the industry to meet its climate obli-
gations, the eet of the future will have to consist of
ultra-light and eco-friendly (electric) vehicles. A
higher plastic content and regenerative energy sup-
ply will be key features.
Because the components have to meet the high
standards of safety, durability, and quality exacted by
mobile applications, the use of photovoltaics in ve-
hicles poses a special challenge. Several renowned
automakers are currently experimenting with solar-
active roofs. Integrative plastic-based PV solutions
have already been realized multiple times in concept
cars.
But electromobility covers far more than just the
vehicle alone. Eco-friendly driving also goes hand-
in-hand with todays charging stations. Together with
333
The latest version of PLEXIGLAS Solar (0Z023) is even better
adapted to the absorption spectrum of solar cells. It blocks
sunlight below 350 nanometers, which damages the solar cells
and cannot be converted into electricity anyway. At a wavelength
of 350 to 400 nanometers, however, it allows more high-energy
photons to pass through than other transparent plastics, thereby
increasing the electricity yield of the solar module
Transmission [%]
Built by the Venturi
company in 2007, the
car with integrated
solar roof made of
SUNOVATION
modules can be
marveled at in Monaco.
The monocrystalline
solar cells supply
maximum power of
150 Wp
PLEXIGLAS Solar 0Z023/PLEXIGLAS Solar IM203mm
UV blocking standard PMMA grade3mm
III-V cell spectral response
250 300 350 400 450 500
Wavelength [nm]
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
its partners, Sunovation has developed the SUNOVA-
TION ECO TECHNICS carport, a carport with inte-
grated LED lighting that generates emissions-free
electricity, thanks to curved PLEXIGLAS modules
that are a part of the roof. With a total surface measur-
ing approximately eight square meters, the modules
have maximum power of over 1 kWp. Compared to
glass-glass modules, PLEXIGLAS leads to weight
savings of over 60 percent and allows delicate, aes-
thetically pleasing construction. A prototype of the
carport has begun operation in May 2011 on the
grounds of Evonik in Darmstadt.
With Solar Carport, Sunovation and its roughly
20 employees are planning to take the plunge into
mass-production. There is every reason to believe
the carport will be a success. Its modular construc-
tion makes it easily expandable for large-scale appli-
cations, and installing it is incredibly simple. It can be
set up on any even, stable substrate without a foun-
dation and without a construction permit. Sunovation
will even take back used solar modules and recycle
them.
As these examples show, efcient products and
systems tailored to a specic application are possible
only through close cooperation between customers
and material manufacturers. Evonik and Sunovation
are currently studying the effect of various plastics
on the performance of solar cells. For this purpose,
nine modules are being measured and compared for
their endurance on a test bench under real outdoor
weathering conditions. The plastics used in the pan-
els include conventional PLEXIGLAS, polycarbonate,
and PLEXIGLAS Solar, which is optimized for mo-
dules. The latter is a newly developed PMMA that
shows improved transmission in the short-wave UV
range. It allows high-energy radiation of between 350
and 380 nanometers to pass through far better than
other plastics. Consequently, more high-energy pho-
tons reach the solar cells and can be converted into
electricity.
Low weight, optimal transmission, and high UV-
and weather resistance are the main reasons why
PLEXIGLAS Solar was used as the cover sheet for
the worlds largest lightweight design module, which
Evonik presented at the K trade fair for plastics in the
fall of 2010. The module is 1.58 meters wide, four me-
ters long, and weighs only 80 kilograms.
In the future, renewable power generation could
become as commonplace as todays coal- and gas-red
power plants. Cars would be refueled with climate-
friendly green electricity, buildings would be de-
signed with power- and heat-generating faades and
roofs, and in cities, emissions-free public transport
would be the norm. But visions of this kind can be-
come a reality only if high-tech and design are intel-
ligently combined, that is, when material and function
interact closely with one another.
For this to happen, materials manufacturers, de-
velopers and customers along the entire value-added
chain must cooperate and promote innovations to-
gether. Freely formable PLEXIGLAS based solar mod-
ules are opening up a highly promising but challeng-
ing new eld of application. The modules have to do
more than just generate power efciently and reliab ly.
They must also fulll the aesthetic expectations of
architects, developers and customers, and as high-
tech products, withstand the inuences of wind and
weather over many years. The partnership between
Evonik and Sunovation is one example of how to le-
verage the potential of advanced materials both eco-
nomically and ecologically, while simultaneously
meeting the demands of aesthetics, performance and
sustainability.
777
Peter Battenhausen,
business development manager
for the Acrylic Polymers
Business Line, works primarily
with solar applications for
PLEXIGLAS.
+49 6151 18-4519
peter.battenhausen@
evonik.com
Markus Krall
is founder and shareholder
of Sunovation GmbH. In 1997,
Krall developed the current
SUNOVATION module in
cooperation with Evonik Rhm
GmbH based on a feasibility
study.
+49 60 22 70 99-13
mk@sunovation.de
Uwe Lfer
is responsible for the Inter-
national Market Segment Solar
in Evoniks Acrylic Polymers
Business Line.
+49 6151 18-3010
uwe.loefer@evonik.com
Andreas Wll
is general manager of
Sunovation GmbH and has
extensive experience in photo-
voltaics and solar thermal
technology. He is primarily re-
sponsible for the rebuilding
of the company, further devel-
opment of Sunovation tech-
nology, and the development of
a more efcient and powerful
production process.
+49 6151 18-3010
aw@sunovation.de
26 BI OTECHNOLOGY
White biotechnology has become an indispensable part of the chemical industry.
But experts agree: the eld is still in its infancy. High double-digit growth rates
and key strategic decisions show that industrial biotechnology will replace even
more conventional petrochemical processes. At Evoniks BioTechDay in March,
some 200 participants discussed the opportunities this will create.
[ text Dr. Thomas Haas, Dr. Jan Pfeffer ]
Evonik BioTechDay
On a growth course
Biofuel, cosmetics or
biopolymers: The desire
to replace fossil raw
materials has dramatically
increased demand for
renewable carbon sources
BI OTECHNOLOGY 27
FOR YEARS, IT was impossible to imagine how a chemical in-
dustry could get along without oil. But because of nite deposits,
political uncertainties, and technological advancement, the in-
dustry has given more and more thought to new approaches, and
for some applications, has already developed competitive or even
better alternatives to petrochemical products. Thanks to micro-
organisms and enzymes, biotechnological processes increasingly
enable the development of products such as biofuels, polymers
and solvents based on renewable raw materials.
About ten percent of the world market for chemical products
is now produced with the help of biotechnologically produced
substances, said Patrik Wohlhauser, the member of the Board
of Evonik Industries AG with responsibility for innovation man-
agement, at the opening of BioTechDay, which was held March
910 in Marl. Evonik now generates about eight percent of its
sales from white biotechnology, with high growth rates.
Nearly 200 participants at the event learned about the poten-
tial of biotechnology for the chemical industry. There was also
a Product Marketplace, featuring classical biobased products,
such as amino acids and cosmetic active ingredients, as well as
new developments from Evonik, which are already established
in this market. The Group has special expertise in developing
strains, fermentation, and in processing bioproducts.
With its Biotechnology Science-to-Business Center (S2B Bio),
Creavis strategic research and development unit for basic
research activities, and its Biotechnology Area of Competence,
in which Evonik bundles its cross-business-unit biotechnological
know-how, the Group has positioned itself well in these areas.
The dream of creating a product in a single cell is impossible in
classical chemistry. But thanks to biotechnology, it is becoming
a reality, said Dr. Thomas Haas, head of the S2B Bio and orga-
nizer of the convention.
With biotechnology Evonik has expanded its technology port-
folio to foster the growth elds of resource efciency, nutrition
and health, as well as the globalization of technologies. Our in-
novation projects are allowing us to move further and further
into the so-called emerging markets, said Dr. Peter Nagler, head
of Innovation Management Chemicals & Creavis at Evonik.
Biotechnology requires patience
It took longer for biotechnology to get where it is now than
consultants predicted ten to 15 years ago, when a 25 or even 40
percent share of the world market in 2010 seemed possible. Tech-
nological hurdles, radically altered industrial value-added chains
that called for new partnerships, and market mechanisms for
raw materials meant that companies had to design highly tar-
geted and exible biotechnology strategies.
Theoretically, hundreds of chemicals and plastics can be
man ufactured from renewable raw materials, but up to now,
only a small number actually have, added Dr. Hanns Martin
Kaiser, consultant at McKinsey & Company. He described the
reasons for this, and the situation in industrial biotechnology in
his presentation. In the past, bio-related sales were generated
The Product Marketplace at the Evonik BioTechDay
provided material for discussion
mainly in biofuels, plant extracts and natural rubber. Bio-based
chemicals may be relevant to a broad spectrum of market partic-
ipants, says Kaiser. But right now, virtually no manufacturer
can cover the value chain alone. This means that partnerships
are essential. Kaiser cited ve forces driving continued growth
in this sector: cost competitiveness, exible use of raw materi-
als, consumer demand, technological innovations, and pressure
from public authorities.
Trend in raw material prices means
substantial planning uncertainty
The costs for biotechnologically manufactured products are in-
creasingly competitive with those of classical petrochemistry.
Until now, the prices of crude oil and raw sugar, for example,
havent had much to do with each other, said Kaiser. But this
also means that it is hard to predict when a biotechnological
process will be cheaper than a petrochemical process,
333
28 BI OTECHNOLOGY
According to estimates, the chemical industry generates about 7 percent of its sales revenues
in biotechnology. Major segments are biofuels, plant extracts, and natural rubber
Sales chemical industry 2008 Bio-dependent sales 2008
billions
Source: SRI, F.O. Licht, Frost & Sullivan, Press search
Product class
Biofuels
Plant extracts
1
Natural rubber
Food/feed ingredients
Pharmaceutical ingredients
Oleochemicals
Polyols
Enzymes
Bioplastics
Others
Examples
Ethanol
Biodiesel
Hydrocolloids (gums, industrial starches, etc.)
Essential oils
Flavors and fragrances
Rubber (isoprene, etc.)
Organic acids (citric acid, lactic acid, etc.)
Amino acids
Vitamins
Enzymatic APIs
Biologics
Natural fatty acids
Fatty alcohol
Surfactants
Sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol
Glycerol
Detergent enzymes
Grain processing enzymes
PLA, PHA
Starch based plastics, etc.
Other specialties
R&D services
1 In 2008 only selected regions of world markets available; updated based on 2010 split
1,745
(100%)
1,619
(93%)
126
(7%)
Share in biotechnology
sales in billions
40
37
18
9
7
5
4
3
2
1
The Pull of the U.S. Renewable Fuels Standard
The pull has advanced worldwide technology innovation that continues to evolve and improve through
government funding and led to increase venture capital and public and private company funding
Renewable fuels
1
(unclassied) 1st generation
Advanced biofuels
2
3rd & 4th generation Biomass-based biodiesel
3
Cellulosic biofuels
4
2nd generation
Mrd. Liter
Quelle: U.S. Renewable Fuels Standard
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
1 Includes all types of biofuel
2 Biofuels other than corn-based ethanol with GHG savings >50%
3 Biodiesel with GHG savings >50%
4 Lignocellulosic biofuel with GHG savings >60%
G
R
A
P
H
I
C
:

C
A
R
G
I
L
L
0
2006
G
R
A
P
H
I
C
:

M
C
K
I
N
S
E
Y

&

C
O
M
P
A
N
Y
BI OTECHNOLOGY 29
particularly since the situation could change several times
over the course of the years, depending on the trend in raw
mate rial prices. Moreover, biotechnologically produced chemi-
cals are not necessarily superior when it comes to reducing CO
2

emissions. It depends on the method of production.
On the other hand, the legislation enacted in recent years and
government subsidies have unquestionably favored advancement
of biotechnology. Because of these measures, there is a good
chance that the scope of industrial production will double in the
next few years, said Kaiser. Nevertheless, this should not give
people false hope. Aside from the high investment required, the
long time-to-market, and societys skepticism regarding sustain-
ability, so far very few products based on biotechnology that
enable new functionalities have successfully been placed on the
market.
Martin Todd, managing director of LMC International, illus-
trated just how complex the decision for or against a certain raw
material for a biotechnological process can be. The British com-
pany is a consultant to companies in agribusiness all over the
world. The demand for renewable carbon sources is increasing
rapidly, thanks to fast economic growth and the desire to replace
fossil sources. As a result, raw material prices have climbed be-
cause arable land has had to be expanded to create more expen-
sive areas, the rising cost of crude oil has increased the pro-
duction costs of farmers, and because of the widespread use of
biofuels, whose prices directly correlate with rising crude oil
prices.
This is why the prices for renewable carbon sources will
follow those of fossil carbon sources, said Todd. The dynamics
vary, however, for reasons that include energy content (when
compared to crude oil, vegetable oils have a 1 to 1 content, while
ethanol is 0.7 to 1 in the same comparison), the pricing politics
of the Brazilian government, which mean that fuel prices in that
country can differ greatly from world prices, and economically
attractive byproducts (such as glycerin) that occur in the pro-
duction of biofuels. Because of their high energy content,
vegetable oils are likely to be more expensive than carbohy-
drates, especially because they are many times more land inten-
sive and their potential crop areas are geographically limited,
333
333
The technology demon-
stra tion facility of Buta-
max, a joint venture of
BP and DuPont, with a
specied nominal capac-
ity of 37,000 liters
biobutanol per year
said Todd. When it comes to carbohydrates, a resource like su-
gar cane is a less obvious topic for the Food vs. Fuel debate, but
it also requires arable land, obviously.
Simplied production processes,
thanks to biocatalysts
Jack Staloch does not believe that there is a food shortage cur-
rently, but does believe that food is lacking in the right places.
Staloch is a vice president of the agricultural multinational Car-
gill, and worldwide head of the Biotechnology Development
Center. For the last four years, there has been a law in the United
States that stipulates a threefold increase in the use of biofuels
as a share of fuel consumption by 2022. Fifty billion liters were
produced in the United States last yearhalf of the worlds pro-
duction, and more biofuel than ever before.
Owing to its biotechnological expertise, Cargill is also active
in this segment, though it is far from its only eld of activity.
Biotechnology accounts for about four percent of our sales,
said Staloch. The company has core competencies in fermen-
tation, enzymes, separation and engineering. Thanks to bio-
technology, we can develop new products and processes, or
lower production costs, said Staloch.
A good example is the production of lactic acid. To extract
lactic acid following bacterial production, lime and sulfuric acid
had to be added to the fermentation broth. But with Cargills
newly developed yeast bacteria, sugar can now be fermented to
lactic acid without the same amount of additional chemicalsand
at the same production rates and yields. To nd the right bio-
catalyst, Cargill researchers tested about 1,200 yeast strains.
They then modied the best candidates before ultimately trans-
ferring the fermentation to the production level. We also rec-
ognized, however, that this yeast strain makes a good fermen-
tation platform for other applications, said Staloch, such as
organic acids for plastics and synthetic bers.
Ray W. Miller, Global Business Development Manager in the
Applied Bio Sciences Division at DuPont, stressed that chemical
companies operating in the eld of biotechnology have to have
a lot of patience. A pioneer in industrial biotechnology,
30 BI OTECHNOLOGY
Miller made no secret of the fact that it took some time before
the decision-makers of his own company were ready to commit
to biotechnology. Today, even the American consumer is
demanding green products, said Miller with a touch of self-
derision.
Technology platforms expand
the elds of application
Citing the example of 1,3-propandiol, a glycol produced biotech-
nologically from glucose, he explained that sales remained low
from 2000 to 2006 but then rose dramatically in 2007. Our an-
nual growth rates now average 50 percent, said Miller. More-
over, DuPont is building its Sorona polymer platform on bio-
propandiola business that used to be the domain of petro-
chemistry. These kinds of polymers enable highly dimensionally
stable clothing, durable car seat covers, as well as plastic resins
that protect against moisture and odors. DuPont supplies other
biotechnologically produced materials in such indus tries as
cosmetics, packaging, polymers and biofuels. Together with
the energy company BP, DuPont has established the joint ven-
ture Butamax, which is now developing a second-generation
biofuel.
Dr. Elke Hofmann, Commercial Director Europe at Butamax
Advanced Biofuels, stressed the importance of such biofuels,
which have a higher energy content than bioethanol. One of
the biggest weaknesses of bioethanol is its 30 to 40 percent
lower energy content compared to conventional fuels, said Hof-
mann. The energy content of biobutanol, on the other hand, is
closer to the values of conventional fuels. So Butamax embarked
on a quest for the right butanol molecule. After intensive
research, isobutanol was selected in 2004. We tested hundreds
of different molecules, said Hofmann. Butamax produces the
butanol with a modied yeast strain. Biobutanol shows advan-
tages along the entire value-added chain including the ability to
be more easily blended than ethanol at the renery.
In 2007, butanol successfully passed a eet test that included
vehicles from model years as early as the 1990s. So in 2009, the
company began construction on a pilot plant in Hull (England),
with a specied nominal capacity of 37,000 liters per year. The
plant is currently in the start-up phase. We plan to start
marketing the biobutanol in the United States in 2013 with plans
to expand to Europe, announced Hofmann.
333
Dr. Thomas Haas
heads Evoniks Biotechnology
Science-to-Business Center
which is under the direction of
Creavis Technologies &
Innovation.
+49 2365 49-2004
thomas.haas@evonik.com
Dr. Jan Pfeffer
works as Project Manager
Research and Development
in the Biotechnology Science-
to-Business Center.
+49 2365 49-5457
jan.pfeffer@evonik.com
777
Butamax
TM
Advanced Biofuels LLC
Butamax de novo pathway to produce biobutanol
with a modied yeast strain
X
2 Ethanol + 2 CO
2
Biomass
Sugar
2 NAD
+
2 NADH
2
ALS KARI
Pyruvate
O
O
O O
Acetolactate
2 NADH
2 NAD
+
O
O
O
O
O
O
OH
OH
OH
OH
OH
H
OH
OH
OH
HO
HO
DHAD
-Ketoisovalerate Isobutanal Biobutanol
KivD
ADH
2 e
, 2 H
+
2 e
, 2 H
+
H
2
O CO
2
Dihydroxyisovalerate
CO
2
NEWS 31
Robust, exible, and
fast drying: the
new clear coating
technol ogy from Evonik
Two-component (2K) PUR coatings were formerly
regarded as the global benchmark for high-grade
coatings. They are particularly weather and chemical
resistant, and the hardness-to-elasticity ratio is right.
Another advantage is that they cure at room temper-
ature. In certain applications, however, the abrasion
resistance of the coating lms leaves much to be de-
sired. The new polysilane system developed by Evonik
offers many of the advantages of 2K PUR coatings,
and it is at the same time especially tough.
With this development, Evonik has solved a prob-
lem that persisted for a long time. In the past, many
silane-based coatings lacked the desired exibility,
due to their high crosslinking density and high SiO
2

content. Evoniks new coatings show none of the
unwanted brittleness. This result was achieved by
developing a resin concept based on oligomeric silane
resins in combination with acrylate polyols with a
balanced ratio of organic and inorganic components.
An important feature is that, because of the high
reactivity of polysilanes toward water and polyols,
these coatings are processed as two-component
systems.
Evonik has also developed a novel catalyst concept
for its new coatings. Thanks to this development, the
polysilane coatings cure rapidly even at room temper-
ature. The new coatings thus provide a genuine alter-
native to the current standard.
Demanding faade
design with
PLEXIGLAS Mineral
Credits
Scientic Advisory Board
Dr. Norbert Finke
Evonik Degussa GmbH
Innovation Management
Chemicals & Creavis
norbert.nke@evonik.com
Editor in Chief
Dr. Karin Amann
Evonik Services GmbH
Konzernredaktion
karin.assmann@evonik.com
Contribution Editors
Christa Friedl
Michael Vogel
Design
Michael Stahl, Munich (Germany)
Photos
Evonik Industries
Karsten Bootmann
Dieter Debo
Tim Wegner
Stefan Wildhirt
Sunovation (p. 21, 23, 24)
Butamax (p. 29)
Stuwil/Fotolia (title)
Pinnacle Pictures/Getty Images
(p. 4 top)
Stefan Richter/Fotolia (p. 8)
Nazira/Fotolia (p. 11)
slobo/iStockphoto (p. 12 bottom)
Mauritius Images/Phototake (p. 19)
Printed by
Laupenmhlen Druck
GmbH & Co.KG
Bochum (Germany)
Reproduction only with permission
of the editorial ofce
Evonik Industries is a worldwide
manufacturer of PMMA products sold
under the PLEXIGLAS trademark
on the European, Asian, African, and
Australian continents and under the
ACRYLITE trademark in the America
Publisher
Evonik Degussa GmbH
Innovation Management
Chemicals & Creavis
Rellinghauser Strae 111
45128 Essen
Germany
PLEXIGLAS Mineral for extremely
weather-resistant structural shells
Individual faade design depends on the interplay of touch, shape and light.
PLEXIGLAS Mineral provides new options for this purpose. This mineral-
lled acrylic is homogeneously colored, can be thermoformed in two or three
dimensions and shows unique reection behavior.
PLEXIGLAS Mineral makes it possible to achieve story-high, formed,
individually routed or printed faade elements, says Ralf Nettner, Product
Manager for PLEXIGLAS Mineral at the Acrylic Polymers Business Line of
Evonik Industries. Our material paves the way for creative ideas.
But PLEXIGLAS Mineral not only has a stylish look, it is also exceptionally
tough and dees all winds and weathers. The faade material offers high im-
pact strength and UV stability. It can be fastened to all conventional supporting
structures. It combines a velvety reective surface with high brilliance and
durable color stability. PLEXIGLAS Mineral is available in many standard
colors as well as individual shades.
PLEXIGLAS Mineral is extremely ame-retardant and emits very little
smoke. Its combustion gases are neither corrosive nor toxic. The material is
rated Class D, s2, d0 to EN 13501-1. PLEXIGLAS Mineral NF is rated in Class
C, s1, d0.
Forget about gloss that fades.
Create your world of wow.
Visit us at www.plexiglas.net and www.plexiglas-polymers.com and
nd out more about PLEXIGLAS and its high-gloss surfaces that last.

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Designing with Polymers

RESOURCE EFFI CI ENCY 17

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