Ketjenflex®
Ketjenflex® have been used for over 70 years in applications such as inks, coatings, adhesives, amino resins, nail lacquers and plastics.
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The science behind Ketjenflex®
Understanding the molecular mechanisms that enable ultra-thin functional coatings.
KETJENFLEX®
Ketjenflex® plasticizers are advanced sulfonamide-based additives designed to significantly enhance the flexibility and performance of a wide range of polar resins. Their unique chemistry offers several key advantages:
Exceptional Compatibility
Ketjenflex® plasticizers blend seamlessly with many polar resins like nitrocellulose, epoxy, melamine, polyamide, and vinyl acetate. They ensure optimal flexibility and performance in the final product.
The Science behind Sol-Gel
Understanding the molecular mechanisms that enable ultra-thin functional coatings.
Tailored Flexibility
By lowering the glass transition temperature (Tg) of polymers, Ketjenflex® external plasticizers increase the mobility of polymer chains, resulting in softer, more flexible materials. Internal plasticizers, on the other hand, react during polymer formation to reduce crosslink density, further improving flexibility and durability.
Versatile Grades
Available in both liquid and solid forms, Ketjenflex® products can be selected to suit specific application needs. Liquid grades are ideal for enhancing film formation in high-polarity resins, while solid grades offer higher reactivity for use as internal plasticizers or in hotmelt applications.
The Science behind Sol-Gel
Understanding the molecular mechanisms that enable ultra-thin functional coatings.
Performance Benefits
Use of Ketjenflex® leads to higher flexibility, improved adhesive force, better flex resistance, enhanced gloss, and low bleeding due to strong hydrogen bonding. Some grades also enable room temperature curing of epoxy systems and contribute to a lower carbon footprint.
Application Versatility
Ketjenflex® is widely used to flexibilize coatings, adhesives, inks, and plastics, and can also act as a catalyst to accelerate crosslinking reactions in certain systems.
Additives
Ketjenflex®
Technology applications
Ketjenflex®’s major application is the flexibilization of paint coatings and adhesives. They can also help produce pigments and dyes and cure 2K systems.
Epoxy resins
Due to their unique compatibility with epoxy resins, Ketjenflex(R) 9S plasticizer will improve the films flexibility without compromising gloss or chemical resistance. Also, our Ketjenflex(R) CP catalyst will help reduce curing time drastically even at room temperature.
Printing inks
Ketjenflex® 8 will improve film forming and adhesive strength of Nitrocellulose/Polyurethane flexographic and rotogravure lamination printing inks. Ketjenflex® MH will improve gloss, adhesion and water and oil resistance of Overprint varnishes and white primer.
Marine Coatings
Antifouling coatings have long been using Ketjenflex® 8 as plasticizer in rosin-based ablative, self-polishing and insoluble matrix systems. This liquid sulfonamide plasticizer brings film forming properties, superior adhesion to the substrate, smooth erosion of the film, oil and water resistance and thermal stability of the coated film.
Fluorescent Pigments
KETJENFLEX® 9S is an intermediate for fluorescent pigments.
Ketjenflex® product range
Advanced sol-gel coatings for diverse industrial applications.
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