By Anders Cassel, Surface Chemistry Europe

Higher quality requirements on fibres, films, casings and other products produced through the viscose rayon process technology result in increased demands on surfactants used in processing. Although a relatively mature market globally this industry is expanding in Asia and there is still a need for development driven by the requirements of better process economy.

AkzoNobel’s Viscose Process Additives represented by their well-known product brands Berol, Visco and Berol Spin are still market leaders:

Berol Visco 388 is the most effective Reactivity Additive
Berol Visco 32, 44, 315 and 641 are commonly used for Improved Spinnability (IS)
Berol Spin 637, 652, 653 and 668 are improving Spinnability from the spin bath side

Fibres with higher strengths, so called Improved Tenacity (IT) and High Wet Modulus (HWM) fibres, need Modifiers for their manufacturing. AkzoNobel’s Modifiers are surfactants and are also well established in the market.

Anders Cassel is working as a R&D specialist in Performance Applications, Stenungsund, Sweden.