In a bid to expand in performance materials, French chemical producer Arkema has acquired the US company Oxford Performance Materials, Inc. (OPM), maker of polyether ketone ketone ultra-high-performance technical polymers marketed under the brandname OXPEKK®, with sales of the order of US$2 mln. The acquisition emphasizes Arkema's interest in ultra-high-performance polymers offering technical differentiation. The deal will combine OPM's focus on PEKK and Arkema's technical polymer thereby leading to the development of ultra-high-performance polymers.
According to the company, the OXPEKK® polyether ketone ketone products are charcahterised by high-temperature and chemical resistance, unmatched abrasion resistance, and natural flame retardancy. They already have many applications, including in aerospace, long-term medical implants, and down-hole equipment for the oil and gas industries. The addition of OXPEKK® polyether ketone ketone products to Arkema's already diverse portfolio complements a set of high-performance materials that include Kynar® fluorinated polymers, Altuglas® PMMA, Rilsan® polyamides, Pebax® thermoplastic elastomers, as well as Nanostrength® and Graphistrength® nanostructured materials.
10-Feb-09 
{{comment.DateTimeStampDisplay}}
{{comment.Comments}}