The product - the first in the world - simplifies the manufacturing process, increases productivity and offers clients a more sustainable solution

January, 10, 2013 - Braskem, the leading producer of thermoplastic resins in the Americas and the largest producer of biopolymers in the world, has just launched a resin that is the first worldwide, targeted at the footwear industry. The new EVA resin (copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate) enables faster and more sustainable production of shoes, obviating the need for the curing process during the gluing of soles, which eliminates ozone emission and reduces the costs during this production stage by up to 26%. The launch is part of the portfolio under the Braskem Maxio® seal, created to identify resins that offer greater efficiency to the plastic chain and reduce the environmental impact of the manufacturing process.

In this segment, the gluing of the midsole to the EVA base is an important stage of the process, since the durability of the shoe is directly related to the adhesion quality of its components after the curing process. The VA3010A resin developed by Braskem enables the gluing process to take place without the need for the U.V. (ultraviolet radiation) curing stage. This innovation eliminates the use of ultraviolet curing equipment, which requires constant maintenance and process control, in addition to producing ozone, a gas that is harmful to human health and the environment. Moreover, with the new resin, there is reduced energy consumption during the production process, which makes the shoemaking process safer and more sustainable.

The savings generated by this innovation in the footwear industry may reduce costs during the gluing stage of shoemaking by up to 26%, besides enabling unique designs in midsole production. The reduction will depend on the type of shoe and the configuration of each production line. The new resin will also improve the quality of soles, which results in fewer items returned due to manufacturing defects and, consequently, even lower costs for manufacturers.

To achieve this, Braskem and its partner Killing (www.killing.com.br) developed a new cold applied primer that complements the gluing of the resin on different substrates such as rubber, PVC and synthetic leather, replacing the solution based on the previous primer. The solution is based on a concept in which both the two new components - EVA and primer - are necessary for adhesion. This technology has already been patented.

"The new resin will bring greater competitiveness to the footwear industry which, in Brazil, produced more than 800 million pairs in 2011. The VA3010A resin is the result of our work at our Technology and Innovation Center to identify trends and find smart solutions to help our clients face challenges," says Edison Terra, director of polyethylene at Braskem.

"We expect to attain 60% of the domestic market in the first two years of operation. This development is yet another example of Braskem's commitment to constantly pursuing innovations and offering sustainable solutions to its clients, in line with the vision of becoming the global leader in sustainable chemistry by 2020," says Terra.

Source: Braskem