Rhodia advances in sustainable products for paints and varnishes

--- The company offers the market a complete range of products, technologies and services used in the formulation of resins, paints and varnishes

--- Company specialists from the sector give technical talks on the sustainable innovations for the sector

RHODIA’S STAND AT ABRAFATI: STREET C – STREET 1

São Paulo, November 21, 2011 – Rhodia, a member of the Solvay group, introduces at Abrafati 2011 its large portfolio of products, technologies, and services in the sustainable solutions area for the paint and varnish sector, paying special attention to oxygenated solvents from renewable sources and eco-friendly additives for water-based paints. The event, which runs from November 21 to 23, at the Transamérica ExpoCenter, in São Paulo, is the leading congress and exhibition in the paint sector in Latin America.

In the area of oxygenated solvents, one of the highlights is Rhodia Augeo SL 191, derived from glycerin, for paints and varnishes used in automotive paintwork and re-spraying, industrial paints, wood and leather. Launched two years ago, the first product in the AUGEO line of products using renewable resources, has been consolidating its position on the Brazilian market and exports have begun to North America and Europe, thanks to its special characteristics, which are in line with clients’ demands regarding sustainability.

Rhodia Augeo SL 191 is a slowly evaporating solvent with a low VOC (volatile organic composition), which has the technical properties capable of offering greater productivity and lower consumption in the paint and varnish manufacturing process. It is an innovation that expands Rhodia’s market share in a specialized solvent segment by replacing, with superior performance, glycol ethers and their petrochemical-based acetates, some of which are aggressive to human health and the environment. In addition, it makes good use of a biodiesel co-product.

“The AUGEO product line renews Rhodia’s commitment to chemistry aligned to sustainability, expanding our offer of oxygenated solvents,” says Alexandre Castanho, Global Director of the Solvent business at Rhodia. With modern industrial units and high-level technological processes, the company produces acetic oxygenated solvents (derived from ethanol), ketone (from the acetone chain) and bioglycerin.

The company, focused on clients’ needs, also has laboratories that develop applications for specific solvents, installed at its research and development center, located in Rhodia’s industrial plant in Brazil.

Rhodia’s portfolio of oxygenated solvents comprises a complete line that includes six chemical families (acetates, ketones, alcohols, glycols, keto-alcohols and cetals), covering every ranges of evaporation (from faster to slower) and whose properties are completely aligned with current and future environmental trends.

Water-based – At the same time, at Abrafati 2011, Rhodia will promote portfolio of technologies and additives for paint market, with the focus on eco-friendly solutions. Among the products offered by the company are solutions for polymerization (emulsion/dispersion stabilizers, specialty monomers and defoamers).

Rhodia is also a world expert in water-based painting and additives for coatings, with its special additives, defoamers, humectants and dispersing agents, additives for synthetic latex, coalescing agents and rheology modifiers. The new launches on the Brazilian market are the products under the brands Rhodoline® OTE and Rhodoline® WA, APE Free – that is, free of alkyl phenol ethoxylates.

“We are expanding our range of solutions that fully meet the challenge set by paint and varnish coating formulators to produce products that are more eco-friendly and which at the same time maintain their competitiveness on the market,” says Denison Novak, market manager at Rhodia Novecare Latin America.

Service: Abrafati 2011 – Transamérica ExpoCenter – São Paulo - November 21 to 23, 2011

Stand Rhodia – Street C, on the corner of Street 1

Speakers:

1) "New high-performance sustainable additives for water-based paint formulations” –November 21, at 1:15 p.m., Auditorium 2

Jose Ruiz - Global Technical Service Manager – Rhodia (USA)

2) “The sustainability of a solvent system in three dimensions: social, environmental, and economic” – November 22, at 1:15 p.m., Auditorium 3.

Sérgio Martins – Market Development Manager, Rhodia (Brazil)

Rhodia, a member of the Solvay Group, is an international specialty chemicals company resolutely committed to sustainable development. As a leader in its businesses, the Group aims to improve its customers' performance through the pursuit of operational excellence and its ability to innovate. Structured around 11 Global Business Units (GBUs), Rhodia is the partner of major players in the automotive, electronics, flavors and fragrances, health, personal and home care markets, consumer goods and industrial markets. The Group employs around 14 000 people worldwide and generated sales of €5.23 billion in 2010.

Press Information:

Roberto Custódio - Tel. (55 11)3284 4322-roberto@pexpress.com.br

Marcela de Paula - Tel. (55 11)3284 5164-marcela@pexpress.com.br