Nynas offers white oil alternative for silicone-based fluids
Photo courtesy of Nynas

Nynas offers white oil alternative for silicone-based fluids

Pressure on the global supply of silicone is driving up prices, making producers of silicone-based products eager to find compatible and cost-effective alternatives. Nynas sees this as an opportunity to launch a new white oil, NYFLEX® 2120B, and a range of other naphthenic specialty oils for sealant formulators. 

The portfolio offers cost-effective replacements for silicone fluids, while reducing problems related to microbial growth and maintaining the right balance between viscosity, colour stability and volatility.

Naphthenic oils can be used as partial or full replacement for silicone fluids

“Our range of NYFLEX naphthenic oils can be used to partially or fully replace silicone fluids, resulting in a product with optimal performance and reduced manufacturing costs,” says Gaia Franzolin, marketing director, Nynas.

“This product range offers formulation flexibility and displays the right balance between important performance criteria such as polymer compatibility, loss of mass and colour stability,” says Emma Öberg, development engineer, Nynas. “The optimised compatibility of NYFLEX® 2120B and NYFLEX 2005 is of paramount importance to avoid bleeding on sealant surfaces, while NYFLEX 201B and NYFLEX 3011 provide formulators with a low shrinkage option.”

The entire NYFLEX range for sealants has excellent colour stability due to Nynas’ hydrotreating technology, suitable molecular weight and very low aromatic content. These naphthenic oils can also reduce microbial growth in silicone sealant joints, which can cause permanent staining and etching, as well as shortening the lifespan of the joints.

“Independent specialist labs have examined our sealant samples formulated with NYFLEX® 2120B and reported no microbial growth, even under the microscope, This stands in contrast to sealant samples formulated with paraffinic oils, which developed undesirable active mould growth,” according to Oberg.