Kymene Wet-strength ResinsA Legacy of Innovation

1950O

O HN

NH2 NH2NH

OH

O

O

HO

Polyamide

- 2 H2O+

DETAadipic acid

Heat

NH

HN

OHOHCl

OHClCl

ClO

O

O HN

Cl

OHO

O

NHN

OH

O

O

NHN

+

+1,3-DCP

AZE

heat

Polyamideepi

+Cl-

3-MCPD

NH

HN

HN

HN

ACH

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

Ashland scientists perfect the synthesis of polyamido-amine-epichlorohydrin (PAE) technology, ushering in a new era of wet-strength capabilities.

KYMENE 557

Ashland introduces its newly developed product as Kymene 557.

Towel

Liquid

Facial

Carrier

Cup & Plate

Other

28%

16%

17%

8%

6%

24%

WET STRENGTH BY GRADE

Papers treated with the new resins remain strong even when wet.

DRY BREAKING STRENGTH

Kitchen towels made with Kymene have a wet breaking strength of 30 percent or greater of their dry breaking strength.

Kymene 557 is a huge commercial success. Today, PAE resins account for 90 percent of the wet-strength market. Of those, nearly half bear the Kymene brand name.

1.00%

0.10%

0.01%

G3

G2.5

G2

G1

1 10010 1000 10000

% A

OX

1,3-DCP ppm

OHOHCl+

OHClCl+

ClO

EPI3-MCPD

1,3-DCP

Manufacturing Kymene produces harmful byproducts, including 1,3-DCP and 3-MCPD, as well as ACH andPB-CPD. Both 3-MCPD and 1,3-DCP are considered hazardous substances and are possible human carcinogens. And all of the chlorine-containing byproducts, taken together, increase adsorbable organic halogen (AOX) levels in the effluent of paper mills.

Ashland researchers have developed several techniques to reduce the byproducts of Kymene synthesis, introducing market-leading technologies into each of the widely used industry descriptors of G1, G2, G2.5 and G3 PAE resins.

Ashland scientists continue to explore and refine the chemistry they invented back in the 1950s, with the goal of introducing the next generation of wet-strength resins.

WET BREAKING STRENGTH