Specialty chemicals company Lanxess AG is to raise its prices for ethylene-vinyl acetate synthetic rubber grades (EVM). The increase will take effect in the EMEA, LATAM, APAC and GC regions on April 15, 2014, and in the NAFTA region on April 21.

The High Performance Elastomers business unit has announced that the price for grades in the Levapren/Levamelt and Baymod L (EVM) product lines will increase by up to EUR 250 or $350 per metric ton. The reason for this price adjustment is the general rise in production costs. For decades, Levapren has proved its mettle as an optimal solution for an extremely wide variety of applications. The oil, ozone and aging-resistant Levapren grades are used, for instance, in vehicle engine compartments. Here, the water and oxygen-proof and UV-resistant rubber Levapren ensures that cable insulation, hoses, seals, and other rubber components remain tight in spite of heat and aggressive fluids. Levapren is to be found in ultralight and nonetheless highly elastic shoe soles and in transparent bellows and robust profiles.

In addition, low-flammability floor coverings and cable sheathing made of EVM can save lives if a fire breaks out. The state-of-the-art material from Lanxess is an advantage in all areas where quality, an extremely long service life and safety are critical factors. Levamelt adhesives are not only ideal for use in detachable stickers or films that protect new cars on their way to the dealer, they could also be used in sheet-metal building cladding to prevent scratching prior to installation. Further areas of application where Levamelt can be used include hot melts, which exhibit a broader service temperature interval thanks to the EVM with its adjustable and higher glass transition temperatures, or stickers that can not only be detached after use without leaving a residue, but can also be used several dozen times.

Source: rubberworld.com