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Major Applications of Long Chain Dibasic Acids
High Performance Polyamides/Nylon

Polyamides are artificially made polymers commonly known as nylon. Commercially available polyamides are mostly made from six-carbon diacids. However, for superior strength in the presence of chemicals and water, polyamides produced with long-chain diacids such as DC12, or long-chain polyamides, are preferable because such polyamides will retain resistance to many chemicals and maintain strength even in highly moist environments due to the reduced number of chemical links between the molecules within the polyamide. One of the most common uses for long-chain polyamides is in toothbrush bristles, which are composed of two-thirds DC12 as a raw material.

The strength provided by long-chain diacids also allows polyamides to be produced for use in many other industrial applications. For example, the automobile industry is a key market where long-chain polyamides are suitable for the production of both fibers and plastics in a wide range of applications, such as automotive tubing, pipes and engine components. Similarly, long-chain polyamides can also be used to make fibers and plastics for other gas and liquid pipes in other, as well as in other applications such as food packaging films, fishing lines and filters. Our DC11 to DC14 can be used in the production of high performance polyamides.

Fragrances

Diacids are reacted with other chemical compounds to produce musk fragrances, which are commonly used in household cleaners to enhance the odors of other fragrances and to extend the fragrance's shelf-life. Musk fragrances produced from diacids are called macrocyclic, or large-ring, musk. Macrocyclic musk are biodegradable and preferred in most applications over competing polycyclic, or multiple-ring, musk, which are not biodegradable. Polycyclic musk, however, are produced at a lower cost as compared to macrocyclic musk produced through chemical processes. In addition, macrocyclic musk possess certain functional limitations as compared to polycyclic musk. For example, they are less stable in certain household cleaners containing bleach or high pH. However, evidence of polycyclic musk contaminating the environment or human tissues and breast milk due to their non-biodegradable nature have caused certain international perfume and consumer companies to begin phasing out their use in fragrances. Thus, despite the limitations of macrocyclic musk, we believe market demand for macrocyclic musk has increased in the last couple of years. Our DC11 to DC16 can be used in the production of musk fragrances.

Clear Powder Coatings

Clear powder coatings provide a thin, clear protective coating for automobile body finishes and wheels. Clear powder coatings have improved toughness, gloss, durability, flexibility and chemical resistance over other coatings and are environmentally preferred since no solvents are involved in their application. Our DC12 and DC 14 can be used in the production of clear powder coatings.

Corrosion Inhibitors

Organic corrosion inhibitors are increasingly used in industrial applications in recent years in place of inorganic corrosion inhibitors. Long-chain diacids are a group of anti-corrosion additives that can inhibit corrosion efficiently at low concentrations and are non-toxic and biodegradable. Diacids are used as corrosion inhibitors in metal working fluids, metal cleaners, engine coolants, aqueous hydraulic fluids and diecast release agents, protecting metal working parts and coolant systems from rust. Our DC11 to DC14 can be used in the production of corrosion inhibitors.

Lubricants

Diester lubricants, which have applications in both automotive and aviation engine oils, produced from long-chain diacids have better performance than lubricants produced from shorter chain length esters or hydrocarbon base oils. General use of long-chain diacids to produce diester lubricants has been limited due to the high cost and limited availability of long-chain diacids. However, we believe the cost efficiency associated with our long-chain diacids can produce diester lubricants that can be competitive in the market place. Our DC11 to DC16 can be used to produce lubricants.

Adhesives

Diacids are used in making copolyamides, which are mainly used as hot melt adhesives in the textile industry. Adhesives made from long-chain diacids demonstrate excellent flexibility and stability in solvents and are considered to be excellent hot melt adhesives for high-grade textiles. Our DC11 to DC14 can be used to produce copolyamides.

Pharmaceuticals

Diacids are also used to make pharmaceuticals. For example, our DC16, which was previously not commercially viable to produce through chemical processes, provides new ways to make important chemicals. Current applications for such specialized diacids are narrow in scope but we believe such diacids may be sold at higher margins. Our DC16 is currently being tested to qualify as an intermediate chemical for a European pharmaceutical company to produce a drug that is in clinical trials.