At the second “West Africa Building & Construction Exhibition” in Accra, Ghana, the Munich-based WACKER Group showcases high-performance polymers and silicone technologies for challenging construction applications. The company’s tradeshow portfolio, presented under the motto “Access Tomorrow’s Solutions”, comprises dispersions for waterproofing membranes and interior paints, water-repellent silicone resins for masonry coatings, and silicone sealants for general and sanitary purposes. The “West Africa Building & Construction Exhibition” takes place from July 2 to 4 at Accra’s International Conference Center.
“WACKER is accelerating its business development in the African continent, especially the Sub-Saharan African region. It is the first time that we are showcasing our technologies here in Ghana, and this exhibition is a great opportunity for us to explore further the market potentials in Ghana and Western Africa”, said Cyril Cisinski, Managing Director of Wacker Chemicals Middle East, while attending the tradeshow. For the first time, the company will also present its customized concept for the Western Africa region: “We have developed tailor-made solutions for polymer-modified tile adhesive formulations taking into account local climatic conditions and raw materials. Our aim is to transform the dry-mix mortar market in Ghana and Western Africa, as we believe that our products can enhance the performance of local construction chemicals and add great value to the regional construction market, especially in the field of sustainable building techniques.”
VINNAPAS Dispersions for High-Performance Solutions
At the show, the company will introduce its VINNAPAS polymer binders range for modern construction solutions. A highlight at the exhibition is VINNAPAS 550 ED, a versatile binder for two-component waterproofing membranes such as sealing slurries for creating permanent, hard-wearing seals in kitchens, bathrooms, and other wet rooms. Polymer-modified two-component waterproofing membranes remain flexible, even at low temperatures. Further characteristics are good water resistance, outstanding crack-bridging ability, high tensile adhesive strength, and ease of processing. Moreover, the dispersion is manufactured without the use of alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEOs), plasticizers or solvents.
VINNAPAS vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer (VAE) dispersions are further used as binders in formulating paints with a low content of volatile organic compounds (VOC). This WACKER technology has excellent film-forming properties without the addition of coalescing agents and offers high scrub and blocking resistance. At the tradeshow, the company will focus on VINNAPAS EP 3360, a dispersion for low-odor interior paints providing excellent scrub resistance, a high solids content and good formulation properties.
SILRES BS: Silicone-based Water Repellents
WACKER will also showcase its SILRES BS product portfolio. These products are based on water-repellent silicone resins and silicone resin emulsions and offer building protection for decades. Silicone resins form an extremely stable and highly durable three-dimensional silicone resin network on mineral surfaces and within mineral-based coatings. The network repels water and moisture, but is permeable to water vapor inside the wall. This effect keeps the building structure dry and prevents wall damage and decay caused by moisture.
At the tradeshow, WACKER will focus on SILRES BS 290 and SILRES BS 1306. SILRES BS 290 is a solventless silicone concentrate that is based on a mixture of silane and siloxane. When diluted in organic solvents, the product serves as high-quality general-purpose water repellent for impregnating and priming mineral and highly alkaline substrates. SILRES BS 1306, on the other hand, is a solventless, water-thinnable emulsion of a polysiloxane modified with a functional silicone resin. In aqueous masonry coatings and aqueous primers, the additive enhances the water repellency, the water resistance and water-vapor permeability of the formulations. It also improves the processability and anti-block characteristics of water-based coatings.
WACKER Silicone Sealants for Durable Joint Connections
WACKER will also introduce its General Sanitary (GS) and General Purpose (GP) silicone sealants. The GS line is typically used in wet areas. It seals connections and expansion joints in high humidity environment such as bathrooms and kitchens and is characterized by excellent resistance to mold and mildew. The GP line on the other hand, is a silicone sealant for renovation work, repairing and gap filling for both home and industrial applications.
Both lines are acetic-curing silicones and, as a result, are particularly rugged, with a long shelf life and good storage stability. They offer extreme weathering, UV, and abrasion resistance. They also confer compelling levels of adhesion to porous and non-porous substrates, ranging from metal to glass and ceramics through to plastic, wood and other substances. The ready-to-use sealants are flexible at both high (150 °C) and low ( 50 °C) temperatures and can be applied by hand or machine.