Solvay gives RTP rights to its PPSU resins

Belgian chemicals company Solvay Specialty Polymers and US-based RTP Company have entered a licensing agreement that will allow the latter to produce and sell the Radel R-7000 PPSU (polyphenylsulphone) resins, Solvay’s resin line designed for aircraft. Solvay is a supplier of thermoplastics while RTP is a custom compounder.

The agreement aims to shorten lead times and allow customers to order smaller sizes of custom colors for aircraft OEMs or individual airlines.

Resins in the Radel R-7000 PPSU family are formulated for use in aircraft cabin interior applications, such as seating, passenger service units, stow bins and air grilles. Besides meeting the US Federal Aviation Administration regulations that govern flammability, heat release, smoke generation and toxic gas emissions, the resins are said to allow for aesthetics, impact strength and chemical resistance.

Solvay will still manufacture, sell, and distribute its Radel R-7000 PPSU series polymers. The new licensing agreement gives RTP access to polymer formulations and production technology needed manufacture and sell the product under the Radel brand and grade designations.

“Solvay’s family of Radel R-7000 PPSU polymers have delivered proven performance in aircraft interior applications for more than 25 years across a broad range of commercial aircraft, including the Airbus A320 and Boeing’s 737, 747, 757, 767, 777 and 787,” said Michael Finelli, Senior Vice-President of sulphone polymers for Solvay Specialty Polymers. “The performance and product range of these materials has established them as a material of choice for the global aerospace OEM and MRO markets.”

“Our licensing agreement with Solvay now enables us to offer customers an even broader range of high-performance polymers that comply with the aircraft industry’s stringent regulations,” said Ben Wiltsie, General Manager of flame retardant products at RTP. “This agreement creates a more responsive global supply chain that makes optimal use of two well-known materials suppliers to the aerospace market.”