Novomer, a sustainable materials US company pioneering a family of high-performance polymers and other chemicals from renewable feedstocks such as carbon dioxide (CO₂), has announced that Jowat AG, a leading supplier of industrial adhesives headquartered in Germany, is the first to commercially adopt Novomer’s new Convergepolypropylene carbonate (PPC) polyols for use in polyurethane hot melt adhesive applications.

Convergepolyols are designed to replace conventional petroleum-based polyether, polyester, and polycarbonate polyols. They are based on the co-polymerization of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and epoxides and the resulting products contain more than 40% by weight CO₂. The use of waste CO₂ as a significant raw material yields a product with an extremely low carbon footprint. In addition, since waste CO₂ is significantly lower in cost than conventional petroleum-based raw materials, Converge polyol manufacturing costs are favourable compared to conventional polyols when produced at full commercial scale.

In terms of performance, the new polyols have a unique polycarbonate backbone which increases the strength and durability of polyurethane products. Incorporating these new polyols into existing formulations yields foams with higher tensile and tear strength, and increased load bearing capacity; adhesives and coatings with improved adhesion, cohesive strength, and weatherability; and elastomers with greater tensile and flexural strength.

In addition, the high CO₂ content enabled by Novomer's proprietary technology produces polyols with a calorific content (heat of combustion) that is 40% to 50% lower than conventional polyether, polyester, and polycarbonate polyols. This inherent feature is especially important in polyurethane applications that must meet strict flammability requirements.

The new Convergpolyols are available globally. The company’s initial product offerings – 1000 and 2000 molecular weight grades – are manufactured at a multi-thousand-tonne commercial-scale toll facility in Houston, Texas.