Evonik Jayhawk Fine Chemicals Corporation, a US subsidiary of the German Evonik group, and Dixie Chemical Company have signed a joint development agreement for the global epoxy market sector.

In particular, the collaboration will focus on thermal curatives said to combine the best attributes of Evonik's Jayhawk dianhydride with Dixie's monoanhydride portfolio. Dixie will begin supply products in early 2016.

Borys Schafran, director, marketing & business development at Evonik, said Dixie's expertise in epoxy formulating and applied technology will be key. The new products will not only address ease-of-use but will also improve the properties of epoxy coatings, molding compounds and composite materials, he said.

“This is especially important in applications where sustained mechanical, thermal and dielectric properties in adverse conditions over longer periods of time is a must-have requirement,” Schafran added.”