BYK®-3550 has been awarded the BYK Advance Innovation Prize for 2009.

WESEL, Germany – BYK®-3550 has been awarded the BYK Advance Innovation Prize for 2009. The panel of judges for the award selected BYK-3550 because of its innovative approach to a solution, its high-market relevance and the exceptional teamwork exhibited during the development of the product.

The surface-active additive is based on BYK-developed and patented macromer technology. By combining silicone macromers and polyacrylates, the BYK-3550 development team was able to create a product that combines acrylate and silicone properties. BYK-3550 exhibits different properties depending on the polarity of the system.

In coatings with high polarity, the silicone provides good anti-crater properties without increasing the surface slip. The acrylate chain generates an excellent flow. In non-polar systems, conventional silicone additives often have a negative impact on recoatability. The long acrylate chain of BYK-3550 enables it to provide outstanding recoatability in such systems as well as an excellent flow in connection with distinctive anti-blocking properties.

The BYK Advance Innovation Prize has been awarded for three years. The Innovation Prize 2007 went to the developers of the coupling agent BYK-C 8000. The development team of BYK-SILCLEAN 3720 was awarded the prize the following year.