ESSEN, Germany - Three weeks after the fire in its CDT plant in the Marl Chemical Park, Marl, Germany, Evonik Industries is offering its customers various substitutes for polyamide 12 (PA 12), which will be available only in smaller volumes during plant repairs. The extrusion and injection molding compounds based on PA 610, PA 612, PA 1010 and PA 1012 do not require CDT as precursor. They are particularly suitable for use in line systems in the automotive supply industry, including the multi-layer tubing systems patented by Evonik. One such substitute is the bio-based VESTAMID^®Terra, already being used by the automotive industry.

The materials offered feature technical properties that are comparable with those of PA 12 and have similar processability. Evonik actively stands by its customers to support them in the best way possible in the selection and qualification process of the alternative materials and in minimizing the impact on supply chains.

Substitutes for VESTOSINT^®PA 12 powder will also become available within the next few weeks. This product is used in household appliances, coatings and cosmetics.

At present, Evonik expects the CDT plant to be operational again in the fourth quarter of 2012. Regulatory authorities are still investigating the cause of the accident.