Whether PVC, linoleum, or carpeting, many floor coverings are bonded directly to the concrete floor of a house. The adhesive used has to fulfill a series of demands. A new, low-emission binder from WACKERrsquo;s VINNAPAS product line is a big help.

A new technology for the composite dispersions in the VINNAPASreg; product range combine the advantages of organic and inorganic substances. This allows the plaster to remain intact for many years despite the sun and weathering.

Skyscrapers are often built on a steel framework. However, because steel can loose its stability at certain levels of heat, additional fire protection is needed for this kind of structure. Intumescent coatings based on WACKER's VAE copolymer dispersions can protect the steel framework against fire.

Stone flooring is attractive, but can be chilly underfoot. Cork flooring feels warm to the feet, but is less durable. Now there is a new type of floor covering that combines the advantages of both materials. The crucial difference in its manufacture is VINNEX powder binders from WACKER.

Packaging made of corrugated cardboard can be found everywhere in the foodstuff industry. That's a good enough reason to take a closer look at how corrugated cardboard adhesive is manufactured. VINNAPAS XD 05 from WACKER is an ideal starting material for formulating this kind of adhesive.

Electricity generated from sun and wind is fed into the grid usually via underground or undersea cables. These are complicated and expensive to lay. For this reason, the cables need to work perfectly for decades on end. Electrically-conducting silicone elastomers from the POWERSIL product line play a key role here.

Tens of thousands of vehicles pass through the Gotthard road tunnel every day. In winter, they splash a large amount of water and road salts onto the tunnel walls. In a single night, the tunnel was treated with special water-repellent silanes from WACKER to prevent the salt water from penetrating into the concrete and damaging it.

If you've ever done a presentation with an overhead projector, you will have come into contact with a Fresnel lens. What this is, why such lenses have potential to significantly improve solar technology, and what this has got to do with WACKER, will be revealed in this episode of our podcast.

Retinol is the parent compound of vitamin A and a key active ingredient in anti-aging preparations. For it to develop its full effect, it must be protected from external influences. Listen to this episode and find out how WACKERrsquo;s cyclodextrins ldquo;smugglerdquo; the precious but sensitive substance safely under the surface of the skin.

Modern LEDs still pose significant challenges for researchers. But investment in development pays off, for the little lamps are significantly more efficient and have a much longer life than todayrsquo;s energy-saving lamps. Listen and find out how a silicone produced by WACKER can help to reduce future energy requirements still further.