Guaranteed. Magazine of the Acrylic Polymers Business Line Special issue Degussa is now Evonik. 04 Feat of acrobatics: the Caesar Twins friendly

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1 03 Feat of design: outsize chandelier 04 Feat of acrobatics: 14 Feat of lighting engineering: 17 Feat of craftsmanship: the Caesar Twins bright and environmentally hand-made racing car friendly 18 Feat of imagination: fabulous diamond in Brunei Degussa is now Evonik. Magazine of the Acrylic Polymers Business Line Special issue 2008 As of September 12, 2007, what was Degussa is now the Chemicals Business Area of the new Evonik Industries. For further information on this creative new industrial group, please go to Guaranteed. Light promotes growth and well-being. Yellowed sheets keep out the light. With PLEXIGLAS, which comes with a 30-year guarantee against yellowing, this is a problem of the past. Read the inside story on page 6.

2 2 Dear Readers: Guarantees date back to the early days of human civilization and exist in a variety of forms, from the curious to the useful. In this issue, we present a very special guarantee: the 30-year PLEXIGLAS guarantee against yellowing and loss of light transmission. Learn more about what this means for companies and climate protection, and what all that has to do with polar bears. In this special issue of [DiA] Design in Acrylics, you can also read: A guaranteed treat: world-class acrobatics by the Caesar Twins. The gymnastic duo from Poland reveals in our interview some of the ways they entrance the audience. Many of their feats of artistry are based on PLEXIGLAS. A guaranteed legend: The Melkus RS 1000 the only racing car ever to be made in the former East Germany. Now the roadster is being manufactured again, and takes PLEXIGLAS along for a ride. This makes the car lighter, faster and cuts its fuel consumption. A guaranteed fairytale: The story of the diamond of Brunei is like something out of the Arabian Nights. The Sultan of Brunei had this scintillating 8.5-ton PLEXIGLAS jewel erected as a symbol of wealth and purity. Michael Träxler, Vice President Acrylic Polymers Business Line I hope you enjoy your read and gain a raft of new ideas. A Moment in Time Who painted this? Piet Mondrian, Paul Klee or perhaps August Macke? The colors certainly recall the works of these artists. But the origin of this picture is quite different, even though it does have artistic connections. The colorful surfaces turn out to be unusual, eye-catching stools and shelves made of PLEXIGLAS. Designers have always turned to this material for inspiration, and a remarkable exhibition at Darmstadt's Mathildenhöhe showed what designers since the 1930s have crafted from PLEXIGLAS, including compartmentalized cigarette boxes, garden chairs and beauty bags. We reported in a previous issue on this event at Darmstadt, the birthplace of PLEXIGLAS. The catalogue, which can be obtained from Institut Mathildenhöhe, Darmstadt, provides a retrospective of the exhibition.

3 3 Glowing logo at a dizzy height: the Spanish company's name catches the eye from afar. Climate Protection Pays Off Energy savings for many branches of industry [Climate Protection] Climate change is having an increasingly dire impact, as confirmed by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) report recently released in Valencia, Spain. This fourth and final part of the world climate report underlines the importance of broad-based commitment to climate protection. According to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the report also shows that there are realistic and financially viable ways of responding to climate change. This conviction is shared by Michael Träxler. As Vice President of the Acrylic Polymers Business Line at Evonik Röhm, he initiated the campaign This is what climate protection looks like. Since last summer we have shown how companies can cut energy costs and carbon emissions at the same time using PLEXIGLAS. This applies to companies from very different branches of industry, Träxler says. A Spanish toy manufacturer has reduced power consumption by more than half using PLEXIGLAS for its signage. With the right concept and the right material, climate protection pays off for companies, as we can see with the illuminated signs at our head office in Zaragoza, says Marta Pons from Corporate Communications at Imaginarium. Two sets of LED-lit lettering made of PLEXIGLAS truled were installed there. This material was specially developed for backlighting with LEDs. It offers particularly high light transmission, which means that luminous objects glow brightly even with fewer light sources. As compared with conventional acrylic sheets, this makes it possible to reduce energy consumption and cut costs for luminous objects. The improved energy efficiency is important to the toy manufacturer for another reason too. Imaginarium markets toys that are meant to encourage children to treat nature and natural resources with respect. Miniature wind-power or solarpower generators, dynamos and toy cars that run on hydrogen are intended to give children a feel for climate protection. So we consider it our corporate responsibility to actively contribute to climate protection. With our illuminated PLEXIGLAS logos, we achieve a strong optical effect with maximum energy efficiency. A light dome manufacturer, on the other hand, saves air conditioning costs. When the light domes in our office were still made of conventional plastic, the temperatures on sunny days were almost unbearable, recalls Armin W. Schulze, Purchasing Manager at Hans Börner GmbH & Co. KG. This company is one of the largest manufacturers of PLEXIGLAS light domes in Germany. Since the offices had to be air-conditioned all the time on hot days, the 15 light domes of the building were exchanged. Now they are made of PLEXIGLAS HEATSTOP, a special material that reflects solar heat and substantially reduces heat buildup. Our employees are very pleased about the much more pleasant room temperature. At the same time, we save energy costs because the air conditioning unit can be switched off more often, Schulze says. And the light domes made of PLEXIGLAS HEATSTOP are very much in demand because of rising electricity prices. For Träxler, these examples show how energy and costs can be saved in very different branches of industry using PLEXIGLAS. That means climate protection is becoming an increasingly viable economic option for companies faced with rising energy costs. But PLEXIGLAS not only helps save energy, we are also involved in exciting power generation developments, on which we will report shortly, Träxler says. hf

4 4 Concentration, strength and perfection the Caesar Twins' show reveals every little movement to the audience. Somersaults Inside a Transparent Cube Caesar Twins perform world-class acrobatics with PLEXIGLAS [Stage] Pierre and Pablo Caesar, better known as the Caesar Twins, are two of the world's top gymnastic acrobats and have already entranced audiences around the globe with their unusual performance. They can only be told apart by their panther tattoos, which one twin has on his left arm and the other twin on his right. Since being invited to take part in the Royal Variety Performance by Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth II, they have gained fame among lovers of vaudeville, circus and variety acts. Thirteen million viewers watched the spectacle on television. The Caesar Twins went on to perform in London's West End and toured the world, as well as making numerous television appearances. They have even staged a private performance in Dubai. The twins, who originate from Poland, live in Berlin. That is where they train and develop new ideas with their director Markus Pabst. And PLEXIGLAS plays a leading role in their show. Many of its properties open up new perspectives for the acrobats and their audience alike. DiA spoke with Pierre Caesar, Pablo Caesar and Markus Pabst in their studio in Berlin. [DiA]: These rooms are very impressive. Is this where your new projects take shape? Pierre Caesar: Our loft here measures about 450 square meters, so we have plenty of space to rehearse our shows. But we also work with young talent here too. Pablo Caesar: Every year we select about seven artistes, people we work with on new performances. Our choreographers and directors are on hand to help them. [DiA]: Are you planning other show elements with PLEXIGLAS? Markus Pabst: We want to work even more with this material in the future. One of our ideas is a huge cube of PLEXIGLAS in which we can do somersaults along the walls or hang from the walls using suction cups. That only works on smooth surfaces. Pablo Caesar: We could also work in the cube with water, color or mist. Or we could do bungee jumps into the cube. [DiA]: Have you done other experiments with the material? Markus Pabst: Of course. PLEXIGLAS also makes interesting sounds. When acrobats jump on walls or rhythmically throw balls against the material, we can transmit the sound to the audience via microphone. That creates very impressive effects. Pierre Caesar: At the moment we are also practicing a lot with light and reflections. [DiA]: When will your new show be finished? Pablo Caesar: A show like ours is always a work in progress. We have already presented our fishbowl on every continent. Parts of the juggling act are currently being performed in Berlin, and can be seen from March at GOP Varieté in Münster. Pierre Caesar: One day there will be an entire show just with PLEXIGLAS. But we will try out all the individual parts first. [DiA]: You incorporate various materials into your program. What role do these play in developing individual elements of the show? Markus Pabst: At the moment we are working a lot with PLEXIGLAS. Our juggler, for instance, places several PLEXIGLAS sheets side by side to form a V or a diamond shape. In this, he juggles up to seven rubber balls that he also bounces off the PLEXIGLAS sheets at incredible trajectories. There are only two materials that make the balls bounce like this: marble and PLEXIGLAS. Pierre Caesar: Our 800-liter fishbowl is also made of PLEXIGLAS. We do handstands and somersaults inside it. These are an important part of our 90-minute solo show, where the audience can also watch us under water.

5 5 Our 800-liter fishbowl is also made of PLEXIGLAS. We do handstands and somersaults inside it. These are an important part of our 90-minute solo show, where the audience can also watch us under water.

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7 7 Guarantee 30 Years of Guaranteed Transparency A travel agency guarantees sunny weather. A dating agency guarantees you will meet the love of your life within six months. A chain of cinemas guarantees you will enjoy the movie billed for tonight. Today, lots of promises are made, and few are kept. But there are guarantees of a different kind, ones that are scientifically founded, and so unusual that they are worth taking a closer look. What about the 30-year guarantee against yellowing and loss of light transmission? This guarantee really exists for PLEXIGLAS. It was introduced about one year ago. DiA has explored the wonderful world of warranties and ventured into the heart of PLEXIGLAS production at Darmstadt.

8 8 30 years and not a bit dull I. Unlike other transparent plastics such as polycarbonate (PC), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET), PLEXIGLAS stays clear and transparent for decades. How does this work? The secret lies in the extremely strong and naturally UV-stable PMMA molecules on which PLEXIGLAS is based. These molecules offer passive resistance to the harmful portion of solar radiation. PLEXIGLAS doesn't try to block out the UV rays, its sifts them instead, explains Martin Berkenkopf, Product Manager in the Acrylic Polymers Business Line. Other transparent plastics that oppose UV rays are fighting a losing battle. The radiation destroys the compounds on which these materials are based and splits off molecules. This leads to visible contamination of the originally clear-transparent materials. The plas - tic becomes yellow. In contrast, the yellowness index of PLEXIGLAS remains far below the visibility limit even after 30 years. Destruction due to UV light is also visible on the surface of other types of plastic, and the damaged material may also become brittle due to weathering. The plastic may break or lose its stability. Since certain portions of UV radiation can also attack the human skin, PLEXIGLAS can be modified during production so that it shields off harmful UV rays without detriment to the material's stability. Other plastics, on the other hand, can only be protected to a limited extent even with a special UV coating. You can compare this to applying suntan lotion, Berkenkopf says, it only offers surface protection. That is why most plastics only come with a 10-year guarantee against yellowing. PLEXIGLAS, on the other hand, remains UV-resistant through and through, for a guarantee period of 30 years. Even products based on PMMA from other manufacturers do not come with this guarantee against yellowing. The unique quality of PLEXIGLAS is based on the production know-how acquired in over 70 years of experience. So you could compare PLEXIGLAS with stainless steel, in a way, Berkenkopf says. Stainless steel doesn't rust, and PLEXIGLAS doesn't become yellow." Neither of these materials succumbs to weathering. Both remain permanently tough and attractive. This unique property of PLEXIGLAS has been confirmed in tests performed by several independent research institutes, such as Darmstadt Technical University. H H H H C C C H C O O H Naturally UV-stable: The chemical structure of PMMA, on which PLEXIGLAS is based, offers few points of attack to sunrays and therefore shows no yellowing. H C H

9 9 Guaranteed brilliance: In greenhouses, light transmission has a crucial effect on plant growth. With PLEXIGLAS, this property is guaranteed for 30 years. Less yellowing is good for the future II. Thirty years of perfect transparency is more useful than a lot of people might think. In fact, the whole world benefits from this. The guarantee that PLEXIGLAS will show no yellowing even after 30 years of permanent service makes a measurable contribution to climate protection and helps to reliably plan long-term projects. The positive effects are felt in greenhouses as well as factory units and industrial plants. In greenhouses, a high degree of light transmission by roofs made with PLEXIGLAS multi-skin sheets also guarantees more rapid plant growth for decades to come. Especially on the dull days that are a frequent feature of the northern hemisphere, this saves on lighting too. Non-yellowing is also of interest in southern climes, explains Michael Träxler, Vice President of the Acrylic Polymers Business Line. In those climate zones, the material's insensitivity to UV light will become a crucial topic in the future, as we face climate change and rising levels of solar radiation and UV concentration. In addition, the material offers very good heat insulation. This combination makes for low heating and lighting bills and reduced carbon dioxide emissions, saving around 55 percent in energy and a correspondingly high amount of CO 2. Incidentally, the same applies to air conditioning systems, because light domes made of PLEXIGLAS HEATSTOP mean that industrial plants or factory units require less cooling at high temperatures. The extremely high weather resistance and durability of the material make PLEXIGLAS the ideal choice for projects that need to last for generations. And the material has another string to its bow: once produced, PLEXIGLAS lasts a lifetime. It is completely recyclable, which saves precious resources. Building with PLEXIGLAS therefore means building sustainably and protecting the global climate, Träxler says. That is what makes PLEXIGLAS the material of the future. Acrylic Sheet also works permanently to research and promote product development, on the one hand to further improve the climate-protection properties, and on the other to seek alternative compounds so that PLEXIGLAS can still be manufactured even as feedstocks become increasingly scarce. The company's commitment in this area is exemplified by the campaign launched in the summer of 2007 This is what climate protection looks like.

10 10 Guarantees have literally been around for ages III. What actually constitutes a guarantee? Who guarantees what, and how? The origins of the guarantee reach back into the early history of mankind in almost all advanced civilizations. Astute businessmen always found it important to guarantee the quality of their goods by proving their origin. This was done in Mesopotamia as long ago as 3,500 BC by means of cylinder seals used to authenticate merchandise. The right weight was always a feature of guarantees and had far-reaching consequences. The ancient Egyptians believed that people who manipulated calibrated measuring instruments and weights would have problems crossing over to the afterlife. If found guilty by the 42 judges of the dead, the deceased was eaten by a creature that was part crocodile, part hippo and part lion, and died again, this time for good. That was the worst punishment an Egyptian could imagine. Like the Sumerians in Mesopotamia, the merchant families Fugger and Welser in 15th and 16th century Europe marked their transports with their own signs that guaranteed quality for the purchasers. Lead seals with municipal coats of arms or guild seals identified the origin of textiles and also served to guarantee the quality of the different types of cloth. As industrialization proceeded, it became more and more important to label goods, not just to underline their quality, but also to protect against unwanted competition and piracy. In 1887, England introduced a law that prescribed specification of the country of origin. This had an unintended effect the statement of origin of supposedly inferior imported goods Made in Germany became a hallmark of especially good quality. Some producers then started marking their products as Warranted made in Germany. When classical advertising became widespread and the number of advertisements in daily newspapers started to grow at the end of the 19th century, guarantee statements also became an important marketing instrument. When George G. Blaisdell from America developed the legendary Zippo cigarette lighter in 1933, he was so convinced of its reliability that he gave customers a lifetime guarantee on the product. The advertising slogan If it doesn't work, we'll repair it for free became a token of the product's quality. Even today, Zippo in Bradford/Pennsylvania still repairs defective Zippos free of charge. In 1946, American chemist Earl S. Tupper developed a bowl made from the new material polyethylene. With their novel air- and watertight sealing lid, Tupper's storage containers were vastly superior to all other products at the time. Tupperware also comes with a lifetime guarantee, at least in the USA. In Germany and neighboring European countries, the highest guarantee allowed by law is 30 years. That is why PLEXIGLAS is only guaranteed for 30 years against yellowing and loss of light transmission. This is the maximum guarantee that can be granted in Germany, for legal reasons. Guarantees make trademarks unmistakable and distinguish them in small but crucial ways from competitors' products.

11 11 A roundup of weird and wonderful guarantees IV. PLEXIGLAS will show no yellowing for a guarantee period of 30 years. This may sound unusual, but it is scientific fact. Not so, but almost as popular as the story of the tarantula in the bunch of bananas, is the story of the burglar who was knocked out by the brick he tried to throw through a pane of PLEXIGLAS. Some guarantees sound just as fantastic. But who knows, tomorrow they may be the order of the day 70-percent guarantee: The rebuilt Wembley Stadium in London was originally meant to open on May 13, 2006 to host the FA Cup Final. But the stadium was not finished in time and the final match had to be transferred to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. There was no foundation for claims for damages, because the construction company concerned had only given a 70-percent guarantee that the building would be completed punctually. In fact, the new Wembley Stadium wasn't finished until March 10, Just what the cat ordered: According to its own statements, a Swedish animal feed manufacturer has its cat food tested by feline experts and advertises with the unusual guarantee: If your cat is unexpectedly dissatisfied with Bozita, just bring the feed back and we will refund you in full. The cat doesn't need to give reasons, either. Unlimited return policy: The American mail-order company Lands' End hit the headlines with an amazing service in Germany too in the 1990s. The company guaranteed to refund the cost of purchased goods or to supply alternative products for an unlimited period of time. Based on the guarantee, they would even have had to take back clothing that had gone out of fashion and become shabby or damaged. Until the German Federal Supreme Court ruled in 1999, in agreement with the German Agency to Combat Unfair Competition (Wettbewerbszentrale), that a right to return goods which is completely unfounded on objective criteria violated the Ordinance on Bonuses (dated 1932). What can happen in 30 years? : A journey in time V. Just imagine: If the 30-year guarantee for a non-yellowing PLEXIGLAS product were to expire today, the product would have been manufactured in That was the year in which German basketball star Dirk Nowitzki and German swimmer Franziska van Almsick were born, as well as Louise Joy Brown, the world's first test-tube baby. A liter of petrol cost less than one deutschmark back then, Argentina won the World Cup Football Championship at home, and Muhammad Ali became third-time world heavyweight boxing champion. Sigmund Jähn was the first German to fly into space, and mountaineer Reinhold Messmer climbed Mount Everest without an oxygen mask. Karol Wojtyla became Pope John Paul II. Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israel's Prime Minister Menachem Begin signed a peace treaty at Camp David mediated by U.S. President Jimmy Carter, and received the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts. And let's not forget John Travolta, who danced his way into moviegoers' hearts in Saturday Night Fever. What will happen in 2038? The year in which the 30-year guarantee against yellowing and loss of light transmission for a PLEXIGLAS product manufactured today will expire. Researchers that examine future trends find it hard to predict what the world will look like in 30 years from now, says Patrick Mijnals, a researcher at the Zukunftsinstitut (Future Institute) in Kelkheim, Germany. Unlike technical predictions that frequently turn out to be correct with hindsight, social phenomena are harder to pin down, he says. Nevertheless, Mijnals ventures to make an exciting prognosis: Based on present-day knowledge, we can say with relative precision that the world's population will settle at eight to nine billion in the long term. The development of megatrends, i.e. epochal and global change processes, indicates that we will all be healthier, better educated and more mentally agile to a ripe old age in Despite all skepticism about the future, globalization will probably mean that a broad middle class will emerge worldwide. The megatrend the new woman will mean that both political and economic power will increasingly be in female hands around the globe. And there is a good chance that we will be able to cover a large portion of our energy needs in 2038 with sustainable technologies such as photovoltaics. Major tasks may await PLEXIGLAS, with its strength and light transmission. Of course, everything might turn out quite differently, but one thing is sure: The PLEXIGLAS produced today is guaranteed to be extremely clear and transparent up till fix

12 12 Polar bears on the loose VI. Since the guarantee campaign was introduced in the spring of 2007, a cuddly polar bear has been singing the praises of the material at the Internet site In a series of short cartoons, it presents arguments such as durable transmission, material strength, multifunctionality and high quality in a playful and succinct way. But what does a polar bear have to do with PLEXIGLAS? DiA spoke with Martin Berkenkopf, Product Manager in the Acrylic Polymers Business Line. [DiA]: Why did you choose a polar bear as the mascot for the guarantee campaign? M.B.: When we first thought up the campaign, we needed a likeable figure as the main proponent. We went through various options mythical beings, fairies but most of all, animals. Most of them are not Martin Berkenkopf, Product Manager in the Acrylic Polymers Business Line just endearing but also stand for certain values. That's how we thought of a bear, which symbolizes strength and endurance, like PLEXIGLAS. And the polar bear, in particular, is a warning sign for climate change because its habitat is directly threatened by global warming. [DiA]: There is also an explanation to do with the bear's fur. Can you tell us more? M.B.: That's correct. PLEXIGLAS is similar to polar bear fur in lots of ways. [DiA]: But the fur is white, or even yellowish? M.B.: That's an optical illusion. If you look at polar bear fur under the microscope, you will see that the individual hairs are clear and transparent. For a very good reason the transparent hair is ideally suited to conduct light to the bear's skin, where it is converted to heat. The bear's skin is black and absorbs light very well. Transferred to PLEXIGLAS, this bionic trick corresponds to the material's extremely high and durable light transmission. [DiA]: Did this have anything to do with the media attention given to baby polar bear Knut at Berlin Zoo last summer? M.B.: No, Knut was not behind our idea. Our guarantee bear got there first. But Knut's popularity confirmed how fond people are of polar bears. [DiA]: Do the guarantee bears have names? M.B.: No, not yet. But that may come. A polar bear sings the praises of PLEXIGLAS as the mascot of the guarantee campaign. The bear symbolizes strength and endurance and reminds us all how important climate protection is.

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14 14 The Melkus RS1000 lines up at the start of a race in Schleiz (GDR), Overtaken by Nostalgia Classic East German racing car remodeled [Technology] An East German legend is being infused with new life by a car builder in Dresden the Melkus RS1000. This gained fame as the only racing car ever produced in the former German Democratic Republic. It was developed by racing driver Heinz Melkus in 1968 and produced up until One hundred and one models were made under the conditions of the socialist planned economy. Now, the classic with the distinctive gullwing doors is being built anew, according to the state of the art in The only exception is the rear window, which is now made of PLEXIGLAS for weighty reasons. PLEXIGLAS is much lighter than the original safety glass, explains Peter Melkus, the son of Heinz Melkus, who died in 2005, and a shareholder in the Melkus Sportwagen KG company, which was established in In racing cars, the aim is to save every ounce in weight. That's why the weight we have saved on the glazing is so important for the vehicle design, because a lighter car goes faster and consumes less petrol, Melkus says. PLEXIGLAS is also employed for the side windows because it's much more scratch-resistant and tough than the original acrylic used in the 1970s. Reviving the past Peter Melkus had the idea of reviving the classic sports car together with his son Sepp, another shareholder in the family company. To start with, they only wanted to offer spare parts for the RS1000 models still being driven. But amateurs and collectors wouldn't give in and kept asking for the complete vehicle. So the family finally decided to build a new series in a limited edition. Each car is handmade by our staff, most of whom were with us in Our chassis master is passing his expertise on to the next generation, Peter Melkus. The past lives on under the hood too. The second-hand, three-cylinder two-stroke engine of a Wartburg 353 (completely reconditioned and retuned, it goes without saying) powers the racing car. The sporty little model with its 75 HP and low weight of only 800 kg (about 1,800 lbs) can reach a top speed of 165 kph or roughly 100 mph. Racing into the future The Dresden-based company has now acquired a taste for more, thanks to the RS1000. A successor model is planned for That was also his father's dream, Peter Melkus reports: The RS2000 was to be a sleek sports car with state-of-the-art technology and a design that recalls the previous model. The gullwing doors will be retained as an unmistakable design element. A modern two-liter engine is foreseen, and the rear windows will also be made of PLEXIGLAS in the RS2000. As Melkus says: That's important because of our innovative lightweight design. The finished car is to weigh no more than 1,000 kg [approx. 2,200 lbs]. We can then cut fuel consumption to eight liters per hundred kilometers, which is very low for a racing car. The RS2000 will most probably be glimpsed from behind as a blur in the distance, with its planned top speed of 250 kph (155 mph). hf

15 15 Each car is handmade by our staff, most of whom were with us in Our chassis master is passing his expertise on to the next generation. Heinz Melkus, builder of the legendary East German racing car.

16 16 A Perfect Match ACRIFIX adhesives for invisible support [Fabrication] How would you fancy walking through a tunnel under 1,000 cubic meters of water and watching the fish swim by? Without coming into contact with even a drop of water. At the public aquarium in Les Sables d Olonne on the French Atlantic coast, a total of 24 PLEXIGLAS blocks let visitors to do just that. The blocks are 100mm thick, two meters in width and five meters long. The ACRIFIX 194 adhesive that was used to bond the individual segments of the tunnel make sure it stays perfectly dry. The joints are almost invisible to the naked eye, yet stable and watertight. That is quite a challenge for the adhesive. The right choice of adhesive is essential for obtaining highquality joints between items made of PLEXIGLAS. Bonding is a real challenge when fabricating PLEXIGLAS, says Martin Hoffmann, Product Manager in the Acrylic Polymers Business Line. Our product range includes ACRIFIX adhesives for virtually every application. We also manufacture special grades of adhesive on request. ACRIFIX solvent-based and polymerization adhesives ACRIFIX adhesives are divided into two categories of materials with a different mode of action: sol vent-based and polymerization adhesives. Solvent-based adhesives cause the PLEXIGLAS surface to swell slightly. As soon as the solvent has evaporated, the surfaces adhere together as their molecular chains become interlocked. Solvent-based adhesives are mainly used to bond small PLEXIGLAS parts with a precise fit. Examples are store displays for the cosmetics industry: eye shadow, lipstick, eyeliner and so on are often presented in compartmentalized PLEXIGLAS trays bonded with solventbased adhesives. Polymerization adhesives consist of one or more components and are chemically closed related to PLEXIGLAS. They fuse with the PLEXIGLAS surface by a chemical chain reaction called polymerization. Polymerization adhesives are gap-filling and provide joints with an attractive appearance that are particularly durable and so strong that they offer up to 70 percent of the material strength of PLEXIGLAS itself. They are specially employed for making high-quality furniture, machines and store fixtures as well as for bonding blocks and aquariums. The international jewelry company Swarovski, for instance, relies on the properties of ACRIFIX polymerization adhesives. From New York and Berlin to Moscow and Tokyo, all their displays are area-bonded with ACRIFIX 190 to ensure the same high quality standard. The aquarium tunnel in Auckland, New Zealand, bears witness to the strength of polymerization adhesives. Like its French counterpart in Les Sables d Olonne, it was made from PLEXIGLAS and bonded with ACRIFIX. The New Zealand aqua tunnel is now more than 23 years old and consists of 3.8-meter-long and 55 to 70mm thick blocks joined with ACRIFIX 190. Individual PLEXIGLAS adhesives Special adhesive grades are individually adjusted to applications. Michael Blumenschein, Adhesives Technology in the Acrylic Polymers Business Line, names an example: In double-glazed mobile home windows, a robot assembles the individual sheets. First, it applies an adhesive bead to one sheet, then places the second sheet on the adhesive bed. For these automated operations, it was important to adjust the viscosity of the adhesive. The chemical and physical properties of the adhesive can also be adjusted. The reaction speed can be varied, for example, since many fabrication steps call for very quick assembly. Adhesives are often colored or adjusted to the appearance of the chosen PLEXIGLAS To ensure the joint is invisible, the adhesive is colored in the same shade as the chosen grade of PLEXIGLAS. A glimpse of the future grade in other ways to make the adhesive joint invisible. The perfect joint is one you can't see, says Martin Hoffmann. That's why we offer our customers a reactive adhesive with a satin surface specially for our PLEXIGLAS SATINICE material. This is an innovation that responds perfectly to the needs of our customers. But not only the physical and chemical properties of ACRIFIX adhesives are permanently further developed and modified. The trend is moving toward adhesives that are simple to handle. Michael Blumenschein explains: At present we are working on a two-component adhesive that is processed like a one-component system. This is done using a special double cartridge with a mounted mixer that automatically blends the two components prior to application. The new adhesive is due to be launched in the first half of Modern adhesives like this make work much easier for users, and that is particularly important for PLEXIGLAS structures that must meet the highest quality requirements. em PLEXIGLAS, s il vous plaît! PLEXIGLAS online shop extended to France, with broader range [Online] Help! I urgently need two square meters of yellow PLEXIGLAS truled for my model. A manufacturer of illuminated signs sent this request to the online PLEXIGLAS Shop that was set up in June He received the material within two days and was able to make his prototype in time. Architects, designers and artists as well as private customers are highly satisfied with this concept, and it has met with an entirely positive response. Many customers have thanked us for the smooth handling of their orders, and we are glad to be able to supply commercial and other customers at short notice, says Steffen Schüller, Product Manager in the Acrylic Polymers Business Line. Positive experience with prototyping may well result in larger follow-up orders. Since the creation of the PLEXIGLAS Shop, Evonik Röhm has received more than 2,200 requests from Germany. Now the company has extended the online shop to France as well. Studies show that France, next to Germany and the U.K., is registering the highest pro capita growth rates in e-commerce, Schüller explains. Naturally, the importance of France in the European context also played an important role for this choice of country. On top of this, the PLEXIGLAS Shop now offers its customers an extended product range that includes small quantities of rods and tubes. In the solid sheet segment, three more PLEXICOR grades have been added, and an online selection of adhesives is also being planned. We are steadily expanding the range we offer, because we want to provide our online customers too with the whole bandwidth of PLEXIGLAS, Schüller says. ls

17 17 A Riot of Color and Light Giant chandelier made of PLEXIGLAS [Architecture] Chandeliers do more than just shed light. Their individual parts made of precious stones, glass or plastic play with light, reflect and refract it. That is what makes them so attractive. The artclubbing company has now built a chandelier made of clear PLEXIGLAS sheets and colored LEDs. Measuring eleven and a half meters in length, it is six metres high and four meters wide, and made up of 150 PLEXIGLAS sheets. All the colors of the edge-lit PLEXIGLAS can be controlled via a total of 6,000 LEDs and are actuated to provide the desired color effect. This enables effective presentation of various architectural applications such as advertising signs. The chandeliers have already worked their magic at the trade show woonevent, mecc and the Jumping Indoor horse show in Maastricht, the Netherlands. ls

18 18 The construction is a unique concept of massive angular blocks of PLEXIGLAS all hanging on stainless steel pins from a stainless steel internal frame.

19 19 A Fairy Tale Come True Outsized diamond for the Sultan of Brunei: A jewel made of PLEXIGLAS [Architecture] This tale of splendid wealth, keen admiration and love divided might well have been told by the brothers Grimm, had it happened in their days. It sounds like a film script for the Arabian Nights. But best of all, it's true. Brunei, a southeast Asian country on the island of Borneo, is ruled by His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah as the 29th sovereign of his line. As befits a fairytale king, he lives in a huge palace and is indescribably rich. If he feels like taking a bath, he can choose from 257 bathrooms. If he feels like flying, he boards his Boeing 747 and takes off. And if he fancies going for a spin, he can do so in corresponding style and at the chosen speed in one of his 2,000 luxuriously appointed limousines and sports cars. The sultan has Brunei's lucrative natural gas and oil reserves to thank for making him one of the richest men alive. The country's population also benefits from this wealth. Education and the health system are free of charge, and employees pay no income tax. Now if that's not a fairy tale come true... The gifts of a sultan To celebrate his 48th birthday, Hassanal Bolkiah thought up a very special present for himself and his people. A present fit for a sultan, indeed: He had a leisure park built in the capital of Bandar Seri Begawan. It goes without saying that the inauguration of the park in July 1994 was a major event, because sultans and fairytale princes alike are usually fond of festivals. Jerudong Park quickly became a big attraction. Michael Jackson has already visited it and performed his famous moonwalk at two concerts there. One day, the sultan had an idea how to welcome visitors to the park in the appropriate manner. He wanted a diamond, a glittering gem of enormous size and captivating brilliance that would entrance all who saw it. It's not surprising that his choice was the diamond, which has always symbolized riches and purity. What's more, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah is a great admirer of this hardest of minerals and owns the world's largest collection of colored diamonds. A diamond manufacturer has to be noble, wise and brave Thus began the quest for the cleverest and most industrious person who had the skill to build this masterpiece. Like the characters in the tales of Rumpelstiltskin and Cinderella who had to ferret out the secret of the dwarf's name and find the foot that fit the golden shoe, the manufacturer of the stone also had to be inventive and creative. The artificial gem was not only to look real, but also be lasting and resistant to light. To master this difficult task, it was essential to choose the right material. The Exclusive Acrylic company from Dubai, which specializes in designing and fabricating acrylic products, won the sultan's order. A total of 54 PLEXIGLAS blocks were formed in segments and bonded with ACRIFIX. Each block consists of 16 layers of 50mm thick PLEXIGLAS blocks that were sanded down and carefully polished. The company from the United Arab Emirates created a novel structure for fastening the blocks. The construction is a unique concept of massive angular blocks of PLEXIGLAS all hanging on stainless steel pins from a stainless steel internal frame, explains Bodhi Brandes, Managing Director of Exclusive Acrylic. The clever design of the frame makes it disappear inside the acrylic form. Perched aloft, the stone glitters in the sunlight During construction, the entire production site in Dubai was covered with a plastic tent to keep desert sand and dirt away from the blocks. It was extremely challenging. We designed, engineered, manufactured, air-freighted and installed the 8.5 ton feature diamond in 7 weeks that s 49 days, Brandes says. Since then, the diamond has surmounted a fountain at the entrance to Jerudong Park. Although it has been exposed to Brunei's hot and humid tropical climate for more than 10 years, it shines every bit as bright and clear as on the first day, offering impressive proof of the durability and light transmission that characterize PLEXIGLAS. Secret dedication of the diamond Officially, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah proclaimed that he intended to dedicate the 3.4-meter-high and 3.6-meter-wide acrylic gem to the country of Brunei and its people. But others say it was a token of love, and that the sultan offered the diamond as a gift to his second wife. Looking closely at the structure in which the diamond is mounted, one can see that the crystal-clear stone hovers in the center of a ring. Seen from above, it looks like an enormous wedding band. A romantic gift that was more enduring than the couple's love. cat Laos Thailand Cambodia Vietnam Philippines Journey to another world: Brunei on the island of Borneo in the South China Sea nka Brunei Malaysia Palau I n d o n e s i a East Timor

20 Credits [DIA] Design in Acrylics This is a publication of the Acrylic Polymers Business Line of Evonik Industries [DIA] Design in Acrylics is published three times a year by: Evonik Röhm GmbH Acrylic Polymers Business Line Kirschenallee D Darmstadt Germany Phone Fax Please send notice of changes in address to: info@designinacrylics.com Edited by: Profilwerkstatt, Darmstadt, Germany Phone Editors in Chief: Dr. Ulrich Kläres, Business Unit Performance Polymers (responsible under Journalists Law) Susanne Diehl, Business Unit Performance Polymers Martina Keller, Profilwerkstatt Dr. Claudia Klemm, Profilwerkstatt English Translation: Mitzi Morgan Art Direction: Holger Giebeler Typesetting/Layout: Profilwerkstatt Managing Editor: Ralf Ansorge Printed by: Zarbock GmbH & Co. KG, Frankfurt Printed on paper bleached without chlorine. Illustrations: p. 1, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13: Maren Schmitt, Profilwerkstatt Photos: Artclubbing: p. 17 Caesar Twins: p. 1, 4, 5 Cheung, Priscilla: p. 18, 19 Evonik Röhm GmbH: p. 3, 12, 16 Kartell, p. 2 Melkus Sportwagen Manufaktur, p. 1, 14, 15 Evonik s Business Unit Performance Polymers is a worldwide supplier of PMMA semifinished products sold under the PLEXIGLAS trademark on the European, Asian, African and Australian Continents and under the trademarks ACRYLITE, DEGLAS, PARAGLAS SOUNDSTOP and ROHAGLAS in the Americas. = registered trademark DiA, PLEXIGLAS and PLEXICOR are registered trademarks of Evonik Röhm GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany. ACRYLITE is a registered trademark of CYRO Industries, Rockaway, NJ, USA. This information and all further technical advice is based on our present knowledge and experience. However, it implies no liability or other legal responsibility on our part, also with regard to existing third party intellectual property rights, especially patent rights. In particular, no warranty, whether express or implied, or guarantee of product properties in the legal sense is intended or implied. We reserve the right to make any changes according to technological progress or further developments. The customer is not released from the obligation to conduct careful inspection and testing of incoming goods. Performance of the product described herein should be verified by testing, which should be carried out only by qualified experts in the sole responsibility of a customer. Reference to trade names used by other companies is neither a recommendation, nor does it imply that similar products could not be used. (Status: May 2003)