Internship Position : New Bio-Based Rheological Additives – LCPO, Bordeaux and ARKEMA (12/10/2025)

Polyurethanes (PUs) are among the most widely known and manufactured polymers in industry, particularly in the field of rheological additives. However, they require the use of highly toxic isocyanates, are poorly recyclable, and raise environmental and safety concerns. Several alternatives, such as blocked and aqueous isocyanates, show promise, but their large-scale deployment is limited by the alcohol reagents used, which are mostly not bio-based. In this context, non-isocyanate polyurethanes (NIPUs), obtained from diglycol dicycarbonate (DGDC), appear to be the most suitable alternative to conventional PUs. ARKEMA’s Crayvallac® rheological additives are organo-gelling agents based on polyamide chemistry containing a proportion of bio-based monomers derived from vegetable oils. The goal of the internship is to achieve 100% bio-based monomers.

Publié le 12/10/2025