Merck 2010 Annual Report Download - page 87

Additionally, in October we laid the cornerstone for the construction of a new plant to produce
Meoxal™ at the Onahama site in Japan. Commercial production of Meoxal™, an effect pigment
based on aluminum flakes coated with metal oxide, is scheduled to start in 2012. The pigment
is distinguished by high color saturation, good hiding power and superior corrosion resistance.
High demand is expected particularly from the automotive and cosmetics industries.
By completing the integration of Suzhou Taizhu Technology Development, the leading supplier
of effect pigments in China, we further expanded our position in the fast-growing Chinese
market. The acquisition in 2009 gave us the possibility to more actively target the mid-range
price segment with an expanded range of products.

In 2010, Merck significantly expanded its portfolio in both cosmetic functional fillers and in
the core pearl luster pigments business. With RonaCare ® Cyclopeptide-5, Merck introduced the
world’s first cyclic peptide for the cosmetics industry. Thanks to its cyclic molecular design, the
active ingredient displays high stability and high selectivity for its biological target site in the
skin. The peptide is capable of reactivating the decelerated repair processes of mature skin and
stimulating its natural regeneration. The appearance of lines and wrinkles is reduced after just
brief use. The skin becomes significantly more supple, elastic and firm.

The innovative additive Tivida™ has provided additional impetus. Based on nanotechnology, this
product improves the scratch resistance of automotive coatings. The additive can be perfectly
incorporated into the composition of the binding agent, thus changing its structure. The
nanoparticles make the solvent-based coating system harder and at the same time more elastic
due to the cross-linking of the polymer shell with the binding agent. Tivida™ provides the
desired protection against scratches long after a fresh coating is applied, lasting throughout
the subsequent use of the coated item. Tivida™ AS 1010, the first product in the brand family,
makes it possible to protect high-gloss surfaces, for example the majority of clear coatings
used in the automotive industry, against minor everyday scratches much longer than previ-
ously possible.
For plastics laser marking, Merck offers Micabs ®C 431 and Micabs ®C 411, two new additives
in granulate form. They are free from heavy metals and thus approved for laser marking of
food packaging as well as for toy production.
Portfolio of functional fillers for
cosmetics significantly expanded
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