Munich-based chemical group WACKER has conferred this year’s Alexander Wacker Innovation Award on Dr. Lars Zander and Dr. Volker Stanjek from the WACKER Silicones business division in recognition of their work on the development of new binders.
The chemists found a way to combine hard phenyl silicone resins with elastic hybrid polymers so as to produce products with enhanced property profiles. Such binders are well suited to the formulation of high-performance, extremely strong adhesives and sealants, wood varnishes and floor-coating materials.
The award which includes € 10,000 prize money was presented yesterday during WACKER’s annual research symposium held in Burghausen, Germany.
WACKER Innovation Award 2018
Volker Stanjek, a chemist in the Construction Silicones business unit, is the first employee to win the coveted award for the second time. The silanes expert was part of a trio that received the award back in 2008 for their work on alpha-silanes.
“Through his work on developing alpha-silane technology, Mr. Stanjek laid the chemical groundwork for the innovation that we are honoring today,” said WACKER Executive Board member Dr. Christian Hartel at the award ceremony. “This illustrates the innovation potential which this technology has to offer.”
