Perodox® HMa - Methyl isobutyl ketone peroxide

MIBKP serves as a key curing agent for unsaturated polyester resins (UPR), rapidly accelerating polymerization at lower temperatures. This enables faster production of composites, coatings, and adhesives across construction, automotive, and marine sectors.

UPR-based composites dominate the market, with FRP components powering wind, automotive, and infrastructure applications. The wind sector alone is poised for growth to about 1,400 GW of capacity by 2030, which will sustain demand for FRP and, in turn, MIBKP.

MIBKP is suitable for curing reactions within a temperature range of 60–150°C, significantly enhancing pultrusion speed and reducing production cycles. For complete curing, Perodox® HMa (Nouryon's MIBKP product) can be combined with low-activity peroxides such as Perodox® 22-B50 or Perodox® C.

This application is particularly valuable in the production of fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) panels, where MIBKP's efficient and uniform curing process improves surface finish while minimizing volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions.

In coatings, MIBKP accelerates durable anti-corrosive systems for offshore rigs and shipyards. Southeast Asia's 28% share of global new vessel tonnage in 2023 underscores regional reliance on fast-curing coatings .

Powder coatings, valued at $14.3 billion in 2022 and growing at about 6.5% annually, rely on MIBKP's low-temperature cure to lower energy costs in appliance manufacturing. In electronics, MIBKP-cured resins impart thermal stability and moisture resistance for PCBs.

In automotive manufacturing, UPR-based composites are increasingly used for hoods, panels, and chassis to reduce weight and meet emissions targets under Euro 7 and China's Stage VI standards.

Regulators favor low-temperature curing for VOC suppression, supporting UPR-based systems as compliant alternatives in Europe and North America, further boosting MIBKP adoption. The combined effect is a multi-sector expansion where sustainability and performance drive ongoing demand for MIBKP as a catalyst of choice.