Nufarm is a leading global supplier of polymerization control agents for the monomer industry, dedicated to enhancing our customers’ process performance through a blend of high-quality products and expert application support. Alongside our industry-standard offerings, our innovative Research and Development team has pioneered and patented advanced anti-polymerants, equipping us to address polymerization challenges across a variety of petrochemical processes.
Our comprehensive product portfolio includes specialized retarders and inhibitors for styrenics, as well as antioxidants and inhibitors for acrylics, butadiene, ethylene, and more. By choosing Nufarm, you gain access to a wide range of reliable solutions, backed by deep industry expertise and commitment to process excellence.
From Wyke to the World
We produce our polymerisation inhibitor and retarder products at our UK manufacturing facility at Wyke for supply to major petrochemical companies throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and the Americas.
Nufarm have supplied polymerization inhibitors and retarders to the monomer industry for the last 30 years. We are very proud to state that we have never let a customer down, we have always delivered in time. Our reliability is such that many major producers trust us to be sole suppliers of their inhibitor needs.
Our experts in the Supply Chain team organize deliveries to all corners of the world by road, rail, sea and air. Inhibitor products are normally supplied in bulk isotanks, IBCs (totes), drums or kegs.
Our Products
DNBP Styrene Retarder
Industry-leading styrene retarder, manufactured at our UK facility for almost a century. Fully registered with REACH in the EU, our DNBP is recognized for its high quality and effectiveness.
We offer it in multiple formulations: as a pure Technical grade or as 75%, 70% and 50% solutions in ethylbenzene, allowing flexibility to meet your specific requirements. Our DNBP is trusted by styrene manufacturers worldwide.
DNBP-SFR Mixtures
Our DNBP plus TEMPO stable free radical (SFR) mixtures offer a highly cost-effective solution for many styrene production facilities.
This convenient, one-pack product helps reduce overall retarder costs while simplifying logistics and dosing.
We provide various ratios of active ingredients to suit diverse processing needs, backed by a wealth of successful case histories.
Stable Free Radical Molecules
Commonly known as “TEMPOs,” these molecules have become the industry-standard inhibitors for various monomers due to their proven effectiveness. Nufarm is a leading manufacturer of these molecules, serving as the REACH lead registrants for both 4-Oxo TEMPO and 4-Hydroxy TEMPO.
We also produce other specialized TEMPO molecules tailored for unique applications in polymer inhibition.
Green Retarders
Our Green Retarders were developed as safer, lower-toxicity alternatives to DNBP for styrene polymer control.
With over 10 years of experience supplying these innovative molecules to the styrene industry, Nufarm offers a trusted solution for enhanced safety and sustainability.
For personalized advice and technical insights, reach out to our team to discuss how our molecules can support your specific needs.
Contact Our Team
For technical enquiries please email: [email protected]
Markets we serve
Innovation Center
The Nufarm Polymerisation Inhibitors business has a dedicated technical team that supports our customer’s needs. This includes; Research and Development to help understand the fundamental mechanisms of process fouling, technical Service to help develop new inhibitors treatments for processes and Process Optimization Support for implementing product trials and continued technical support.
Our Technical Service group is committed to servicing the business by providing:
- Advice on product selection and use
- All necessary supporting data on our products
- Comprehensive treatment programmes and monitoring systems
- Storage and dosing systems
- Support for plant trials at customer sites around the world
- Ongoing technical advice and troubleshooting
Nufarm’s analytical laboratory is extremely well equipped to analyse residual inhibitor in process streams, identify foulant and carry out process efficacy testing for our customers. In addition to the standard GC, LC etc, we have pyrolysis Mass Spec, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Ion Chromatography, GPC and ICP for metals analysis. We have partnerships with local universities that allows us access to other more specialist equipment as needed. We have built a pilot plant to allow better simulation of plant injections and process equipment.
Process Assessment
The Inhibitors technical team can conduct a full route cause analysis of the customers process to determine the nature of the fouling; including
• Full investigation of process conditions & compositions at the fouling location
• Full analysis of foulant to identify the chemical composition.
This allows Nufarm to advise on the best inhibitor treatment options for each process. Remember, no two processes are the same, even when using the same technology.
Product Performance Testing
Nufarm have developed a wide range of product testing protocols. Each one is based on the customers process conditions, allowing perfomance data to be easily transferred to the customers process.
In addition to performance tests, other tests are conducted to ensure Nufarm products are completely compatible with customer process streams.
By using robust test protocols, Nufarm are able to offer the very best treatment package to each customer.
Product Development
Nufarm are chemical manufacturers and produce all of inhibitor products including actives and formulations. The technical team not only supports our current production, but also initiates the development of new products to meet customer needs. This includes new actives, such as tempo derivatives and green retarders, together with bespoke formulations.
Our labs are fully equiped to develop processes together with conducting the necessary safety assessments required for scale up.
Product Trial Support
Nufarm technical team will provide full onsite technical support for all trial start-ups. This includes providing analytical methods and support to monitor inhibitor residual levels and performance analysis during product introduction and optimisation.
If required, Nufarm will also provide dosing equipment such as dosing tanks and pump skids.
Once the treatment has been established, Nufarm will provide continued technical support for the duration of the treatment.
Research
As part of our ability to provide customers with the best possible level of technical service, Nufarm conducts multiple programmes of research to understand the nature of fouling in different monomer systems. This includes fully elucidating the mechanisms of polymerisation, the types of impurities that influence polymerisation and the mechanisms by which different inhibitors function.
Research programmes are generally conducted within the Nufarm innovation centre; however, we also have a long history of collaboration with academic research institutions, with Nufarm having sponsor several doctorate research programmes.
For technical enquiries please email: [email protected]
Dr. Colin Loyns
Dr. Peter Price
Filipe Martins