Advanced materials and composites supplier Barrday and French speciality chemicals company Arkema have formed a joint venture to manufacture and market carbon fibre and speciality polymer tapes for the growing oil and gas industrial market. The new JV is to be named Barrflex TU and will be supplying efficient thermoplastic composite solutions to players within the oil and gas industrial markets.

The two companies will combine Barrday’s experience in thermoplastic composites and Arkema’s range of speciality polymers and resins – such as PVDF, Polyamides 11 and 12, PEKK – to introduce a new “comprehensive and integrated range of solutions”. The corrosion-resistant tapes are highly suitable for use in metal-replacement applications, as they deliver a substantial reduction in weight. Potential uses include flexible pipes in deep offshore as well as onshore operations.

“This partnership with Arkema provides us with access to a unique and wide range of proven polymer solutions for this sector,” said Michael Buckstein, chief executive officer of the North Carolina-based Barrday Inc.

Particularly, Arkema’s fluoropolymer Kynar PVDF, speciality polymer Rilsan PA11 and Kepstan PEKK resins, were of interest to the Barrday official.

Also commenting, Christophe André, executive vice-president advanced materials, Arkema, said the two companies’ capabilities and expertise were “highly complementary”.

“This new integrated offering will deliver high added value to our pipe manufacturing customers as well as the major oil groups,” he added.

Barrday is a leading supplier of thermoplastic composites for the composite pipes market serving the oil and gas industry.