Lamberti chemical specialties, polymers, and performance additives

Italian chemical heritage and international milestones of the Lamberti Group

Founded in 1911 in Albizzate, Northern Italy, Lamberti started by developing specialized auxiliary chemical formulations for textile dyeing and finishing processes.

Over more than a century of continuous industrial growth, the enterprise evolved into an international specialty chemical manufacturer with production facilities and research hubs across Europe, the Americas, India, and China.

Lamberti's engineering foundation relies upon deep scientific competence in biopolymer modification and synthetic waterborne polymer systems.

Today the Lamberti Group integrates specialized application laboratories focused on water-soluble hydrocolloids, polyurethane dispersions, acrylic emulsions, surfactants, and polymer beads.

These technologies serve diverse manufacturing industries worldwide: building materials, ceramic tiles, paints, agrochemicals, cosmetics, and drilling fluids for energy exploration.

Continuous formulation development guarantees high environmental safety and full compliance with international chemical standards.

Modified carboxymethyl cellulose Carbocel and natural polymer derivatives

Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) production under the Carbocel brand began at Lamberti in 1958 and has continuously advanced through state-of-the-art etherification and purification methods.

Carbocel cellulosic ethers represent water-soluble polymers featuring tightly controlled molecular weight and substitution degrees, delivering exceptional rheological performance, high water retention, and thermal endurance across diverse pH ranges.

In dry-mix building materials, Carbocel functions as an essential thickener preventing premature water loss from cement and gypsum mortars, ensuring excellent workability.

In ceramic manufacturing, these cellulose derivatives optimize rheology in glaze slips and enhance green tile strength before firing. High-viscosity Carbocel grades are widely deployed as filtration control agents in industrial drilling fluids.

Waterborne polyurethane and acrylic polymer dispersions from the Esacote range

The Esacote portfolio represents Lamberti's expertise in formulating waterborne polyurethane dispersions (PUD), acryl-urethane hybrids, and radiation-curable oligomers.

Designed for environmentally conscious protective and decorative finishes, Esacote polymers eliminate hazardous volatile organic solvents.

The aliphatic and aromatic polyurethane architecture forms flexible yet robust films exhibiting high resistance to mechanical impacts, UV degradation, and friction wear.

Esacote resins are applied in leather finishing, imparting soft haptics, water repellence, and cold-flex durability. In industrial wood and furniture finishes, Esacote coatings provide dependable resistance against household stains and alcohol.

The Esacote BIO subfamily incorporates high bio-based renewable content, significantly lowering the carbon footprint of industrial finishing operations.

Viscolam synthetic rheology modifiers and alkali-swellable emulsion thickeners

The Viscolam product group incorporates synthetic rheology modifiers based on crosslinked acrylic polymers, alkali-swellable emulsions (ASE), and hydrophobically modified alkali-swellable polymers (HASE).

When introduced into aqueous media and neutralized with base, the polymer chains hydrate rapidly, uncoiling into an expansive three-dimensional network via ionic repulsion and hydrophobic associative interactions.

Viscolam modifiers exhibit pronounced pseudoplastic (shear-thinning) flow behavior: under shear stress during roller application or spraying, formulation viscosity drops temporarily for smooth leveling, then recovers instantly at rest.

This characteristic prevents sag on vertical substrates and stops gravitational settling of heavy mineral fillers and pigments during formulation storage.

Decosphaera and Spheromers polymer beads for industrial coatings and plastics

A specialized technology platform developed by Lamberti is the synthesis of spherical polymer microbeads marketed under the Decosphaera and Spheromers brand names. Decosphaera microbeads are synthesized from fully crosslinked aliphatic polyurethane through aqueous dispersion polymerization.

The particles feature precise spherical geometry and high elasticity, withstanding aggressive mechanical shear in high-speed dissolvers and compounding extruders.

In surface finishes and polymer compounds, Decosphaera microbeads deliver deep matte optical effects through uniform light scattering without traditional mineral matting agents. Finished surfaces gain an elegant soft-touch tactile feel, superior burnish resistance, and scratch defense.

Monosized Spheromers acrylic beads serve as excellent anti-blocking additives for polymer films and optical diffuser sheets.

Specialty auxiliaries for ceramic manufacturing and energy exploration

Lamberti's ceramic division, situated within the Italian ceramic hub around Sassuolo and Fiorano, engineers complete additive packages for ceramic tiles, porcelain stoneware, and sanitaryware.

The portfolio provides high-performance deflocculants reducing slip water content in ball mills, temporary polymer binders for dry-pressed tiles, and rheology controllers for digital ceramic inkjet decoration.

The Energy Solutions division supplies specialty chemicals for drilling, well cementing, and stimulation. The portfolio includes thermally stable filtration control additives, shale hydration inhibitors, biodegradable Eucarol surfactants for flow enhancement, and cementing fluid loss additives.

All formulations undergo rigorous testing and are adapted to varying subterranean reservoir salinity conditions.