Glossary

A protective substance formed in the blood serum as a response to the intrusion of antigens.

A foreign protein that produces antibodies in the body. These antibodies in turn react against the antigen.

Biotech processes use living cells or enzymes to transform or produce substances. Depending on the application, a distinction is made between red, green and white biotechnology. Red biotechnology: medical and pharmaceutical applications. Green biotechnology: agricultural applications. White biotechnology: biotech-based products and industrial processes, e.g. in the chemical, textile and food industries.

BVC is a financial performance measurement that determines the value created by the WACKER Group and its units once all capital costs have been deducted. BVC is the difference between profit (EBIT) and cost of capital (WACC x CE). BVC is a profit variable that is adjusted to allow for extraordinary effects (e.g. sale of parts of the company). This makes it an ideal tool for measuring business performance.

Capital employed is the sum of average noncurrent assets (less noncurrent securities and deferred tax assets), plus inventories and trade receivables (less trade payables). It is the variable used in calculating the cost of capital.

Compounds of silicon, chlorine and, in some cases, hydrogen. The semiconductor industry mainly uses trichlorosilane to make polysilicon and for the epitaxial deposition of silicon.

Combined heat and power (CHP) plants generate both electricity and useful heat. This system can be much more efficient at using the input energy (e.g. fuel oil or natural gas) than are conventional systems with separate facilities. Because primary energy is conserved, CHP plants emit significantly less carbon dioxide than conventional power plants.

Cyclodextrins belong to the family of cyclic oligosaccharides (i.e. ring-shaped sugar molecules). They are able to encapsulate foreign substances such as fragrances and to release active ingredients at a controlled rate. WACKER BIOSOLUTIONS produces and markets cyclodextrins.

Cysteine is a sulfur-containing amino acid. It belongs to the non-essential amino acids, as it can be formed in the body. It is used, for example, as an additive in foods and cough mixtures. Cysteine and its derivatives are a business field at WACKER BIOSOLUTIONS.

Created by drying dispersions in spray or disc dryers. VINNAPAS^® polymer powders are recommended as binders in the construction industry, e.g. for tile adhesives, self-leveling compounds and repair mortars. They improve adhesion, cohesion, flexibility and flexural strength, as well as water-retention and processing properties.

Binary system in which one solid component is finely dispersed in another. VINNAPAS^® dispersions are vinyl-acetate-based copolymers and terpolymers in liquid form. They are mainly used as binders in the construction industry, e.g. for grouts, plasters and primers.

(Short for deoxyribonucleic acid); A nucleic acid present in all living organisms. As a carrier of genetic information, DNA represents the material substance of genes.

Earnings before interest and taxes: EBIT is a good indicator for comparing companies’ profitability, since it is widely used across the corporate world.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

Polymers that exhibit almost perfectly elastic behavior, i.e. they deform when acted upon by an external force and return to their exact original shape when the force is removed. While the duration of the force has no effect on perfectly elastic behavior, the temperature does.

Substance outputs, noise, vibrations, light, heat or radiation emitted into the environment by an industrial plant.

An organic compound that is formed in a living cell and controls an organism’s metabolism.

The equity ratio is equity as a percentage of a company’s total assets. It is a measure of a company’s economic and financial stability.

A colorless, slightly sweet-smelling gas that, under normal conditions, is lighter than air. It is needed as a chemical starting product for a great many synthetic materials, including polyethylene and polystyrene. It is used to make products for the household, agricultural, automotive and construction sectors, among others.

Systems for thermally insulating buildings and thus for increasing energy efficiency. These systems have a multilayer structure: adhesive mortar, thermal insulating panels, embedding mortar, glass fiber mesh and finishing coat. VINNAPAS^® polymer powders from WACKER POLYMERS ensure that the insulation material bonds firmly to the mortar and finish coat. As a result, the insulating system offers greater durability and much more resistance to weathering and wear.

In biotechnology, fermentation means the conversion of biological materials by means of bacterial, fungal and cell cultures, or by the addition of enzymes. For example, products such as insulin, many different antibiotics and amino acids (e.g. cysteine) can be synthesized on an industrial scale in bioreactors using microorganisms.

The International Financial Reporting Standards (until 2001 International Accounting Standards, IAS) are compiled and published by the London-based International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). Since 2005, publicly listed EU-based companies have been required to use IFRS in accordance with IAS regulations.

Substance inputs, noise, vibrations, light, heat or radiation that affect humans, animals, plants, soil, water, air, and cultural and other material assets.

(Short for messenger ribonucleic acid); Occurs in all cells as a natural substance. The function of mRNA is to convey the genetic code from the cell nucleus to the ribosomes, i.e. the exact spot in the cells in which proteins are formed.

Net cash flow is defined as the sum of cash flow from operating activities and cash flow from long-term investing activities (excluding securities).

Net production is calculated by subtracting the internal reuse of products from the gross production of a plant or site. Gross production corresponds to the total production (target products and byproducts) of a plant or site.

A polymer is a large molecule made up of smaller molecular units (monomers). It contains between 10,000 and 100,000 monomers. Polymers can be long or ball-shaped.

The result of mixing different polymers is known as a polymer blend (polymer alloy). If these polymer blends are composed of biopolymers (biodegradable and/or renewable raw materials), the VINNEX^® binder system may enhance compatibility and hence their properties.

Hyperpure polycrystalline silicon from WACKER POLYSILICON is used for manufacturing wafers for the electronics and solar industries. To produce it, metallurgical-grade silicon is converted into liquid trichlorosilane, highly distilled and deposited in hyperpure form at 1,000 °C.

Primary energy is obtained from naturally occurring sources such as coal, gas, oil or wind. Secondary energy, in contrast, is derived from primary energy via a transformation process (which often involves energy losses); examples include electricity, heat and hydrogen.

Return on capital employed is the profitability ratio relating to the capital employed. It is defined as earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) divided by capital employed. Investment income from Siltronic AG and the corresponding carrying amount in equity are not included when ROCE is calculated. ROCE is a clear indicator of how profitably the capital required for business operations is being employed. It is influenced not only by profitability, but also by capital intensity with regard to noncurrent assets required for business operations and to working capital. ROCE is reviewed annually as part of our planning process and is a key criterion for managing our capital expenditure budget.

Silanes are used as monomers for the synthesis of siloxanes or sold directly as reagents or raw materials. Typical applications include surface treatment, agents (medically active substances) in pharmaceutical synthesis, and coupling agents for coatings.

Collective term for compounds with the general formula SiO₂ nH₂O. Synthetic silicas are obtained from sand. On the basis of the method of production, a distinction is made between precipitated silicas and pyrogenic silicas (such as HDK^®).

White, synthetic, amorphous silicon dioxide (SiO₂) in powder form, made by flame hydrolysis of silicon compounds. Variously used as an additive for silicone rubber grades, sealants, surface coatings, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

After oxygen, silicon is the most common element in the Earth’s crust. In nature, it occurs without exception in the form of compounds, chiefly silicon dioxide and silicates. Silicon is obtained through energy-intensive reaction of quartz sand with carbon and is the most important raw material in the electronics industry.

General term used to describe compounds of organic molecules and silicon. According to their areas of application, silicones can be classified as fluids, resins or rubber grades. Silicones are characterized by a myriad of outstanding properties. Typical areas of application include construction, the electrical and electronics industries, shipping and transportation, textiles and paper coatings.

Systematic name given to compounds comprising silicon atoms linked together via oxygen atoms and with the remaining valences occupied by hydrogen or organic groups. Siloxanes are the building blocks for the polymers (polysiloxane and polyorganosiloxane) that form silicones.

VINNAPAS^® is WACKER’s brand name for dispersions, dispersible polymer powders, solid resins and their associated product solutions. VINNAPAS^® dispersions and polymer powders are primarily used in the construction industry as polymeric binders, e.g. in tile adhesives, exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS)/external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS), self-leveling compounds, and plasters.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are gaseous and vaporous substances of organic origin that are present in the air. They include hydrocarbons, alcohols, aldehydes and organic acids. Solvents, liquid fuels and synthetic substances can be VOCs, as can organic compounds originating from biological processes. High VOC concentrations can be irritating to the eyes, nose and throat and may cause headaches, dizziness and tiredness.

The “Wacker Operating System” (WOS) program pools, promotes and processes corporate projects for systematic process improvement. It is the basis for a groupwide improvement initiative by WACKER.