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New developments in the Chemicals industry
Borouge receives Green Material Award R
G468MO, a polypropylene (PP) random copolymer produced by Borouge, was crowned with the Green Material Award for Innovation Application during the 2012 China Plastics Industry Awards ceremony. This high-flow resin boosts 20% productivity gain for the rigid packaging converting industry and achieves shorter cycle times and higher mechanical performance. Furthermore, clear transparency and pleasing visual aesthetics required in the packaging value chain are further enhanced. Developed based on the proprietary Borealis Nucleation Technology (BNT), Borouge’s RG468MO provides high flow (MFR 30) for fast moulding of thin wall packaging with very long flow lengths and complex geometries. Unlike conventional nucleating systems, BNT enables consistent dispersion of the nucleating agent and stronger effect, resulting in faster and better crystallisation of PP. The technology leads to increased material stiffness with good balance of impact resistance, and the possibility to downgauge wall thicknesses to achieve both material and weight savings. Moreover, faster crystallisation means a reduction in cycle time by 10–20%. Visit: www.bourouge.com
Solvay to build bio-based Epichlorohydrin plant in China S
olvay’s Thai affiliate Vinythai is to serve the vast and growing Chinese epichlorohydrin market with a new production plant in Taixing, China. The plant with an initial capacity of 100,000 tons epichlorohydrin per year requires an investment of €155 million and should become operational in the second half of 2014. The Chinese epichlorohydrin market is expected to grow on annual basis by 8% and
Borealis and Borouge bring Renault weight-saving benefits
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orealis and Borouge have introduced a new grade of polypropylene (PP) specified for use in lightweight bumper applications for two new Renault automotive platforms. High flow Borcom™ WH107AE was specified for the recently introduced Dacia Lodgy, a minivan produced at Renault’s
represent 35% of total world demand in 2016. Epichlorohydrin is an essential feedstock for the production of epoxy resins, increasingly used in applications such as corrosion protection coatings as well in the electronics, automotive, aerospace industry or wind turbine industry. The new plant located in the Taixing Economic Development Park will be based on Solvay’s proprietary bio-based Epicerol® technology. The plant will use as feedstock natural glycerin obtained as a by-product from the production of biofuels. This cost competitive and eco-efficient process requires less invested capital, has a 60% lower CO2 balance (cradle to gate), while dividing the volume of chlorinated by-products by eight compared to the conventional propylene based process. Visit: www.solvay.com new plant in Morocco, and for the Renault Twizy, Renault’s first electric car produced at its plant in Spain. Borcom WH107AE is already in use for new generation bumper applications in other Renault platforms including but not limited to the new Dacia Duster and Sandero in South America and Russia. Borealis and Borouge are amongst the first suppliers of a portfolio
SIBUR and Sinopec sign cooperation agreement
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mitry Konov, CEO of Russian petrochemical company SIBUR, and Wang Tianpu, president of China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (Sinopec Corp.), have signed a cooperation agreement. The agreement sets the framework for two cooperation projects to establish a joint venture, manufacturing nitrile rubber (NBR) and isoprene rubber (IR) in the Shanghai area of China. The joint venture will use the patents and technologies of SIBUR. The NBR and IR plants are expected to have an annual capacity of 50,000 mt each, subject to finalisation based on the feasibility study. Visit: www.sibur.com
of PP materials that are recognised as TogozaÏ materials, i.e. materials that fulfil Renault’s worldwide specifications. In addition to the commercialisation of Borcom WH107AE for exterior parts, Borealis and Borouge have also developed a complete new TogozaÏ portfolio for Renault interior applications. Visit: www.borealisgroup.com Industry Europe 11
