Eastman & Hanwha announce joint venture development & licensing program for ENERGX technology
Eastman Chemical Company, through its Voridian division has announced that it has signed a joint development and licensing agreement with Hanwha Chemical Corp. to further enhance Eastman’s proprietary Energx DCX polyethylene (PE) technology and allow Hanwha to sublicense the technology.
According to Eastman, this agreement with Hanwha builds on the strength to further develop the technology on Unipol and Spherilene reactor systems.
Comments: Eastman research and development program on the Energx catalyst system began shortly after they became a licensor of BP’s Innovene process.
Eastman started its Innovene plant on BP’s M-Cat technology, but found the catalyst capabilities to be limiting in producing value-added LLDPE products.
The Energx catalyst technology was developed in response to perceived problems with BP’s M-Cat and the projected market demand for super-hexene type LLDPE resins with increased performance and downgauging capabilities.
In April of 2001, BP and Eastman announced an agreement to collaborate in the marketing and licensing of Energx technology, giving BP the rights to use Energx technology and market and license the technology to other Innovene licensees.
Earlier that year, BP and NOVA Chemicals had signed an agreement to jointly develop and commercialize NOVACAT™ T for Innovene and Unipol technologies. The recent JDA agreement with will allows Eastman to leverage Hanwha’s R&D capabilities as well as provide access to Unipol and Spherilene technologies. Hanwha is among a handful of licensees with Basell’s Spherilene advanced multi-reactor gas-phase technology. Due to confidentiality agreements with the original process technology licensors, both companies maintain a wall around the technologies to prevent unintended disclosure.
AtoFina Petrochemicals Selects Pavilion’s Process Perfecter for HDPE unit
AtoFina Petrochemicals SA has selected Pavilion Technologies to supply advanced process control (APC) and optimization technologies for a second high-density polyethylene (HDPE) unit.
Pavilion’s Process Perfecter(R) APC solution will boost production and enhance product quality of the 240,000 metric ton per year Unipol HDPE line at AtoFina’s Gonfreville, France facility. This is the second installation of Pavilion’s Process Perfecter solution at an AtoFina facility. In March 2002, AtoFinaselected Pavilion to provide a similar solution for its HDPE unit in Bayport, Texas.
Basell studies potential sites for Spherizone PP Plant
Basell is currently studying various sites for a 300,000-400,000 MT/year polypropylene (PP) plant that would be based on the company’s new Spherizone process. A decision is likely to be made next year, and the plant should be completed in 2007. Several sites under consideration include: (1) Berre, France; (2) Carrington, U.K., (3) Lake Charles, LA, (4) Moerdijk, the Netherlands, (5) Sarnia, ON, (6) Wesseling, Germany, and (7) different locations of Shell’s North American refineries. The project is part of Basell’s plan togradually replace PP capacity that is old or does not use the company’s Spheripol process.
Comments: Basell has recently embarked on promoting their newest technology platform Spherizone – MultiZone Circulating Reactor (MZCR) technology that enables the production of more uniform and custom PP products.
Basell announced that MultiZone Circulating Reactor represents the next generation of PP technology, allowing producers to widen the breadth of the PP property envelope. Unlike blends obtained from reactors-in-series type technologies, the resulting MultiZone Circulating Reactor resins are claimed to have more homogenous intra-particle composition profiles leading to improved processability and final end-use properties.Please review to NGP Vol 7 Iss 1for a detailed description of the MultiZone reactor technology.
DuPont launches Suprel fabrics for protection and comfort
DuPont Medical Fabrics has introduced Suprel, a bicomponent fabric for surgical apparel comprising polyester and polyethylene made using an advanced composite technology based on nearly 20 new patents. According to the company, Suprel combines the strength of polyester and the texture of polyethylene to create a bicomponent fabric that not only meets high standards for protection but also features a smooth and silk-like texture.
Suprel has less surface friction than competitive products, allowing for greater comfort and freedom of movement and it transfers heat away from the body fast, adding to comfort in the operating room, says DuPont. Also, being made from continuous filament fibers, it is very low linting. The new fabric, was designed after input from operating room nurses at North Carolina State University, and is expected to be commercially available in late summer in US and later this year in Europe and Asia-Pacific regions.
Comments: Medical apparel are of interest to all the innovative fabric producers because of the value provided. The major criteria in medical related fabrics include: (1) sterilizeability, (2) fluid resistance, (3) comfort/feel, (4) breathability and (5) disposability/limited re-usability.
There is currently no one fabric material that can provide all of the features that is economical. The only fabric, Goretex is too expensive for disposability. The popular approach in the past decade had been to develop composite fabrics, fabric/film, fabric/foam and others. DuPont had been on the forefront of this technology.
The base polymer used for the fiber determines most of the fabric properties like processability, softness, strength, aesthetics and applicability.
Polypropylene is the most preferred fiber because of its superior performance characteristics, aesthetics and favorable economics. Other polymers include polyethylene, polyester, and nylon. Blends of the above mentioned materials may be employed to take advantage of the benefits of each individual material. Certain specialty applications use a combination of polymers (bicomponent fibers) to enhance certaindesired properties as done with the Suprel product line.
Ameripol Synpol to Mothball Texasemulsion SBR Plant as a result of their recent Chp 11 proceedings
Ameripol Synpol (Port Neches, TX) has announced its plan to idle its 510-million lbs/year emulsion styrene butadiene synthetic rubber (ESBR) plant at Port Neches indefinitely, citing lack of financing resulting from its Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. The closure is expected to result in about 245 job losses. Ameripol says it will maintain the equipment to allow for a potential future restart. Ameripol closed a 260-million lbs/year emulsionSBR plant at Odessa, TX in March 2002.
Pemex Launches Road Show for $2.6-Billion Project
Mexican Petrochemical Company, PEMEX has begun a road show to attract potential investors in the company’s $2.6-billion Phoenix Project, which consists of complexes producing olefins and derivatives, and aromatics in Mexico. The company plans to build the complexes in association with national and international industry leaders. Pemex plans to hold a 25%-30% share and intends to discuss the project with 16 potential partners including Atofina, BASF, Chevron Phillips Chemical, ExxonMobil Chemical, Repsol YPF, and Sabic.
The olefins complex will cost about $1.8 billion. It will produce several products including: (1) ethylene (1 million MT/year), (2) butadiene (125,000 MT/year), (3) high-/linear low-density polyethylene (450,000 MT/year each), (4) low-density PE, (5) polypropylene (400,000 MT/year), and (6) styrene (500,000 MT/year). It could be built at Coatzacoalcos or Altamira if it is based on naphtha or at Coatzacoalcos if it is based on ethane. The aromatics complex will cost about $800 million, and its capacities will include 600,000-700,000 MT/year of para-xylene and 200,000 MT/year of benzene.
Pemex plans to finish planning this year and to have an agreement with joint venture partners in the first half of next year. Basic engineering would begin in the second half of 2004, and the complexes would come on stream in 2008.
Comments: The recent changes in political climate has speeded up the privatization of Mexican petrochemical industry. The current PEMEX management, which was hand-picked from the private industry has been very effective in this process.
Mr. Beverido, the president of PEMEX joined from the DESC group of Mexico. The current vice president of polyolefins and elastomers, Mr. Carlos Pani has extensive experience in the private industry and was the head of Chemical Market Resources, Inc.’s Mexican office prior to joining the PEMEX.
He has delivered several presentation in our FlexPO conference in issues related to PEMEX and the privatization of Mexican petrochemical industry. He will be presenting the current status of Mexican industry privatization in the upcoming FlexPO conference Sept 17-19, 2003 in Galveston, TX.
Atofina Launches PE Pipe Grade
Atofina Petrochemicals says it has introduced a bimodal high-density polyethylene (HDPE) at Bayport, TX for pressure-pipe applications. The new resins have a stress rating of PE100, which has a higher stress and crack resistance than the current PE pipe grade, which dominates the North American market. Atofina had previously been supplying PE100 grade pipes from its European plants. Dow Chemical claims it was the first producer to produce bimodal PE100 pipe grades in North America.
Comments: The PE100 pipe market in Western Europe is far more advanced than North America due to government and municipality regulations. Requirements in the United States are established under the US Department of Transportation Pipeline Safety Regulations (CFR) Title 49, Part 192, “Transportation of Natural or Other Gases by Pipeline: Minimum Federal Safety Standards, and, by inclusion, all appropriate standards referenced therein”. The product must have a grade of PE24 or higher, meaning that the minimal required strength rating should be at least 2.4 MPa. In contrast, European requirements are based on ISO and European (CEN) standards, specifically ISO TR9080.
The newly formed PE100+ Association in W. Europe is an industry-initiated organization of several polyethylene producers, including Atofina, Basell, Borealis, and Solvay Polyolefins Europe SA, whose objective is to guarantee consistent quality in the production of PE100 pipe materials, and to promote its use. They have performance requirements based on that demanded by future ISO/CEN standards. The more stringent ISO/CEN requirements have increased the demand for PE100 grades for many pipe applications. The bimodal pipe market in North America is comparatively smaller, but could increase significantly if regulations change.
Dow Chemical Company and Petrochemical Industries Co.,( a division of state owned Kuwait Petroleum) announce construction plans to start-up in the near future
Dow and Petrochemical Industries Co (PIC), an affiliate of the state-owned Kuwait Petroleum Corp. (KPC), have decided to proceed with their previously announced Olefins II project. The companies have sent out invitations for bids on construction of a complex that will include an 850,000 MT/year ethane cracker and a new 600,000 MT/year ethylene oxide/ethylene glycol.
In addition to Olefins II, PIC and DOW also expect to build a methylbenzene/styrene plant of 300,000 MT/year with ethylene from Olefins II and benzene from PIC’s Aromatics Project. This facility will be built at the same time on a site adjacent to the Equate site. The project is scheduled for completion by 2007. Equate Petrochemical is the joint venture between Dow & PIC since 1995.
Comments: Dow Chemical Company has not been very active in the Middle East operations. In the early 80s, SABICoriginally planned to form four major divisions – (1) Shark (Japanese JV), (2) Kemya (Exxon JV), (3) Yanpet (Mobil JV) and (4) PetroKemya (Dow JV). However, Dow Chemical Company backed out of the joint venture due to unknown reasons and PetroKemya was essentially organized as a wholly owned subsidiary of SABIC.
Since then Dow Chemical Company did not have a major presence in the Saudi Arabia. This new involvement with Kuwait will extend Dow’s operations to Mid-East. Union Carbide, now a part of Dow Chemcial Company has extensive relations with SABIC.
SolVin plans PVC and VCM plant closures
SolVin PVC, a leading European polyvinyl chloride (PVC) producer announced its plans to close a 145,000 metric ton-per-year PVC plant and a 100,000 MT/year vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) unit at Ludwigshafen, Germany, because they are not world-scale facilities. The plants will be closed on January 1, 2006, will only be partly replaced by expansions at other SolVin sites. SolVin is 75% owned by Solvay and 25% owned by BASF
Two Groups Shortlisted for Iran PVC Complex
National Petrochemical Co. (NPC; Tehran) has short listed two consortia to build a previously announced integrated polyvinyl chloride (PVC) complex at Bandar Imam, Iran. Toyo Engineering, LG Engineering, and Pidemco (Tehran, Iran); and Uhde and Shazeh Consultants (Tehran, Iran) have reached the final stage of negotiations. The complex will produce chlorine, ethylene dichloride, vinyl chloride monomer, and PVC. The PVC unit will have capacity for 300,000 MT/year
Comments: The Iranian petrochemical and polyolefins industry has been expanding in recent years. European and Japanese technology licensors have been able to take advantage of the growth opportunities. Unfortunately, North American licensors have been restricted due to government policies.
DuPont Dow to Debut New Technology Fluoroelastomer and EPDM
DuPont Dow Elastomers will break new ground at DKT/IRC ’03 with the roll out of new specialty fluoroelastomer and EPDM products, both representing significant advances in polymer technology. The first, Viton® fluoroelastomers made with Advanced Polymer Architecture (APA), employs proprietary new polymerization and curing technology to deliver marked improvements in mould filling, flow and release, and in better sealing performance for the automotive, chemical processing, aerospace and semiconductorindustries. New grades introduced at the expo will extend the envelope in resistance to temperature extremes, fuels and bases.
The next breakthrough, Nordel® MG, is the first ever EPDM product made by applying metallocene catalyst technology to the gas phase process. This enables rubber fabricators to save up to 30% in mixing cycle time due to its granular form.
Comments: DuPont Dow signed an agreement with Dow to develop and market gas phase metallocene based EPDM in January 2002 in an effort to compliment their Nordel IP products. By leveraging Dow’s Insite Constrained Geometry catalyst, DuPont Dow is able to produce products with higher Mooney numbers (some as high as 150) and higher ENB content. The current Nordel IP line is limited to less than 70 Mooney. The Nordel MG line is produced in the 198 million pounds per year Unipol® line in Seadrift, Texas, originally built by Union Carbide. Dow obtained the plant as part of the Union Carbide purchase. Metallocene-based EP(D)M was commercialized in 1997 when DuPont Dow brought its 198 million pound plant on stream in Plaquemine, Louisiana. The process employs Dow’s Insite catalyst technology. The product line from the plant was designated Nordel IP.
When DuPont Dow Elastomers was formed in 1995, DuPont’s Nordel EP(D)M product line, produced in a 125 million pound plant in Beaumont, Texas, was included in the deal. Whereas Nordel was based on a termonomer unique to DuPont, 1,4-hexadiene, and made using a conventional catalyst, Nordel IP is based on ENB termonomer and produced using a metallocene catalyst. DuPont Dow kept both plants running for ca. 2 years, but in August, 1999, it permanently shut down the Beaumont facility, thereby converting its customer base to a very different product made using (1) a metallocene catalyst and (2) ENB termonomer.The gas-phase process is (1) significantly cheaper to build and operate than conventional processes and (2) produces granular end products rather than bales. Consumers of gas-phase-generated EP(D)M must be able to tolerate the high loading of carbon black, a consequence of the technology for producing it in a fluidized bed.
PolyOne sells British PVC compounding business
PolyOne Corp. of Cleveland is selling a British PVC compounding business to Hydro Polymers, a division of Norwegian conglomerate Norsk Hydro ASA. The deal covers a PVC compounding plant in Newton Aycliffe. PolyOne has sold its Vinakon high flow PVC compounds business to Hydro Polymers – which already makes the materials at its Newton Aycliffe site
Vinakon dates back to 1991 when Geon and Hydro Polymers formed a joint venture to make high flow compounds. In 2000 Geon merged with M.A. Hanna to form PolyOne, which bought out Hydro’s 50% share, with Hydro retaining a long term contract to make the compounds for PolyOne at Newton Aycliffe. PolyOne has determined that this is not a core business in Europe, and has sold it to Hydro.
BP continues cost cutting at Grangemouth
More jobs will be lost at Grangemouth, UK as BP continues its long term quest for efficiency. According to BP, in the past 18 months it has made’huge step up’ in plant reliability and improved its safety performance threefold. The company feels that furthercost cutting is necessary to stay competitive. The company will eliminate 190 mainly middle management and clerical posts between the second half of this year and the end of June 2004.
Comments: BP Chemicals is facing the tough times due to: (1) bad economy, (2) inter\gration of old Amoco, (3) decisions impacted by BP’s oil operations versus their chemical operations and (4) alternate energy programs.
BP’s cost cutting measures started three years ago in terms of people, programs and plant shutdowns continue well on into 2003 with no end in site.
Atofina to restructure EVA production in France
Atofina is restructuring its high EVA production in France by 2005. The plans include the closure of its ethylene plant at Bassin de Lacq, and the end of EVA production at its site in Mont. The Mont has EVA capacity of 54,000 MT/year. The production at Monte will be shifted to its facility in Balan, and the total capacity there will be 68,000MT/year. Of the 418 people employed at Mont, 108 will be made redundant because of this consolidation, and the company would offer its employee at Lacq an opportunity to relocate within the company or a retirement package.
Comments: This movement will not have much of an impact on the High EVA capacity in Europe. CMR Inc. has recently completed a thorough analysis of the worldwide HP-LDPE including high EVAs. Please call us for the prospectus of the study.
Graham Packaging starts PP blow-molding plant in France
York, Pennsylvania based Graham Packaging has begun production of polypropylene containers for yogurt at a new plant in southern France. Six production lines in the 23,000-square-foot plant are making custom-designed containers for a brand of premium yogurt. Graham Packaging invested more than $7-million to build the plant with proprietary technology for high-speed production
Comments: High melt strength and random polypropylene grades have increased the popularity of blow molding operations, as well as thermoforming. Polypropylene provides the adequate stiffness to impact balance needed for many container applications.
JV talks on olefins between ExxonMobil & PDVSA progress
There has been progress in renewed negotiations between ExxonMobil & Venezuelan Company PDVSA about developing a $2.65billion olefins 50:50 JV project in eastern Venezuela. An initial development agreement between ExxonMobil and Pequiven, asubsidiary of PDVSA was close to being signed in 2002 before the country’s two-month oil strike began and talks were interrupted. The project involves production of 1-million MT/year of ethylene, 780,000 MT/year of polyethylene and 400,000 MT/year of glycols.
Comments: PDVSA, (Petroloes de Venezuela SA) the overall petrochemical arm of the Venezuelan government is responsible for developing and managing the petrochemical resources. PDVSA, has five divisions dedicated to petrochemical industry in addition to their oil exploration group.
Four of the five divisions including PEQUIVEN are focused on internal development of petrochemicals and plastics. A new division PROESCA was formed to develop an international corridor for resource development. PROESCA’s major goal is to attract private capital for industrial development at their Paraguana region. PROESCA’s role is to promote joint development projects and to manage the PDVSA’a portion of the joint ventures.
The Refinery Streams Industrialization Program (RSIP) went through some problems with the recent political unrest in Venezeula.
PDVSA offers attractive opportunities in terms of taxes, resources and labor to encourage foreign investment. For further information and/or contact please call: Business Director Mr. Terry Gonzalez at Tel: 0212)201 3166 or Email:Gonzalezdlta@pdvsa.com
Pequiven’s ethylene plant to restart soon
Venezuelan based Pequiven had shut down its smaller ethylene plant due to unavailability of raw material. According to the company, the plant should be up “in a matter of weeks,” when feedstock becomes available. The 250,000 MT/year plant, named Olefins 1 is located at El Tablazo, Venezuela.
Polimeri Europa lifts its force majeure on polyethylene supplies following their re-start of the cracker at that site
Italian based Polimeri Europe has lifted force majeure on polyethylene supplies from its plant at Dunkirk, France following the restart of the cracker at the site on June 4.
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