BASF and Markor start up new polytetrahydrofuran plant in China

MOSCOW (MRC) -- BASF and Xinjiang Markor Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. have inaugurated a new PolyTHF (polytetrahydrofuran, chemical name: polytetramethylene ether glycol) plant in Korla, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in northwest China, said BASF on its site.

Commercial products are now available for delivery to local customers in China.

The plant, with an annual capacity of 50,000 tons of PolyTHF, is operated by a joint venture between BASF and Markor registered under the name of BASF Markor Chemical Manufacturing (Xinjiang) Co., Ltd. It will support customers’ increasing demand.

The plant complements BASF’s existing Asian production facilities in Shanghai, China and Ulsan, Korea. BASF also produces PolyTHF in Geismar, Louisiana, and Ludwigshafen, Germany, with a global annual PolyTHF capacity of 350,000 metric tons.

PolyTHF is primarily used to make elastic spandex fibers for a wide variety of textiles, including swimsuits, sportswear, underwear and outerwear. It also serves as a chemical building block for thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), used to make hoses, films and cable sheathing mainly for the automotive industry. Other applications include thermoplastic polyetheresters, polyetheramides and cast elastomers for the production of (for example) wheels for skateboards and inline skates.

In January 2016 BASF and Markor inaugurated a 1,4-butanediol (BDO) plant, also at the Korla site. The plant, with an annual capacity of 100,000 tons, is operated by another joint venture between Markor and BASF, registered under the name of Markor Meiou Chemical (Xinjiang) Co., Ltd. The two projects mark BASF's first investment in Xinjiang with a local private enterprise.

BASF is the world's leading chemical company, which portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. BASF generated sales of more than EUR70 billion in 2015.

Xinjiang Markor Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. is a subsidiary of Markor Investment Group Co., Ltd. which was founded in 2004. It is located in Markor Chemical Park in Economic and Technological Development zone, Korla, Xinjiang, China. Markor is one of the leading manufacturers in the BDO downstream market.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- BASF, the world's pretrochemical major, has introduced tailored polyamide portfolio for the charge-air duct in modern combustion engines, said the producer on its site.

The reductions in fuel consumption and emissions which are prescribed by law in many countries are forcing the automotive industry to act. Besides developing alternative drives, the optimization of traditional combustion engines continues to play a key role. Downsizing results in higher pressures and temperatures, especially in components that carry air behind the turbocharger. BASF is responding to this development in engine designs with a consistent portfolio of PA6 and PA66 grades that meet the higher demands on the materials, their mechanical properties and temperature resistance.

Depending on the base polymer and stabilization system, the materials are resistant to heat aging up to 220 C and show excellent burst pressure and weld strength. This means the part developer can be provided with the optimum material for each of the different components in the charge-air duct that offers the best value for money. Selected grades are based on global specifications: They are supplied worldwide from local manufacturing facilities, with uniform material properties and a consistently high level of quality.

Turbochargers can be used to compensate for a loss of power in the engine while at the same time reducing the cubic capacity. Turbocharging produces higher pressures and temperatures in the engine compartment, especially in the charge-air duct. At the same time, car makers continue to develop the design of the charge-air duct to make the installation space more efficient and reduce emissions. This technological advancement in engine design is being accompanied by global processes of standardization and relocation of production facilities: Globally standardized engines and respective add-on parts are used in different vehicles that are produced locally. BASF is responding to this trend by offering a range of globally available products manufactured locally with globally valid specifications.

BASF offers polyamides for the various temperature requirements of the charge-air duct. The range comprises PA6, PA66 and PA66/6 grades with a glass fiber content between 30 and 50 percent. Ultramid B3WG6 GPX, a PA6 containing 30% glass fiber, has been newly added to the portfolio. It is resistant to temperatures up to 180 C and for a short time up to 200 C. Due to its excellent burst pressure and weld strength, it is suitable for air intake manifolds made from several parts. The upper end of the temperature range is covered by Ultramid Endure, a specialty polyamide which can stand constant use temperatures of 220 C and peaks up to 240 C.

The grades Ultramid Endure D3G7 with 35% glass fiber reinforcement and D3G10 with 50% glass fiber reinforcement are suitable for injection molding. They are proven to work well in air intake manifolds of turbocharged diesel engines as well as in resonators and sensors. Well-known OEMs use Ultramid Endure D5G3 BM (with 15% glass fiber), which is suitable for blow molding, in charge-air pipes. For temperatures between 180 C and 210 C, the portfolio contains PA66 plastics with enhanced heat stabilization. These include Ultramid A3W2G6 to G10 (with glass fiber reinforcements from 30 to 50%) for temperatures up to 190 C, e.g. in charge air cooler endcaps, and the new Ultramid A3W3G7 for temperatures up to 210 C.

As MRC informed earlier, in May 2014, BASF offered high performance Ultramid (polyamide), which is derived from renewable raw materials with certified biomass. The share of renewable raw materials in the sales product is then indicated in the respective quantity. A third-party certification confirms to customers that BASF has used the required quantities of renewable raw materials which the customer has ordered in the value chain.

BASF operates Ultramid polymerization plants in Ludwigshafen, Germany; Antwerp, Belgium; Freeport, Texas and Sao Paulo, Brazil. In May 2015, the company inaugurated its new Ultramid (polyamide 6 and 6/6.6) polymerization plant at the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park in Shanghai, China. The production of polyamide for film, textile and carpet fiber as well as for engineering plastics applications is integrated into BASF’s global Verbund structure with polyamide intermediates (i.e. adipic acid, anolon, caprolactam), chemical raw materials (i.e. ammonia, cyclohexane, sulfuric acid), energy, by-product recovery, logistics and other services.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- BASF and Xinjiang Markor Chemical Industry Co. have started up a new polytetrahydrofuran (PolyTHF) facility in Korla, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in China, said the company on its site.

The 50,000-t/y PolyTHF facility, operated as a joint venture between BASF and Markor under the name BASF Markor Chemical Manufacturing (Xinjiang) Co., complements BASF's existing Asian production facilities in Shanghai, China and Ulsan, Korea, BASF noted.

BASF also produces PolyTHF in Geismar, La., and Ludwigshafen, Germany, and has a total global PolyTHF capacity of 350,000 t/y.

In January, the two companies inaugurated a new 1,4-butanediol plant at the Korla site. The 100,000-t/y facility is operated by another joint venture between BASF and Markor, registered under the name Markor Meiou Chemical (Xinjiang) Co.

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The approximately 112,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into five segments: Chemicals, Performance Products, Functional Materials & Solutions, Agricultural Solutions and Oil & Gas. BASF generated sales of more than EUR70 billion in 2015. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN).
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- BASF has developed Lumina Royal Dragon Gold effect pigment, the newest member of Lumina Royal product family and will present it during the 2016 K trade fair in Dusseldorf from October 19-26, said the producer on its site.

The new Lumina Royal Dragon Gold EH 0908 is a brilliant green shade gold mica effect pigment that offers the highest lightness and strongest sparkle in styling for yellows and greens. It extends the color space potential of high chroma shades for packaging, consumer electronics, household appliances, sporting goods and other specialty applications.

"Lumina Royal Dragon Gold provides attractive shades, especially in combination with yellow pigments or in black reduction," says Marc Dumont, Head of Marketing for Pigments for Plastics at BASF. "Our customers will be able to formulate new looks of greenish gold hues with exceptional sparkling and brilliance." Thanks to its unique coloristic properties, the pigment enables exploring new boundaries of the colors and effects space for a wide range of colored plastics applications and allows a greater formulation flexibility to customers. It additionally enables approaching brilliance of coatings finishes when applied in a high gloss polymer molding.

Lumina Royal Dragon Gold joins five previously launched highly chromatic Lumina Royal pigments including Aqua, Blue, Indigo, Magenta and Copper that are being widely adopted.

As MRC reported earlier, in 2010, BASF introduced the effect pigment Lumina Royal Blue for plastics applications into the market. The pigments Aqua, Indigo, Magenta and Copper followed in May 2015.

BASF is the largest diversified chemical company in the world and is headquartered in Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF produces a wide range of chemicals, for example solvents, amines, resins, glues, electronic-grade chemicals, industrial gases, basic petrochemicals and inorganic chemicals. The most important customers for this segment are the pharmaceutical, construction, textile and automotive industries. BASF had sales of over EUR70 billion in 2015.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Monday’s talks between Japan's Idemitsu Kosan Co Ltd. and its founding family did not yield any agreement regarding the family's opposition to the oil refiner's proposal to buy rival Showa Shell Sekiyu KK, the family's lawyer said, reported Reuters.

The country's second-biggest refiner has argued the acquisition is its best course of action in a shrinking domestic oil market, where five large and three small refiners compete.

But descendants of founder Sazo Idemitsu, including octogenarian son Shosuke Idemitsu - a former president and now honorary chairman - have said the companies are too different for a merger to work.

They have also said they saw no chance of compromise, the lawyer, Takujiro Hamada, previously told Reuters.

On Monday, Idemitsu Kosan President Takashi Tsukioka and colleagues met family members including Shosuke Idemitsu and his two sons to discuss the proposal, which may dilute the family's minority stake, Hamada told reporters after the talks.

He also said the parties agreed to meet again, but had not set a date.

The proposal includes Idemitsu Kosan's purchase of 33.3% of Showa Shell Sekiyu from Royal Dutch Shell PLC.

The family's 33.92% stake in Idemitsu Kosan is large enough to veto the proposal when presented for consideration at a special shareholders' meeting likely later this year.

As MRC informed earlier, Japanese refiner Idemitsu Kosan Co. and smaller rival Showa Shell Sekiyu announced in April 2016 that they would merge on April 1 next year. Japan's No.2 and No.5 refiners by revenue agreed last November in a deal worth approximately USD4 B to create the nation's second-biggest refiner sometime between October 2016 and April 2017.

Royal Dutch Shell plc is an Anglo-Dutch multinational oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the biggest company in the world in terms of revenue and one of the six oil and gas "supermajors". Shell is vertically integrated and is active in every area of the oil and gas industry, including exploration and production, refining, distribution and marketing, petrochemicals, power generation and trading.

Idemitsu Kosan is a Japanese petroleum company. It owns and operates oil platforms, refineries and produces and sells petroleum, oils and petrochemical products. The company runs two petrochemical plants in Chiba and Tokuyama. The two naphtha crackers can produce up to 997,000 tonnes of ethylene per year.
MRC