Borealis launches a new class of engineering polymer

Borealis, one of the world’s leading providers of advanced and circular polyolefin solutions and a European market leader in base chemicals, fertilizers and the mechanical recycling of plastics, is launching Stelora, a new class of sustainable engineering polymer offering increased strength, durability and a step change in heat-resistance capability, said the company.

Borealis, the world’s leading producer of cyclic olefin copolymer (COC). It is created using a unique process that combines COCs, which are a relatively new class of clear, high-purity polymer, with polypropylene (PP). The result is a state-of-the-art material called ethylene-propylene-norbornene (EPN) that is suitable for a wide range of technically advanced applications, primarily used in e-mobility and renewable energy generation. This solution offers a sustainable alternative to replace conventional engineering polymers, which meet the high temperature requirements required for the new generation of energy-saving power semiconductors for invertors.

“Stelora is a unique solution that combines enhanced sustainability with elevated performance. We are confident that, within a short time, it will replace existing engineering polymers in a wide range of applications, providing our customers with a cost-effective, high-performance solution that also drives circularity and energy efficiency.” explains Ilkka Pentilla,CEO, Tervakoski Films Group, a long-standing Borealis customer of capacitor grades.

The first commercially available application of Stelora is within a high-heat-resistant capacitor film. This dielectric capacitor film made with Stelora offers all of the benefits of the equivalent made using PP resin as a dielectric, but with significant performance enhancements including exceptional heat resistance, superior electrical properties at high temperatures, and increased efficiency. Stelora-based film is also fully compatible with existing converting lines, so it can be processed by customers without the need for investment in new equipment, infrastructure or assets.

We remind, Borealis will implement Honeywell’s UniSim Live software as early adopters to build process models for optimizing operations through virtual process simulation. UniSim Live will allow Borealis to extend the utility of process models to near real-time process monitoring and focus on early event detection by using digital twins to improve plant reliability.

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Petrochina Guangxi has entered into a license agreement with Grace to use its Unipol PP technology for its new 400 kilotons per annum single reactor line in China, said Process-worldwide.

With this move, Petrochina Guangxi aims to deliver higher value PP products to the local market. Grace has announced the signing of a new license with Petrochina Guangxi to develop a 400-kilotons per annum single reactor line using its Unipol PP technology.

W. R. Grace & Co. (Grace) has recently announced the signing of a new license with Petrochina Guangxi Petrochemical Company (Petrochina Guangxi) to develop a 400-kilotons per annum (KTA) single reactor line using its Unipol PP technology. The anticipated start up is in 2026. This marks the second Unipol PP technology reactor line that Petrochina Guangxi has licensed and the fifth that Petrochina Group has licensed from Grace for a total licensed capacity of 1,850 KTA.

This Unipol PP technology line in China can take advantage of the full product capabilities to produce homopolymer, ethylene random copolymer, impact copolymer, butene random copolymer, and terpolymer polypropylene resins. As a result, Petrochina Guangxi will be at the forefront of advanced PP production in China.

Petrochina Guangxi chose to use Unipol PP technology again because of the broad catalyst and product capabilities, robust production, advanced PP technology, and excellent services they have received with their current plants.

Grace's Unipol PP technology is a state-of-the-art process technology for producing high-performance polypropylene resins used in a variety of applications such as automotive parts, packaging, consumer goods, and infrastructure materials.

We remind, W.R. Grace & Co has licensed its Unipol PP process technology to Gail India Ltd for its 60,000 tonnes/y polypropylene (PP) plant at Gail's existing petrochemical complex in Pata, Uttar Pradesh, India.

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Guangxi Chlor-Alkali Chemical has selected Solvay’s proprietary hydrogen peroxide technology for its new plant in China, said Process-worldwide.

Under the license agreement, Solvay will also provide a dedicated process design package, operating expertise and a range of services for the project.

Solvay has signed a license agreement with Guangxi Chlor-Alkali Chemical (Ghcac) which will enable the Chinese partner to build and operate a hydrogen peroxide mega plant at Qinzhou (Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region) designed to support its 300 kilotons propylene oxide (PO) production and other units on site.

Under this license, Solvay will provide its proprietary hydrogen peroxide mega-scale, high productivity process technology to Ghcac, including a dedicated process design package, operating expertise and a range of services to ensure the optimized and reliable production of the new mega plant. In addition, the company will also supply Ghcac with proprietary 2-amylanthraquinone (AQ), the key chemical contributing to the high productivity and environmentally-friendly chemical processes of Solvay’s mega plant technology.

We remind, Solvay announces the completion of the sale of its 50% stake in the RusVinyl joint venture to its joint venture partner Sibur. At the time of closing, Solvay received €433 million in cash proceeds in Belgium which will be reported in the first quarter as cash flow from investing activities (Consolidated statement of cash flows). A capital loss of EUR174 million will be recognized in the first quarter of 2023, mainly reflecting the crystallization of historic currency translation balances.

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DuPont has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Spectrum Plastics Group (Spectrum) from AEA Investors. The purchase price will be paid from existing cash balances, said Process-worldwide.

The transaction is expected to close by the end of the third quarter of 2023, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

Spectrum is a recognized leader in advanced manufacturing of specialty medical devices and components, serving 22 of the top 26 medical device OEMs with a strategic focus on key fast-growing therapeutic areas such as structural heart, electrophysiology, surgical robotics and cardiovascular.

Spectrum has more than 2,200 employees and has delivered consistent high single-digit growth rates for many years. With its strong financial performance, advanced manufacturing expertise, and customer-centric orientation, Spectrum is fully aligned with DuPont’s strategic objective of delivering innovative specialized materials and solutions into attractive end markets with long-term secular growth trends.

We remind, DuPont has been found guilty of criminal negligence and fined USD12 million in connection with a November 2014 explosion that killed four employees of its methyl mercaptan plant in LaPorte, Texas, and caused extensive environmental damage.

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Nouryon has plans to invest in its facility in Ningbo, China, to significantly increase the capacity of organic peroxide products Perkadox 14 and Trigonox 101, said Process-worldwide.

With this investment, Nouryon will double the annual production capacity to 6000 tons each for Perkadox 14 and Trigonox 101 organic peroxides by mid-2024. These essential products will support growing regional and global demand for a variety of applications including hygiene products and non-woven textiles used in health care, including face masks. Additional applications include plastics recycling, and a wide range of rubber goods, including rubber hoses, seals, cable insulation, athletic shoe soles, and yoga mats.

“Asia Pacific is a key region for Nouryon, and China plays an important role in our growth journey towards increased customer satisfaction and volumes. Our customers rely on our existing network of manufacturing facilities and innovative technologies, and we are pleased to build more capacity to meet growing customer demand,” said Johan Landfors, Executive Vice President Strategy and Technology Solutions at Nouryon.

We remind, Nouryon announced that it has commissioned a chlorine dioxide plant to modernize and expand the Arauco pulp mill in Chile. The project, called the MAPA project, is a USD2.35 billion pulp mill and is the largest industrial project in the Biobio region. The new plant adds 1.56 million tons per year of eucalyptus pulp capacity to Arauco’s footprint that will be supplied to its customers.

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