of the special systems made from carbon
fibers and matrices into specific applications of customers in the automotive
industry is now under way. As part of
this collaborative project, SGL Group
developed a new sizing formulation for
the carbon fibers. In addition, special
processes for manufacturing carbon-fiber-based textiles such as fabrics and
braidings were also developed. To produce Non-Crimp-Fabrics (NCF), special
threads are used that enable processing
in the reactive polyamide system.
BASF’s role in this project was to
process SGL Group’s newly developed carbon fibers using the T-RTM
technique and to characterize them
comprehensively both chemically and
mechanically. The BASF research team
is continuing to work intensively on
the development of caprolactam-based
thermoplastic reactive systems.
Tilo Hauke, head of research at SGL
Group, said: “The interaction of all components is of central importance for innovative composites based on reactive
polyamide. With its extensive material
knowhow, SGL Group brought a range
of tailored solutions for sizings and fiber
processing to this collaborative project.”
Josef R. Wünsch, head of Structural
Materials and Systems Research at BASF
added, “In close collaboration with
plant manufacturers as well as tiers and
automotive OEMs, we are working on
the development of robust polyamid
6 carbon-fiber composite systems. The
mechanical characteristic values arising
from the interaction of the fiber and matrix are crucial input parameters for our
simulation tool Ultrasim. We are currently working intensively on enhancing
our simulation expertise for reactive systems so that we can provide our customers with expert support for part design
and optimization.”
BASF Now Offers Bio-
Based PolyTHF
BASF has made bio-based
Polytetrahydrofuran 1000 (PolyTHF
1000) available for the first time. The
company is now providing this intermediate to selected partners for testing various applications in a large scale.
PolyTHF is derived from 1, 4 butane-diol (BDO), which BASF has produced
under license from Genomatica.
Argex Titanium Awards
Tecnicas Reunidas EPC
Contract
Argex Titanium Inc., a producer of high-grade titanium dioxide (TiO2) used
as white pigment in paint, plastic, pa-per, cosmetics and other applications,
announced that its newly formed, wholly-owned subsidiary, Argex Canada Inc., has
awarded an Engineering, Procurement
and Construction contract to the Tecnicas
Reunidas Group for Argex’s first industrial scale 50,000 ton per annum Titanium
Dioxide (TiO2) plant, which will be located in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Canada.
The EPC Contract will be performed
in two phases. The first phase is the
front end engineering design completion (FEED/FEL3) work and the second
phase will be for the Detailed Design and
Construction portion of the Project. The
FEED/FEL3 will be undertaken at TR’s
headquarters in Madrid based on Argex’s
basic design process package for an expected cost of USD 10 million. The work
on the FEED/FEL3 will only commence
upon the issuance of a Limited Notice to
Proceed to be issued once Argex receives
the financing for the FEED/FEL3. If such
LNTP is not issued by Argex Canada by
June 29, 2015, TR may elect to terminate
the EPC Contract. Upon completion of
the FEED/FEL3, the parties will agree on
a guaranteed target contract price for the
Construction portion of the work. The
GTCP will be based on a 50/50 shared
cost savings/overrun approach between
Argex Canada and TR.
The GTCP’s expected value will be
determined during the Initial Period but
the overall value of the EPC Contract (in-
cluding the FEED/FEL3 portion) is cur-
rently estimated at approximately USD
200 million. “The finalization of the EPC
Contract represents an important step
in the realization of our Project,” stated
Richard Poulin, executive vice president
of Argex, “Tecnicas Reunidas’ deep ex-
perience in similar projects and TR’s
know-how acquired from its own in-
house solvent extraction technology
facility represent an important
value-added to the construction
of our Valleyfield facility. ”
The Tecnicas Reunidas
Group is an international general con-
tractor, engaging in the engineering, de-
sign and construction of various types of
industrial facilities for a broad spectrum
of customers throughout the world, in-
cluding many of the principal national oil
companies as well as several multination-
al companies. Most of TR’s business is
concentrated on large turnkey industrial
projects, although they also provide en-
gineering, management, start-up and
operating services for industrial plants.
Since 1960, the TR group of companies
has designed and built more than 1000
industrial plants worldwide. TR’s multi-
national clients and licensors include the
world’s leading companies. The projects
have been developed in over 50 countries
covering the six continents. International
projects account for 78 percent of
the company’s annual turnover.
Epicerol Plant Recognized
As Commercial Scale Plant
Of The Year Finalist
The Advanced Biochemical Thailand
(ABT) Epicerol plant was among the top
three finalists for ‘Commercial Scale Plant
of the Year.’ The prestigious accolade was
announced at the WBM Bio Business
Awards in Amsterdam.
Since its startup in 2012, the Epicerol
plant has fully demonstrated its abil-
ity to compete against traditional oil-
based production. “Solvay and ABT are
proud to have been recognized for our
worldclass Epicerol plant,” said Thibaud
Caulier, Senior Marketing Manager at
Solvay. “We are breaking new ground
in renewable chemicals and supply-
ing market-competitive bio-based ECH
at commercial-scale.”
Epicerol’s commercial development
has capitalized on its distinctive as-
sets. These allow the ABT plant to keep
producing at more than 70% of its
nominal capacity, significantly higher
than the ECH industry average in Asia.
Epicerol also partner with leading com-
panies down the value chain who valorise
the bio-based ECH in applications.
