AkzoNobel’s Specialty Chemicals business is investing more than € 20 million to increase production capacity in Sweden for its Expancel
product line for expandable microspheres.
Increasing demand for the product -
an essential ingredient in many consumer
goods, industrial applications and the
construction industry - means the company will expand its Stockvik facility near
Sundsvall. Completion is expected by the
end of 2018.
“Expancel microspheres are used in
a number of important growth markets,
such as food packaging, paints and the au-
tomotive industry,” said Sylvia Winkel, di-
rector of Expancel at AkzoNobel. “We are
seeing a strong increase in demand for the
product and the expansion will ensure our
ability to serve our customers globally.”
Expancel consists of expandable, mi-
croscopic spheres comprising a thermo-
plastic shell encapsulating a gas. When
heated, they expand dramatically - up to
60 times in volume - making them ideal
for a variety of uses, such as insulation
in shoe soles or as filling material. The
number of applications for microspheres
is growing all the time, particularly for
products where weight is critical, such as
cars and wind turbines.
“We continuously develop new solutions to fulfil new and exciting customer
needs,” added Winkel. “For example, we
worked with key customers to introduce
microspheres to corks, allowing better
preservation of bottled wine. Another
niche growth market is the use of microspheres in porous ceramics, such as for
diesel particulate filters in trucks, which
lead to lower emissions.”
BASF Begins Production of
Palatinol DOTP Plasticizer
at Pasadena, Texas Facility
BASF started the production of
Palatinol DOTP (dioctyl terephthalate), a general purpose plasticizer, at its
Pasadena, Texas facility, with a nameplate capacity of 60,000 metric tons per
year. The plant enables BASF to respond
to the growing demand for non-ortho-phthalate plasticizers in North America,
and strengthens its position as a reliable
source for DOTP.
In addition, operations started at an
oxo alcohol unit for 2-EH (2-ethylhexa-
nol) at the Pasadena site, with a name-
plate capacity of 100,000 metric tons
per year. This secures consistent raw
material integration for Palatinol DOTP,
while also strengthening the reliabil-
ity of BASF’s 2-EHA (2-ethylhexyl acry-
late) production at the company’s site in
Freeport, Texas.
“The new capacities provide in-
creased potential for BASF in the
non-ortho-phthalate plasticizers mar-
ket,” said Heather Remley, Senior
Vice President, Petrochemicals North
America. “Production at our Pasadena
facility reinforces BASF as a valued sup-
plier and reliable partner for plasticizers
in North America.”
As part of its global production net-
work, BASF offers a broad portfolio of
plasticizers, including general-purpose
plasticizers, and specialty plasticiz-
ers, such as adipates, polymerics, and
trimellitates.
Manufacturers use plasticizers to
soften and increase the flexibility of rigid
PVC (polyvinylchloride). With Palatinol
DOTP, a terephthalate, in its portfolio,
BASF offers effective solutions to producers of vinyl film and sheet applications
for flooring, coated fabrics, and wire and
cable coatings.
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt,
Germany, Opens New
Application Laboratory in
Shanghai
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a
leading science and technology company, today opened its new application laboratory for the Performance
Materials business sector in Shanghai,
China. The expanded Technology
Application Network China (TANC)
underscores the company’s leading position in pigments and functional materials. It marks the continuation of a
20- year commitment of supplying materials and application technology services to China and Southeast Asia for
products that make people’s lives better
and more beautiful.
AkzoNobel Increases Capacity for Expandable
Microspheres to Meet Growing Demand
AkzoNobel will expand its Stockvik facility near Sundsvall, Sweden.
Completion is expected by the end of 2018.
