Page 152 - CW E-Magazine (9-4-2024)

News from Abroad

CUSTOMISABLE PROPERTIES
Covestro opens new polycarbonate copolymers

plant in Antwerp

German polymer firm, Covestro,
has inaugurated its first plant for poly-
carbonate copolymers at its Antwerp
site in Belgium.

The plant is based on a new platform
technology, developed by Covestro,
that deploys a solvent-free melt pro-
cess in combination with a new reactor
concept. This makes polycarbonates
with adjustable properties, which have
been developed and tested on a labo-
ratory and pilot scale in recent years,
accessible. The company said it invested
a “mid double-digit million euro” sum
on the pilot and production plant.

In addition to the reduced complexity
of the new process, the connection to
the existing infrastructure in Antwerp search and process technology teams, ness unit. “These can range from im-
with four production lines for polycar- as well as our long-term experience proved mechanical properties, a higher
bonate also has an advantageous effect, with polycarbonates,” said Ms. Sucheta resistance against chemical attack, to an
as it combines global scale in produc- Govil, Chief Commercial Officer at enhanced flame retardancy. By that, we
tion with the flexibility of a stand-alone Covestro. can offer innovative materials that meet
unit, the company informed. the high requirements of our custo-
“Compared to pure polycarbonates, mers in a wider range of applications.
“With the new plant, we can now the copolymers open up new possibili- We will focus first on materials for the
produce and launch new polymer mate- ties for us to integrate further function- electrical, electronics and healthcare
rials on an industrial scale much faster alities and properties into our materi- industries, while future innovations might
than before. This is the result of several als,” explained Ms. Lily Wang, Global focus on mobility and other trends,”
years of development work by our re- Head of the Engineering Plastics busi- she added.

Ineos completes acquisition of TotalEnergies’

petrochemical assets in Southern France

UK’s chemicals major, Ineos, has year. These businesses, located at Ineos will now fully integrate the
announced the completion of the ac- Lavera in Southern France, have until Naphthachimie, Gexaro and Appryl
quisition of TotalEnergies’ 50% share today been 50:50 joint ventures bet- petrochemical businesses, assets and
of Naphtachimie (720-ktpa steam ween the two companies. A number infrastructure into Ineos Olefins &
cracker), Appryl (300-ktpa polypro- of other infrastructure assets have Polymers South at Lavera in Southern
pylene business), Gexaro (270-ktpa also been acquired, including part of France. Gexaro, which is located on the
aromatics business) and 3TC1 (naphtha TotalEnergies ethylene pipeline network Lavera refinery site, will continue to be
storage) announced in July last in France. operated by Petroineos.

152 Chemical Weekly April 9, 2024

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