Capacity Expanding for Critical Polyol Component for Adhesive and Sealant Products
Specialty chemicals company Evonik is beginning to expand its POLYVEST® HT plant in Marl, Germany. The Coating & Adhesive Resins business line expects production capacity for its hydroxyl-terminated polybutadienes (HTPB) to be ready as early as the second quarter of 2024 following the double-digit million-euro investment. The line will be marketed under the brand name POLYVEST.
“By expanding our operations, we will continue to provide reliable service to our global customers,” said Dr. Stefan Pfaffenbach, head of the business line. “In a highly competitive market, we are strengthening our position as a cost and innovation leader.”
Evonik reports that the expansion comes 10 years after the start of production at the HTPB plant in Marl. Dr. Jürgen Herwig, head of the Polybutadienes and Specialty Acrylates product line, commented, “Dual-use products such as polybutadienes require a high degree of sensitivity and expertise when dealing with customers and authorities. So, when it comes to marketing this highly specialized product, we can rely on our colleagues’ experience and expertise to promote the additional capacities.”
Butadiene is produced directly at the Marl site and hydrogen peroxide is supplied by the Evonik Group, a backward-integrated production process. According to Evonik, this allows the company to take advantage of supply security for raw materials production for its HTPB production. Their Application Technology and Research & Development teams are also located at the Marl site, providing a seamless link from laboratory development and testing, through to production, reports Evonik.
POLYVEST HT is a liquid, hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene produced by free-radical polymerization. The polymer has a highly hydrophobic polybutadiene backbone and primary hydroxyl groups that are accessible for precise chemical modification. It is used as a polyol component in various adhesive and sealant applications. POLYVEST HT-A is intended for aerospace applications.
Source: Evonik