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2006-03-24 News Headlines

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BASF to increase acrylic monomers and polymers production

BASF plans to increase its existing production capacities for acrylic acid and superabsorbent polymers in Antwerp and for butylacrylate in Ludwigshafen.

BASF cites major expansion of its European business as the reason for the extensions. "The decision came in response to existing as well as new long-term supplier agreements, in most cases with strategic customers. Contracts are already in place covering the greater part of the sales volume for the additional quantities," said Dr. Markus Kramer, head of the Functional Polymers division. "The aim of our business model and of the current investment program is to support customer growth and promote innovations."

BASF intends to use latest technology to improve its competitiveness and strengthen its global market leadership in this area.

The plans involve increasing the capacity of the existing SAP plant at the Antwerp site from the current figure of 115,000 metric tons to 175,000 metric tons annually. Capacity for the precursor acrylic acid will be extended as a result.

A second plant with a capacity of 160,000 metric tons is to be built to back the existing acrylic acid plant. The additional acrylic acid produced will be needed for SAP production in Antwerp and will supply additional volumes for Ludwigshafen as part of the European integrated production system: Plans to expand the capacity of the existing butylacrylate (BA) plant in Ludwigshafen will cause increased demand for the precursor, acrylic acid. The new capacities will be available by 2008 at the latest.

Steamcracker in Antwerp. Click go for larger image. Photo: BASF

Acrylic acid is the main precursor in the production of superabsorbent polymers, materials which absorb many times their own weight in liquid and are mainly used in diapers and other hygienic products. Other acrylic acid derivatives are pure acrylate dispersions of the kind used for binders in varnishes and paints, and acrylic acid ester, also known as acrylate. These monomeric building blocks are used to manufacture the polymer dispersions contained as a functional component in architectural coatings, glues, fiber binders, products for the construction chemicals industry and coatings for the paper industry.

BASF has invested 200 million Euro in expansion of cracker at the Verbund site in Antwerp. At, Belgium, BASF produces a wide variety of petrochemicals, inorganics, fertilizers, intermediates, specialty chemicals, styrene polymers, polyurethanes, superabsorbents and dispersions. The steam cracker provides the Verbund site with a stable supply of raw materials. The basic materials and products manufactured in Antwerp are further processed in BASF plants around the world.

They are shapeless, inconspicuous, often invisible, yet have now become an indispensable feature of everyday life: the functional polymers. In contrast to the structural polymers familiar to us as construction materials used to make things like toothbrushes, computer housings and automobile fenders, functional polymers are used as additives and process auxiliaries. A main characteristic of these polymers is their extreme efficiency: major effects can be achieved using even the smallest amounts; functional polymers thus behave like polymeric active ingredients.

In the research department solution polymers, functional polymers are developed for a wide range of applications such as scale inhibition, as detergent additives, for water treatment, in diapers, as process chemicals in the paper, leather and textile industries, in cosmetics and as mineral oil additives.

Functional polymers have now become essential in our daily lives and contribute significantly to our standard of living.

Read a recent BASF news release. 'BASF has appointed Joseph Keine, formerly with PPG Industries, as Sales Director for the Engineering Plastics business.'

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