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| February 23, 2000 |
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| Japan Polychem succeeds in the first commercial
scale test run of metallocene-based polypropylene random copolymers of very low
melting point |
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| Japan Polychem Corp |
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Japan Polychem Corp. (JPC, Tokyo, Japan) has announced that it had succeeded in
the first commercial scale test run of polypropylene random copolymer (RCP) of
very low melting point (VLM) using its proprietary metallocene catalyst technology.
"Our metallocene-based RCP (mPCP) is not only superior in its strength and transparency,"
says Mr. Shouzou Hattori, Director, R&D Dept., "but has very low melting point
at 125 C (257 F), which has never achieved at the commercial scale production."
"VLM mRCP is suitable for heat sealable films which can be sealed at the temperature
ten degrees lower than the commercially available materials and that should provide
the fabricators with the much higher packaging efficiency" says Mr. Hiroki Sato,
R&D Dept.. VLM mRCP is targeted by the PP manufacturers as one of the next
generation PP materials, since it is also expected to explore the new applications
such as food packaging using its superior thermal resistance, lower odor level,
and so on.
This type of RCP is quite difficult to manufacture with the conventional Ziegler-Natta
type catalysts or any commercially used metallocene catalysts. Using its proprietary
catalyst system and pilot facilities, JPC has developed the production technology
and succeeded at the first test run in the bulk process commercial facility in
its Kawasaki plant. "We have literally dropped-in the new catalyst to the existing
line," Mr. Sato emphasizes. "No process modification was needed and the operation
was quite stable during the one-week test run just replacing the catalyst." Engineers
of JPC have established all process technologies such as polymer particle properties
control to avoid the fouling, which is essential for the commercial production.
The metallocene catalyst, which JPC has applied, is based on the technology found
by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC, Tokyo, Japan), one of the two share holders
of JPC. "This unique catalyst system is characterized by the patented metallocene
complexes and chemically treated clay minerals as the support-activator," says
Mr. Makoto Sugawara, R&D Dept.. "It is capable to produce a wide variety of
products and can be used in various process conditions including slurry and gas
phase." MCC and JPC have received several requests for license since the publication
of technology last year.
The products of test run have already been tested in JPC and will be evaluated
by the selected customers for the heat sealable film application and others. JPC
plans to commercialize mRCP by the end of the year when the material development
including several new applications is completed.
JPC has already started the commercial production of mVLDPE in its high pressure
line in Mizushima plant in 1998. The company is also preparing the commercialization
of mLLDPE using the same catalyst technology with mRCP. Furthermore, MCC and JPC
are developing the metallocene catalyst for PP block copolymer (mICP). JPC is
going to promote the overall metallocene-based polyolefins technology development
to accelerate the business expansion along its mid-term plan.
| For further information, please contact |
| R&D Dept., Japan Polychem Corporation. |
| Tel: [+81] 3-3287-8015 |
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