October 7, 2004
Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corporation
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Agreement to license synthetic rubber technology
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Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corporation has concluded an agreement
to license its synthetic rubber production technology to
China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec). Sinopec
will construct a 100,000 ton/year plant using this technology
in the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park, with start-up scheduled
for 2006. This agreement is a milestone in a developing
and growing relationship between the two companies, who will
continue to explore further opportunities for commercial
collaboration.
The synthetic rubber production technology of Asahi Kasei Chemicals is based on a solution polymerization process for synthetic rubber licensed from Firestone Polymers, LLC (formerly Firestone Tire & Rubber Company). The start of operation using this process at Asahi Kasei's Kawasaki Works in 1964 marked Japan's first synthetic rubber production by solution polymerization. In the forty years since, Asahi Kasei developed a succession of technological modifications to the production process to obtain products with features ideally suited to the demands of specific applications. These include synthetic rubber recognized throughout the world for its exceptional performance as impact modifier for polystyrene (PS) used in home and office electronics housings, and as material for high-end tires.
As the home electronics and automotive industries in China continue their rapid growth, Sinopec has developed plans for a new solution-polymerized synthetic rubber plant to meet growing demand for synthetic rubber in PS impact-modifier and tire applications. The decision to license production technology from Asahi Kasei Chemicals was based on the outstanding reputation this technology has earned for production of synthetic rubber with exceptional performance in these fields.
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