Mitsui trials metallocene polypropylene

14 July 1997 00:00  [Source: ICB]

Mitsui Petrochemical has begun trial production of metallocene polypropylene.

The polymer is being produced at the pilot plant-scale by Grand Polymer, a joint venture between Mitsui Petrochemical and Ube Industries, at its Iwakuni site in Japan. The polypropylene is produced using a zirconium-based metal complex with a metallocene structure combined with a ligand.

Mitsui and Sumitomo Chemical established a jv, Evolue Japan, at the end of last year to produce metallocene catalyst-based linear low density polyethylene (lldPE). The jv will own and operate a 200 000 tonne/year lldPE plant at Mitsui Petrochemical's Chiba Works in Ichihara, Japan. The plant is due to go into commercial operation in spring 1998, employing gas-phase process technology developed by Mitsui.

Mitsui Petrochemical is also preparing to commercialise other metallocene-based polymers including ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM) and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA).

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