Wacker, Dow Corning start up China silicone plants

14 November 2008 10:33  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS news)--Wacker Chemie and Dow Corning have started production at their joint pyrogenic silica and siloxane plants at Zhangjiagang in China eastern Jiangsu province, the companies said in a joint statement on Friday.

 

The plants have a combined capacity of 200,000 tonnes/year and were expected to be operating at maximum rates by the end of 2010.

 

The project is part of an integrated $1.2bn (€947m) silicone manufacturing site developed by both companies to supply industries including construction, beauty and personal care, power and automotives.

 

“Throughout China and many other parts of Asia, we see more and more manufacturers wanting to use silicones to help them improve the performance of their own products,” said Dow Corning CEO Stephanie Burns.

 

When finished, the siloxane plant would supply chlorosilane for the production of pyrogenic silica as a raw material, while the pyrogenic silica plant would send back its by-product hydrogen chloride for the production of siloxane.

 

The companies said the integrated production helped reduce emissions and reduced transportation traffic.

 

($1 = €0.79)

 

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By: Mark Watts
+44 20 8652 3214

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