A WIDE range of elastomers, like butyl rubber, nitrile rubber, EPDM and isoprene, has been targeted for growth in China’s 12th five-year plan for the materials industry in a document published by the government. China is aiming to meet at least 70% of domestic demand for key elastomeric materials by 2015.
To realise this aim is to increase production capacity and speed up technical development in these materials. Likewise, production of acrylic rubber , halogenated butyl rubber, hydrogenated nitrile rubber, chloroprene rubber, cold high-end styrene elastomer, and resistant to high temperature silicone rubber must be augmented.
The country is also aiming to develop its own solution-SBR technology to further the development of “green’”tyres, since China lags far behind world manufacturing practices in terms of consumption of SSBR. A significant factor is the cost of imported SSBR.
Emphasis is being placed on existing producers of styrenic block co-polymers, which already use a solution process and styrene and butadiene monomers. In particular , Baling Petrochemical has made tonne quantities of a trial SSBR claimed to be equivalent to imported grades.(PRA)
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