International chemical Wacker Chemie AG is expanding its plant for HDK pyrogenic silica in Burghausen, Germany to increase production capacities of hydrophobic silica specialties by 40%.
Wacker Executive Board member Auguste Willems said that the expansion project is part of the company’s strategy to “achieve further profitable growth through cost-effective expansions at existing plants and to increase the proportion of specialties in our total business.”
Hydrophobic or water-repellent specialty silicas are used in toner powders for printers. They enhance the stability of the end product, as well as its flow and charging properties.
Used in specialty adhesives and paints, these kinds of silicas permit optimum adjustment of rheological and mechanical properties.
WACKER produces HDK pyrogenic silica at Burghausen and Nünchritz in Germany and Zhangjiagang in China. The Munich-based chemical company is the world’s third-largest manufacturer in this sector.
Ultrapure powder-form amorphous silicon dioxide is used as a filler in silicone elastomers and as a rheology-control additive in paints, adhesives, unsaturated polyester resins and plastisols. It also serves as a flow aid in the cosmetics, pharmaceutical and food-processing industries.
Expansion work is set to start early next year with completion expected in the third quarter of 2017.The project’s capital expenditure is at EUR1.4 million.