8
interview
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advantages for specific rigid packaging applications. “By today’s standards, a lithium ion battery for a
The key applications targeted by these grades include VW Golf would be as expensive as the vehicle itself.
thermoformed food trays, large bulk containers, food Modern production processes are needed to assure high
saving containers, and buckets and pails. quality and environmentally friendly manufacture and
“European rigid packaging converters are increasing to significantly reduce costs. To achieve these goals,
their reliance on innovative materials to sustain materials research experts are needed as much as
competitive advantage in these challenging market system developers,” noted Thomas Weber, md of BASF
conditions,” said Fabrice Digonnet, European rigid Future Business.
packaging market manager for Dow Europe. “These BASF has also just launched its first plastic
four INSPIRE grades can bring specific technical containing carbon nanotubules (CNT). Known as
options to the converters enabling them to adapt to Ultraform N2320 C, this is a polyoxymethylene
rapidly changing requirements from the value chain.” compound with special additives that give it a high level
In Germany, a battery consortium headed by BASF of electric conductivity and toughness. Bosch is to
Future Business has won E21m sponsorship from the use the material in a fuel filter housing for the Audi A4
German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). and A5.
This opens the way for development of new generations For its part Solvay, in a 70/30 joint venture with
of high-energy batteries for use in plug-in hybrid BASF known as SolVin, has successfully started up
automobiles and the electric powered vehicles of the new production capacity for DIOFAN polyvinylidene
future. chloride (PVDC) latex at its Tavaux plant in France.
“In research, we must make the decisive DIOFAN PVDC latex is a versatile, specialty
breakthrough with new battery materials as soon barrier material. Key applications include coatings
as possible. Only then can we make electromobility on high-value packaging films and papers where the
affordable and free it from its niche existence,” says integrity of the goods is critical, especially in the food
Andreas Kreimeyer, member of the board of executive and pharmaceutical industries. It also finds use as a
directors of BASF and research executive director. binder in the production of water-based paints with
The aim is to achieve two to five times more energy exceptional corrosion resistance and moisture barrier.
density compared to previous battery systems. This will The new production line boosts SolVin’s annual
ensure that plug-in hybrids and electrically powered PVDC capacity by approximately 20 000 t/y. Originally
vehicles can reach acceptable driving ranges. This targeted to start up in mid-2009, construction was
in turn means having to improve the cathode of the completed ahead of schedule and the first runs occurred
battery. BASF experts are developing a portfolio of in the last week of January. Initial samples from the new
innovative cathode materials, special metal oxides, line are available to customers for evaluation now.
that are produced by high-temperature synthesis. The new production line in Tavaux benefits from
These activities include the conceptual design of the the full upstream integration of raw materials and
materials, laboratory synthesis and scale-up (Fig. 1). from the expertise of the manufacturing staff who have
At present the materials still account for more than developed this operation to the global standard in terms
50 per cent of the cost of lithium ion batteries. of PVDC product quality and consistency. The new line
is physically separated from the other PVDC production
lines, providing important backup to current assets.
“The unique properties of polyvinylidene chloride
latex make it the preferred choice of the food and pharma
industry to match the highest barrier requirements,”
observed Vincenzo Morici, general manager of the
specialty polymers strategic business unit, Solvay. “With
this new production capacity SolVin is upholding its
commercial and technological leadership as well as its
global reputation of excellence for this class of products.
And it can continue serving its customers’ expansion,
while feeding Solvay’s strategy of sustainable and
profitable growth in the specialty polymers business.”
Resins and coatings
LyondellBassell has announced that its breakthrough
Hostalen advanced cascade process (Hostalen
ACP) is now available for license to third parties.
The technology’s enhanced multi-modality enables
Fig. 2. LyondellBasell produces 320 000 t/y of Hostalen ACP resins at the production of high-performance resins used in
its Plock facility in Poland. demanding film, blow moulding and pipe applications.
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