Basell selects Quebec plant to produce new polypropylene

Commercial production of Basell’s Oxypolypropylene will begin soon at the company’s facility in Varennes, QC. Oxypolypropylene is a new family of polyolefin products with active oxygenated groups.Basell is the world’s largest producer of polypropylene. The company also produces polyethylene and other advanced polyolefins. It has manufacturing operations in 18 countries. In Canada, Basell also manufactures at Sarnia, ON, and has a sales office in Mississauga, ON.According to Basell, Oxypolypropylene can be used to enhance the processability and productivity of a range of plastic and composite materials.Innovation poject leader Tony DeNicola explains that the new resins have a combination of features."These include polarity for improved surface wetting of pigments, flame retardants and other additives; functional groups for improved coupling in filled and reinforced compounds; heat-activated reactive groups for polymer modification; and compatibility with a broad range of engineering polymers."Oxypolypropylenes are manufactured via a proprietary radiation process with bonds a low percentage of oxygen, in the form of peroxide groups, to the polymer chains.