DuPont reveals new technologies, expansion plans

DuPont unveiled new resin technology and several major expansion initiatives within its Engineering Polymer business unit at the recent pre-K press conference in Vienna, Austria.<br>
In the most notable business development for the North American market, DuPont said it will be starting up a new 13,700 tonne plant at Richmond, Virgina to produce high temperature Zytel HTN polyamide. The plant, which will more than double the company’s capacity for Zytel HTN, is scheduled to go into production later this year and will feature a first-of-its-kind continuous-flow production method. According to Nandan Rao, global technology director, DuPont, the new process has lower polymer residence time than conventional batch polymerization technology, resulting in a resin with higher purity. <br>
DuPont also announced a new patented Active Membrane technology that allows water vapor to pass through but keeps out liquids. Rao said the technology has many potential applications and is already commercial as a roof liner. As well, the company has developed a new class of engineering thermoplastic vulcanizates with high heat and oil resistance. The materials are being targeted especially for the automotive industry.<br>