ExxonMobil Chemical to roll out improved butyl rubber process

Chemical News: ExxonMobil Chemical to roll out improved butyl rubber process

https://www.chemnet.com Aug 02,2007 PRW.com
1 August 2007 - ExxonMobil Chemical has begun commercial production of butyl rubber by a new “breakthrough” technology at its Notre dame de Gravenchon (NDG) plant in France. The company says the process will enable it to expand capacity from its existing butyl rubber plants as well as improve production efficiency.

The system has been under development by the US group, world number one in the synthetic rubber, for several years in a multi-million dollar programme. According to Art Sullivan, global butyl polymers vice president at the group, “this is possibly the biggest breakthrough in butyl process technology since the invention of halobutyl.”

The NDG plant was the location for a two-year evaluation of the process which demonstrated stable plant operation, higher production levels from existing reactors and refrigeration compressors and equivalent performance and properties.

Now, ExxonMobil Chemical aims to implement the new technology at its other butyl rubber sites; although it has not firmed up the plans, the overall increment to be achieved would be the equivalent to that of a new world scale plant, it says.

The company, which recently announced the development of its Exxpro tyre inner liner materials, has not given any details of its breakthrough in butyl manufacture.
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