Page 167 - CW E-Magazine (19-9-2023)

News from Abroad

CATERING TO SEMICONDUCTORS

Sumitomo Chemical to begin mass production of

ultra-fine alumina using new process technology

Japan’s Sumitomo Chemical has less. In comparison to its products
achieved success in pioneering a new with relatively large particle sizes,
production technology for ultra-fine this is approximately one two-hun-
α-alumina. The company is set to start dredth of the size of the company’s
mass production from September this products having relatively large
year with its recently established manu- particle sizes.
facturing capabilities at its Ehime
Works in Japan. With ultra-fine particles and easy to
aluminium hydroxide at high tem- sinter characteristics, the new grades
Collaborating with its customers, peratures, and with purity levels of are expected to be used as polishing
the company will create new markets 99.99% or more are called ultra-high agents for next-generation semicon-
in the ICT, energy-saving and life purity alumina. The new products to ductors, as well as in such cutting-edge
science fields through technological be mass-produced are marketed as areas as components for semiconduc-
innovations in inorganic materials. ‘NXA Series’ products, which are tor manufacturing equipment requiring
In FY2025, the company seeks to ultra-fine grade of α-alumina pro- high strength and chemical resistance
achieve a 30% increase in sales rev- ducts mainly used in industrial pro- and in new fields requiring both high
enue in its ultra-high purity alumina ducts. They are characterised by homo- strength and aesthetic qualities, such
business compared to FY2023. Alu- geneous ultra-fine particles with a as artificial joints and dental products
mina materials made by calcining particle size of 150-nm (0.15-μm) or in the life sciences field.

SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION
Chinese propylene oxide facility based on Evonik-

Uhde technology begins operations

Chinese chemicals firm, Qixiang The reduced environmental im-
Tengda has begun operations at its new pact of this setup is particularly rele-
propylene oxide (PO) complex in Zibo vant as global demand for PO is
City, China, using technology from growing steadily. The chemical is
Evonik and Thyssenkrupp Uhde. needed to manufacture a wide range
of daily-use products, ranging from
With the capacity to produce 300-ktpa thermal insulation to furniture cushio-
of PO, the complex involves two main ning and sports equipment. With its
plants – a world-scale HPPO (hydrogen production capacity of 300-ktpa, the
peroxide to PO) facility to synthesise new Qixiang Tengda facility aims to
PO directly from hydrogen peroxide HPPO process, PO can be synthe- serve China’s strong market demand
using a method licensed from Evonik sised directly from hydrogen peroxide for PO.
and Thyssenkrupp Uhde. The other is without generating any co-products
a new hydrogen peroxide mega-plant other than water. Through a combina- Design and construction of the
licensed from Evonik to provide the tion of streamlined chemical process Qixiang Tengda facility began in the
raw material directly on-site. Evonik is and high-performance catalyst, HPPO second half 2019 after the three part-
also supplying its catalyst specifically slashes energy and resource use, saves ners signed licensing and supply agree-
designed for the process. emissions, reduces costs, and avoids ments. Similar Evonik licensing pro-
unwanted co-products compared to jects are also in preparation or further
According to Evonik, through the conventional PO production. advanced in implementation.

Chemical Weekly September 19, 2023 167

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