Polyamide-Compounding -EV Battery 27-03-2023 - Arhive
Polyamide-Compounding -EV Battery
Petrochemicals – R-Polyester – PET
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-Domo Breaks Ground on Polyamide Compounding Plant in China
Located in a future “Hydrogen Valley” near Shanghai, the new facility will serve the electronics, automotive, and new energy industries, among others.
Domo Chemicals, a leading manufacturer of engineering plastics, has broken ground for its new polyamide (PA) compounding plant in Haiyan, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China. The new plant will produce Technyl PA grades and is expected to be in full operation by the end of the first quarter of 2024. It represents a significant investment of around $15 million by Domo Chemicals and covers a total site area of 40,000 square meters.
The ceremony took place on March 15. Key company officials taking part in the groundbreaking included Domo CEO Yves Bonte, General Manager Asia Fabrizio Cochi, Secretary of Party Working Committee of Haiyan Economic Development Zone Zhang Jian Feng, Deputy Magistrate of Haiyan County People’s Government Zhuang Jia Yu, as well as other government officials and the General Consul of Belgium in Shanghai, Bruno Jans.
Domo Chemicals has been active in China since 2016 with a PA compounding plant in Jiaxing, based on virgin and sustainable solutions. Polyamide-Compounding -EV Battery
The new plant will gradually be expanded to reach a total capacity of 50,000 tonnes/year and will be equipped with the latest technology and equipment to meet customer needs, while also contributing to Domo’s innovation and sustainability ambitions. It will play a key role in Domo Chemicals’ strategy to expand its presence in the Asian market.
The new plant is strategically located in the economic development zone of Haiyan in Zhejiang Province, south of Shanghai. Along with Domo Chemicals, the development zone will be home to leading manufacturing industries covering electronics, new energy, new materials, and high-end equipment.
In addition, the sub-district will intensify efforts to become a high-level manufacturing base and future “Hydrogen Valley.” Polyamide-Compounding -EV Battery
-Solvay introduces new polymer for high-heat EV battery module insulation
Solvay, a global market leader in specialty materials, has announced the introduction of a new high-heat and flame retardant grade in the company’s Xydar® liquid crystal polymers (LCP) portfolio, which is designed to meet critical safety demands in EV battery components. The new Xydar® LCP G-330 HH material addresses challenging thermal and insulation requirements and is targeted particularly at battery module plates of EV models operating with higher voltage systems.
“As automakers are moving from 400V to 800V on next-generation electric vehicles, new regulations in Europe, China, the United States and other countries are increasing the demand on battery components to withstand temperatures from 300°C to 1000°C for an extended window of up to 15 minutes,” states Brian Baleno, Head of Marketing, Transportation at Solvay Materials. Polyamide-Compounding -EV Battery
“Appropriate materials are expected to retain a level of electrical insulation protection that will provide sufficient time for passengers to exit the vehicle in a thermal runaway event. Our new Xydar® LCP grade combines this high safety potential with exceptional processability.”
Xydar® LCP G-330 HH is a glass-filled LCP for injection molding capable of retaining its electrical insulation upon exposure to 400°C for 30 minutes. Xydar® LCP is an inherently flame retardant polymer, without the use of halogen or bromine additives. In addition, it offers exceptional flowability and helps battery designers achieve thinner parts than possible with incumbent battery module insulation materials, such as polycarbonates or aerogels. It has been successfully tested with plates molded in typical dimensions of 100 x 150 x 0.5 mm.
Xydar® LCP has a proven fit in many electrical and electronic as well as coating applications. Besides automotive lighting components, sensors, solenoids and connectors, advanced examples in e-mobility include thin-wall slot liners used in the rotor design of an electric drive traction motor. Polyamide-Compounding -EV Battery
Xydar® LCP G-330 HH extends the portfolio of Solvay’s battery solutions, which also includes Solef® PVDF for binders and separators, Ryton® PPS for coolant line connectors and vents, and Amodel® PPA for connectors and busbars.
-Northwest Europe ammonia-to-hydrogen production costs drop below €5/kg
The ICIS Northwest Europe ammonia-to-hydrogen assessment fell back below the €5/kg mark for the first time in almost two years during week 12 as ammonia pricing slid further down in value.
The ammonia-to-hydrogen northwest Europe assessment fell by another €0.23/kg week-on-week to €4.80/kg on 23 March, the first time the assessment has been below €5/kg since the latter part of June 2021.
Natural gas-based hydrogen production methods also posted losses in their value. However, with the key TTF hub largely steady during the week, losses were limited and not as pronounced as those on the ammonia-to-hydrogen assessment.
Both front-month based unabated steam methane reforming (SMR) and low carbon autothermal reforming (ATR) hydrogen production held discounts of €1.09-€1.40/kg below imported ammonia-for-hydrogen. Polyamide-Compounding -EV Battery
AMMONIA MARKET
Global demand for ammonia has remained subdued, with no shortage of the product in northwest Europe and weak demand for finished products.
Weaker gas hub prices have seen ammonia production continue to increase after dropping during the high hub price, limiting requirements for imports and lending itself to a loose market.
However, demand expectations could potentially return in Turkey, where enquiries for product have been heard as a result of the low prices. Polyamide-Compounding -EV Battery
GAS MARKET
The ICIS Dutch TTF April ’23 contract was largely rangebound during the week, hovering around the €43/MWh mark with prompt prices on the NBP finding support at 100p/therm.
-DOE and Stellantis launch Battery Workforce Challenge
The US Department of Energy (DOE) and Stellantis launched of the Battery Workforce Challenge, which includes a three-year collegiate engineering competition; vocational training; youth education in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM); and career and technical education.
Managed by Argonne National Laboratory for DOE and co-sponsored by Stellantis, this government and industry partnership will build the next generation of engineers, technicians and workers to address the demand for a domestic electric-vehicle/battery workforce. Polyamide-Compounding -EV Battery
Kicking off in fall 2023, the Battery Workforce Challenge includes an advanced battery design and development student competition series that invites universities and vocational schools from across North America to design, build, test and integrate an advanced electric-vehicle battery into a future Stellantis vehicle.
Teams will follow real-world industry milestones focused on battery design, simulation, controls development, testing, and vehicle integration and demonstration. Participants will also learn valuable project management, communications, teamwork and problem-solving skills that will provide unparalleled educational experience and ready them for future careers throughout the battery industry.
Additional workforce and education initiatives will complement the challenge, including a national Career-Connected Learning Management System to provide flexible, accessible, and equitable training for learners across the education pipeline, as well as high school graduates and transitional workers, to connect participants to top jobs from the nation’s leading automotive and battery employers. Polyamide-Compounding -EV Battery
-The PVC spot market in Asia is under pressure from high supply
In Southeast Asia’s PVC spot market, market players continued to replenish inventories this week, but the market is under pressure from high supply, ACCORDING TO ICIS.
Supply remains stable, with producers individually lowering their prices to encourage purchases. Polyamide-Compounding -EV Battery
Prices of ethylene-based PVC were USD795-800 per ton, FOB China this week, which is lower compared to the price range on March 17.
Prices of acetylene-based PVC were USD790 per tonne of FOB China, which was also lower compared to the price range on March 17.
Earlier it was reported that the Indian Adani Group is suspending work on its project to build a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) production facility worth 349 billion Indian rupees (USD4.2 billion) in Mundra in the western state of Gujarat.
The Group has requested its sellers and suppliers to suspend all activities and the fulfilment of all obligations under the 2 million tonnes of PVC production project per year until further notice. Polyamide-Compounding -EV Battery
-Symphony brings £82m claim over EU oxo-degradable plastics ban
A legal challenge brought by Symphony Environmental Technologies over the ban of oxo-degradable plastics under the Single-use Plastics Directive has been heard at the General Court of the EU in Luxembourg.
Article 5 of the Directive, enacted in 2019, directs member states to prohibit products made from oxo-degradable plastic. Polyamide-Compounding -EV Battery
Lawyers representing Symphony, which manufactures an oxo-biodegradable plastic product called d2w, said Article 5 was error-ridden and “unlawfully breaches the principle of proportionality”.
Symphony said a claim for compensation could reach £82m from loss of profits, reputational damage and loss of company value.
The case was heard on 20 March, with Symphony represented by Josh Holmes KC and Jack Williams from EU law specialist Monckton Chambers.
