Grace and Dow to Develop Next-Generation Catalysts for Polypropylene Production

W. R. Grace & Co. (NYSE: GRA) announced today that it has entered into an agreement with The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) to develop new catalysts for polypropylene production. The catalysts, which use one of Dow’s non-phthalate internal donor technologies and Grace proprietary catalyst expertise, will be sold by Grace under the HYAMPP™ brand.

HYAMPP™ catalysts are non-phthalate catalysts with industry-leading activity and performance benefits, and represent sixth-generation technology. They enable producers to make resins that improve the performance of plastics, including better clarity, stiffness and impact strength, providing a pathway to new applications requiring more demanding properties that cannot be met by current generation catalysts. Customers can use the resins in a broad range of applications such as films, high-performance pipe, automobile parts, household appliances and household containers. Grace expects to begin commercial production of the new catalysts in 2012.

“We are continuously looking for ways to better meet the needs of our customers and the end-users of their products,” said Tony Dondero, Vice President and General Manager of Grace’s Specialty Catalysts & Process Technologies product line. “This technology enables our customers to produce new and advanced polypropylene products, including stronger, clearer resins with improved processability while also improving plant productivity.”

“Dow is continuously strengthening our ability to bring enhanced technology to the polypropylene market,” said Tracy Cleckler, Global Commercial Director for Dow Licensing and Catalysts. “This agreement broadens Dow’s reach in the polypropylene industry and aids manufacturers in their quest to meet increasing global demand for premium, value-added polypropylene products.”

Grace has been a leading producer and supplier of advanced polyolefin catalysts for more than 50 years. The development and commercialization of these new catalysts is one of many ways in which Grace has grown its polypropylene catalyst capabilities. In 2011, Grace completed the expansion of its manufacturing facility in Worms, Germany to increase production of Ziegler-Natta polypropylene catalysts. In 2010, Grace acquired Synthetech, Inc. for additional single-site and polypropylene catalyst manufacturing and technology capability.

Source: Grace