The polybutylene terephtalate plant was built with a joint investment of E50m

The polybutylene terephtalate plant was built with a joint investment of E50m

Bayer and DuPont today opened their joint 80,000tpa polybutylene terephtalate plant in Germany. The new plant, costing E50m, is located at DuPont’s chemical park in Hamm-Uentrop. It is operated by DuBay Polymer, a joint-venture between the two companies.

Head of Bayer Polymers Dr Hagen Noerenberg said: “Neither of the two companies DuPont or Bayer, can make adequate use of such a plant immediately on their own, despite the favourable growth forecasts.”

In 2002 some 140,000 tonnes of the polymer were processed in Europe. The companies said global demand for PBT will grow in the next few years at a rate between 6% and 8%. The material was said to have a promising future in the automotive and electrical/electronic industries.

Both companies will use the resin in their PBT ranges – Crastin in the case of DuPont and Pocan in Bayer’s case. PBT has good heat and chemical resistance, high stiffness and is easy to process. It has excellent electrical insulating properties and is easily combined with other plastics.