Sep 10 2002
BASF have just received a business licence from the Shanghai Administration for Industry and Commerce, a government agency. The licence allows them to establish BASF Chemicals Company Ltd (BACH).
BACH intends to build the world’s largest polytetrehydrofuran (PolyTHF) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) production facility in the world. The Shanghai Chemical Industry Park in Shanghai, China has been chosen site for BASF’s bold project. The plant will have a production capacity of 60,000 tons of PolyTHF and 80,000 tons of THF annually and is expected to be operational by 2004.
BACH is a wholly owned subsidiary of BASF being constructed to cater for the emerging Chinese and Asian Pacific market. The worldwide market for these materials is currently estimated to be 200,000 tons per year, and growing at a rate of between 5 and 10%.
PolyTHF is used in the manufacture of elastic fibres, commonly used in textile applications, as well as for an intermediate in the production of thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU). PolyTHF also has a host of other uses, whilst THF is used as a specialty solvent.
The proposed plant will also utilise BASF’s newly developed proprietary process which is more efficient than other currently available technologies.
For more information on polyurethanes,click here.