SABIC Now in Polyolefin Elastomer and Plastomer Market

Among several new materials and applications that SABIC, Houston, Texas, will be showcasing at the upcoming K2016 in October, will be its new metallocene-based polyolefin specialty elastomer and plastomer (POE/POP) copolymers; the result, of the formation of its 2015 joint venture with Korea’s SK Global Chemical. This makes SABIC the newest entrant in a business primarily aimed at plastic modification and film applications and dominated by less than a handful of players: Dow Chemical, Midland, Mich., with its Engage and Affinity grades; Houston-based ExxonMobil with its Exact and Vistamaxx resins; Singapore-based Mitsui Elastomers with its Tafmer products; and Korea’s LG Chem, with its new Lucene POE brand.

The 50-50 JV, SABIC SK Nexlene Company (SSNC) headquartered in Singapore entailed SABIC’ purchase of SK’s unique Nexlene solution technology and a 507-million-lb/yr plant that manufactures a range of high-performance ethylene/alphaolefin copolymer products in Ulsan, and for which expansion plans are planned. The plant is producing metallocene-based LDPE, POEs and POPs aimed at meeting increased demand from flexible packaging, industrial and agricultural film, automotive, consumer products, medical devices, and construction.

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For more on SABIC and mLLDPE, POEs and POPs, search PT’s materials database.