Bidding - the International Association of the Catalysis Societies

6) Highlights in Industrial Innovation
1) LG Chem marks an epoch in the Non-phosgene Polycarbonate Process
LG Chem, Ltd., the largest chemical company in Korea, has independently developed a
new Non-phosgene Polycarbonate Process using its own technology. With the
development of this new ‘Condensed Non-phosgene Polycarbonate Process’, LG Chem
has marked an epoch in the non-phosgene polycarbonate process.
Polycarbonate is an engineering plastic widely used in optical discs (CDs and DVDs),
automotive and electrical applications, housing components, industrial equipments and
computers. This diversity in usage comes from its unique properties of high strength,
heat resistance and excellent dimensional and color stability.
The non-phosgene polycarbonate process is known to be an environmentally friendly
method compared to the conventional interfacial polycarbonate preparation process,
which uses phosgene gas. This phosgene-free process lowers the production cost by
eliminating the need for extra care of the phosgene gas.
"Compared with the conventional phosgene process, the newly developed process is
likely to reduce investment costs by 70%. For instance, the investment for a plant with a
capacity of 60,000 metric ton per year can be significantly reduced to less than USD
100 million from USD 250 million," said Jong-Kee Yeo, the CTO and president of LG
Chem. There is also the added benefit of lower production costs by reducing the plant
operating cost.
Only a few companies, worldwide, have succeeded in developing the environmentally
friendly non-phosgene polycarbonate process. LG Chem’s Condensed Non-phosgene
Polycarbonate Process has been taken a step further by solving the problems of product
quality and long production time that other non-phosgene polycarbonate processes have.
The Condensed Non-phosgene Polycarbonate Process is a result of perseverance and
countless hours invested in its development since 1997. In addition, it is the outcome of
LG Chem’s decade-long effort to develop environment-friendly processes along with
the Non-phosgene MDI (Methylene Diphenyl Diiocyanate) process developed in 1995.
The economics of LG’s MDI process has been evaluated by SRI International (REP
Review 94-1-2)
The Condensed Non-phosgene Polycarbonate Process is currently patent pending in 9
countries such as the U.S., Japan and Germany.
LG Chem is likely to see great benefit by exporting its highly advanced non-phosgene
MDI technology as well as its newly developed non-phosgene polycarbonate
technology.
Furthermore, the company said that it would also consider of forming a joint venture
with a foreign partner to pave the way towards overseas expansion.
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