Dow Chemical Company Discontinues QUESTRA Crystalline Polymers at Schkopau, Germany

14-Dec-2004

The Dow Chemical Company is discontinuing its line of QUESTRA crystalline polymers. The people and assets related to the production of the engineering resin will be redeployed, and Dow will work with customers to assist them in their transition to alternative materials.

Introduced in 1997, the syndiotactic polystyrene's high heat and moisture resistance characteristics made QUESTRA polymers an innovative new resin option for the automotive, electrical and electronic markets. QUESTRA polymers, because of their combination of low material cost and excellent properties, were able to compete with most crystalline materials ranging from PBT to high temperature nylons and LCPs.

"QUESTRA polymers found success in a number of niche applications, but didn't experience the broad market penetration that was anticipated," said Scott Moore, product manager with Dow's plastics business. "Based on this narrow market position, Dow determined that the product did not provide the best possible strategic fit for future value growth."

Moore reports Dow's 36,000 MT facility for QUESTRA polymers at the Schkopau site of Dow Olefinverbund GmbH, formerly known as Buna Sow Leuna Olefinverbund GmbH (BSL), will be idled in mid-2005 until it can be transitioned to a new production use.

According to Moore, Dow stopped promoting the sales of QUESTRA polymers in mid-November, except for amounts agreed to with customers to assist them in their transition to other materials. Remaining production intended to support this transition plan will be completed by the middle of 2005.

https://www.chemeurope.com/en/news/41657/dow-chemical-company-discontinues-questra-crystalline-polymers-at-schkopau-germany.html