BASF increases capacities for acrylic monomers and superabsorbents to meet growing demand
Extensions planned at Antwerp and Ludwigshafen sites
BASF intends to use latest technology to improve its competitiveness and strengthen its global market leadership in this area.
The plans involve increasing the capacity of the existing SAP plant at the Antwerp site from the current figure of 115,000 metric tons to 175,000 metric tons annually. Capacity for the precursor acrylic acid will be extended as a result. A second plant with a capacity of 160,000 metric tons is to be built to back the existing acrylic acid plant. The additional acrylic acid produced will be needed for SAP production in Antwerp and will supply additional volumes for Ludwigshafen as part of the European integrated production system: Plans to expand the capacity of the existing butylacrylate plant in Ludwigshafen will cause increased demand for the precursor, acrylic acid. The new capacities will be available by 2008 at the latest.
Acrylic acid is the main precursor in the production of superabsorbent polymers. Other acrylic acid derivatives are pure acrylate dispersions of the kind used for binders in varnishes and paints, and acrylic acid ester. These monomeric building blocks are used to manufacture the polymer dispersions contained as a functional component in architectural coatings, glues, fiber binders, products for the construction chemicals industry and coatings for the paper industry.
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