Evonik starts up first fumed silica plant in China

Zhenjiang, China – Evonik Industries AG and joint venture partner Wynca have officially started up a new fumed silica plant in Zhenjiang, in the eastern Chinese province of Jiangsu. 

Operated by Evonik Wynca (Zhenjian) Silicon Material Co., the plant is Evonik’s first fumed silica production site in China, Evonik announced 14 Oct. 

Evonik started construction on the ‘mid-double-digit million euro’ plant in late 2019.

At the time, the German chemicals supplier said the facility would produce 9 kilotonnes per annum of Aerosil-branded silica, to meet growing demand for silicones, coatings, paints, adhesives and gel batteries in China.

The joint venture will combine Evonik's production technology with Wynca's local silicone industry value chain.

“This integrated production loop is expected to make full use of by-products from each side," Evonik said in a statement.

The facility will use chlorosilanes from Wynca’s Zhenjiang site, while supplying hydrochloric acid by-product as a raw material to the Chinese partner’s operation. 

The goal, it added, is to “achieve perfect resource recycling and synergies among organic silicon monomer, chlorosilane and fumed silica production.”

China is currently undergoing an overall industrial transformation and upgrade, according to Dr Claas Klasen, president of Evonik’s Asia Pacific North region.

The German company, he went on to say, can see significant market opportunities in the ongoing changes in China.

Fumed silica is a nanomaterial with an annual market growth above GDP on a global basis, according to Evonik.