Lanxess expanding TMQ production at Brunsbüttel by a third

By Liz White, ERJ staff

Leverkusen-Lanxess is to raise capacity of its antidegradant TMQ (2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline, polymerised), at its world-scale facility in Brunsbüttel, Germany, the group announced 28 Feb. Lanxess, which markets the material globally as Vulkanox HS, said it is the world's leading TMQ producer.

Lanxess said it will expand capacity for the chemical in two steps. In the first phase, just completed, based on debottlenecking, the company has raised TMQ capacity to 20kt/yr from the existing 15kt/yr. A second phase, subject to approval by local authorities, will see capacity grow to 25kt, scheduled for completion in late 2006.

This rise in TMQ capacity is evidence of Lanxess' commitment to the future growth of its global customer base, and to the tyre industry, said Dr Rainier van Roessel, head of the Rubber Chemicals Business Unit, in Lanxess's announcement of the new capacity. It is also consistent with a previously announced value-oriented strategy in rubber chemicals, van Roessel added.

As an antidegradant, Vulkanox HS is used in conjunction with p-phenylenediamines (PPD) for heavily stressed technical goods and tyres, where it protects the products against oxidation and heat.

As well as the Brunsbüttel plant, Lanxess has two smaller TMQ plants in India and in South Africa, but the company said it intends to stop production in South Africa as Brunsbüttel expands.