5 Dec 2022
Project to expand global capacity for Zetpol-branded materials by 25%
Tokyo – Zeon Corp. is expanding its manufacturing facility in Pasadena, Texas to increase production capacity for hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR).
In a statement 30 Nov, the Japanese supplier said the expansion project will increase its global HNBR output by 25% and is set for completion at the beginning of 2025.
Zeon manufactures Zetpol-branded HNBR at production plants in Pasadena, and Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture, Japan.
The Japanese group last expanded HNBR capacity at its Texas plant in 2020 and at the Takaoka facility in 2022.
The speciality rubber is used in a variety of demanding application in oil & gas, automotive, and industrial applications.
The rubber is claimed to deliver a performance upgrade compared to traditional NBR rubber, providing improved heat and oil resistance and toughness.
It is also “a cost-effective option” for applications utilising fluorinated rubber, such as FKM, Zeon added.
According to Zeon, Zetpol rubber has been used for cathode binders in lithium-ion (Li-Ion; LIB) batteries since 2011.
The Tokyo group expects market demand for HNBR-based cathode binders to increase due to growing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs).
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