Zeon in tie-up to tap microwave power for elastomer production

Tokyo – Zeon Corp. has partnered up with Microwave Chemical to apply microwave processing as an economically feasible source of power for the manufacture of elastomers.

The technology involves a chemical process that produces heat based on the same principles as a microwave oven, and is used for the electrification of the industrial sector, Zeon announced 30 Aug.

According to Zeon, process electrification using renewable energy sources is required as a carbon neutrality initiative for the chemical industry.

However, without changing the conventional manufacturing process, electrificaiton is "not economically feasible".

As a result, the two Japanese companies have been conducting a proof of concept to develop a microwave-based process for the manufacture of elastomers.

The new technology, Zeon explained, can transfer energy directly to the target material, potentially ‘clearing the economic challenge’ while improving productivity.

The partners aim to conduct a demo project later this year by applying microwave technology to “a part of” an elastomer production process at Microwave Chemical’s Osaka, Japan plant.

The two also aim to “innovate” the manufacturing process, with the goal of “social implementation” by 2027, said the Zeon announcement.

The project is part of Zeon’s carbon neutrality masterplan which aims to cut carbon emissions from production (scope 1 and 2) by 50% by 2030, compared to the baseline of 2019.

Based in Osaka, Microwave Chemical has developed a microwave chemical technology which can be used in streamlining product manufacturing and chemical reaction processes.

The technology can also be used in developing new materials that are difficult to manufacture using conventional technologies, according to Zeon.