SIBUR Start Production of New Rubbers

18 Jun 2009 • by Natalie Aster

Voronezhsintezkauchuk operating plant has finalized the investment project to transfer part of its polybutadiene rubber production to neodymium catalysts system technology (SKD-ND) as well as starting the production of soluble butadiene-styrene rubber (DSSK).

Modified technology will enable us to produce new types of rubber with improved durability, wear resistance and environmental impact parameters matching the best global standards. These rubbers will be basically used in tyre production of mid- and high price segments.

The overall butadiene rubber output at Voronezhsintezkauchuk will still total 160 kta with 70 thousand tons being produced under the new technology. In the future, should demand be favorable, the plant might completely transit to producing new rubbers.

Project investments comprised 800 mln RUR. Most technology solutions were implemented by the plant’s R&D centers. Energy costs shrank 5-7% as one of the project’s economic benefits.

At present, test rubber samples are being examined by potential customers. Based on testing results production units will be made fully operational.

“As the leading tyre manufacturers set up production sites in Russia, SIBUR aims to meet the growing demand in high quality rubbers”, SIBUR President Dmitry Konov said, “We are improving the profitability of our plants through comprehensive dealing with environmental, technology upgrade and operating cost reduction issues”.

DSSK - As opposed to emulsion polymerization rubber, divinyl styrene synthetic rubber (soluble polymerization) has better parameters allowing the production of tyres with improved grip capacity.

SKD-ND – As opposed to titanium catalysts rubber (SKD), divinyl neodymium catalysts rubber shows better parameters in regard to durability, wear resistance and environmental impact.

Source: Sibur