JOLIET, ILL. — Amoco Corp. plans to expand its purified isophthalic acid unit at Joliet from annual capacity of 186 million tons to 400 million tons.
The Chicago firm said the additional capacity should be available in the first quarter of 1998. The chemical is used to make PET, unsaturated polyesters, other engineering polymers, ink, adhesives and coatings.
Amoco also is boosting production of metaxylene, a PIA feedstock, by building a 200 million-pound-per-year unit at its Texas City, Texas, plant. Production should begin in late 1998.
Amoco did not disclose how much it will spend on expansions.