Chemical behemoth Solvay SA and Shanghai 3F New Material Company (SH3F), a Chinese high-technology chemicals firm, have joined up to produce high performance fluorinated polymers out of a new facility in Changsu, China.
In a statement the pair said the joint venture for the production of fluoromonomer TFE and PTFE polymers would be 80 percent held by SH3F and 20 percent by Solvay.
SH3F would contribute its TFE and PTFE production plant, while Solvay would contribute a cash payment and license its PTFE proprietary technology. SH3F will operate the joint venture's production plant.
The companies' statement went on to say the two firms would establish a long-term supply agreement of raw materials for production of fluorinated polymers. SH3F's Changshu plant will supply Solvay's Specialty Polymers adjacent production unit with the strategic raw materials 142b and HFP.
"These supplies will enable the Specialty Polymers business unit to produce a larger and richer fluoro-polymer product mix for use in markets such as automotive, photovoltaic, Li-ion batteries, membranes for water purification and oil & gas applications."
SH3F and Solvay's plants were currently under construction at the Changshu site; the TFE/PTFE production plant of the joint venture will be completed by the first quarter in 2014, while Solvay's new fluoropolymer production plant is expected to be completed in phases throughout 2015.