Materials firm Braskem has received $50 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains.
The award was given under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Officials with Braskem in Philadelphia said Sept. 23 that the funding would expand the firm's ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) resin production in La Porte, Texas, specifically for the lithium-ion battery separator (LIBS) market.
Braskem sells UHMWPE under the Utec trade name. Officials added the expansion project would strengthen the lithium-ion battery value chain in the U.S. The project is expected to generate more than 250 jobs across engineering, procurement, construction and start-up phases.
"This award would not only accelerate our ability to meet the growing demands of our North American clients but also solidify our commitment to powering the electrification revolution with domestically produced, world-class UHMWPE," Braskem Americas CEO Mark Nikolich said in a news release.
He added the funding "would be a critical catalyst for the ongoing growth and success of our clients."
Officials said Utec UHMWPE has superior chemical stability, corrosion resistance, tensile strength, thermal stability and porosity, making it the ideal material for lightweight electric vehicle battery separators. The material helps improve battery charging efficiency and ultimately reducing carbon emissions, they added.
The Energy Department's Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) makes investments to support reshoring, skilling and scaling of U.S. manufacturing across energy supply chains.
MESC works on clean energy deployment through data-driven investments in manufacturing capacity and workforce development.
Braskem's announcement is part of a larger $3 billion initiative from the Department of Energy in support of battery materials extraction and processing, battery production and recycling. It is part of an effort to boost domestic production of advanced batteries.
Braskem is Brazil's largest petrochemicals firm and ranks as one of North America's largest suppliers of polypropylene resin. The firm employs more than 8,500 worldwide and posted sales of more than $14 billion in 2023.
Earlier this month, São Paulo-based Braskem opened a Renewable Innovation Center in Lexington, Mass. The 35,000-square-foot center will focus on innovation in renewable chemicals and sustainable materials.