Asahi Kasei Announces Construction Of New Plant For Polycarbonatediol In China

Asahi Kasei Chemicals has decided to construct a plant in China for Duranol™ polycarbonatediol (PCD), an intermediate for high-performance polyurethanes.

PCD is used to make high-performance polyurethanes with characteristics such as exceptional heat resistance and water resistance. Demand for PCD is growing throughout the world as the polyurethane market increasingly shifts toward higher-performance. A highly functional PCD developed by Asahi Kasei Chemicals, Duranol™ features greater compatibility than ordinary PCD and enables polyurethanes to be obtained with greater softness than is possible with ordinary PCD. Duranol™ has the leading share of the Asian PCD market for polyurethanes for synthetic leather in automotive interiors, polyurethane coatings, and UV-curable polyurethanes. Demand for highly functional PCD is forecasted to continue to grow briskly throughout Asia and especially in China as a major center for manufacturing automobiles and consumer electronics.

Asahi Kasei Chemicals currently produces Duranol™ at a plant in its Mizushima Works, Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan. The new plant in China will enable the company to meet demand growth with a stable supply infrastructure in Asia, reinforcing its position as a leading supplier of highly functional materials to manufacturers of high-performance polyurethanes, including Duranate™ HDI-based polyisocyanate.