BASF a step closer to building the world's largest PolyTHF/THF plant

10-Sep-2002

BASF today announced that the Shanghai Administration for Industry & Commerce (a Chinese government agency) has issued a business license enabling BASF Chemicals Company Limited (BACH) to be established. BACH will build the world's largest integrated production facility for polytetrahydrofuran (PolyTHF®) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) in the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park in Caojing/Shanghai, China.

BACH - a wholly owned subsidiary of BASF - will cater to the emerging customer needs for PolyTHF/THF in China and the Asia Pacific region with an annual capacity of 60,000 metric tons of PolyTHF and 80,000 metric tons of THF. The worldwide demand for PolyTHF in 2002 is estimated to be over 200,000 metric tons, with the market expected to grow annually by between five and ten percent. The integrated production facility is scheduled to come on stream in 2004.

The plants will utilize BASF's newly developed proprietary technology to convert butane directly to THF and subsequently to PolyTHF. This innovative technology, which eliminates the intermediate step of producing 1,4-butanediol (BDO), makes manufacturing more efficient and ensures BASF's cost leadership. BASF announced its plan to build this production facility in April 2002.

PolyTHFâ is an important component in the manufacture of elastic fibers, which are widely used for textile applications like sportswear, inner and outer wear. PolyTHFâ is also important as an intermediate for thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) used for hoses, films and cable sheathing. Further applications are thermoplastic polyetheresters or polyetheramides and cast elastomers, which are used, for example in the manufacturing of wheels for skateboards and inline skates.

https://www.chemeurope.com/en/news/13947/basf-a-step-closer-to-building-the-world-s-largest-polythf-thf-plant.html