BEIJING - After
a new round of project expansion and investment in
China's organic silicon industry in recent years,
China is set to become a net exporter of silicone
in 2010.
China Chemical News reported that
China is expected to boast a newly-increased
production capacity of 1.25 million tons of
silicone in 2010. At present, Dow Corning of the
US and Germany's Wacker Chemical are building a
450,000-ton silicone project in Zhangjiagang city
in east China's Jiangsu province, with
the project slated for completion in 2006.
Several other silicone projects are
underway around the country. Jiangxi Xinghuo
Chemical Works in east China has completed the
preparation work for a new silicone project with
an annual
production
capacity of 100,000 tons. In the northeast, Jilin
Chemical Industry Co Ltd will expand its annual
silicone production to 150,000 tons from 50,000
tons at present. Xinan Chemical Group in east
China's Zhejiang province is
undertaking preparatory work for a silicone
project with an annual production capacity of
100,000 tons.
Silicones, properly known as
polysiloxanes, are inorganic polymers consisting
of a repeating silicon-oxygen backbone with side
groups attached to the silicon atoms. Certain
organic (carbon-containing) side groups can be
used to link two or more of these backbones
together. By varying the chain lengths, side
groups, and crosslinking, silicones can be
synthesized into a wide variety of materials.
These can vary in consistency from liquid to gel
to rubber to hard plastic.
Generally,
silicones are odorless, colorless, water
resistant, chemical resistant, oxidation
resistant, stable at high temperature, and do not
conduct electricity. They have many uses, such as
lubricants, adhesives, sealants, gaskets, breast
implants, pressure compensating diaphragms for
drip irrigation emitters, dishware, and Silly
Putty. Due to their thermal stability and
relatively high melting and boiling points,
silicones are often used where organic polymers
are not applicable. Their unreactivity generally
makes them non-toxic, the controversy over
silicone breast implants notwithstanding.
Over the past five years, China's
consumption of silicone has grown by 25% annually,
with consumption forecast to reach 0.5 million
tons in 2005. However, China is projected to be
able to produce only about 0.25 million tons of
silicone by the end of 2005, meaning the country
will need to rely on imports to satisfy its
domestic consumption.
At present, major
methyl chlorosilicone producers in the country
include Jiangxi Xinghuo Silicone
Factory, Zhejiang Xian Chemical Group and Jilin Chemical Industry
Co Ltd and their combined production capacity of
silicone comes to 0.21 million tons.
In
addition, China Blue Star Group has struck a deal
with Rhodia Silicone Company of France to form a
global strategic alliance. For the initial stage
of the alliance, the two sides will produce 0.4
million tons annually of methyl chlorosilicone in
China, and later their production will reach 0.65
million tons, ranking second in the world and
first in Asia. Finally, Hongda New Chemical
Materials Co Ltd in east China's Jiangsu province
will build a 30,000-ton silicone project with
technology provided by a Russian research
institution; this project is scheduled for
completion by the end of 2006.
Major
foreign silicone makers have one after another
established factories for the production of
silicone or silicone downstream products in China.
This includes Dow Corning, which recently moved
its Asian headquarters to Shanghai, and Japan's
ShiEtsu Chemical Co Ltd, which has established
silicone production and marketing systems in
China. With investment in silicone production by
both domestic and foreign firms increasing, China
will soon become a net exporter of silicone, the
China Chemical News said.
