MIDLAND, Mich. - March 28, 2010 - The Dow Chemical Company has expanded its catalyst system offering with CONSISTATM D7000 Donor, designed specifically for high melt flow (HMF) applications. The first product in Dow's new CONSISTA portfolio of advanced catalyst systems, CONSISTA D7000 enables polypropylene manufacturers to achieve the performance differentiation needed to enter premium markets, while realizing the benefits of better on-stream time, better plant operability and reduced production costs.
"CONSISTA D7000 helps polypropylene producers differentiate their products and seize profitable market opportunities," said Cherie H. Wrenn, product market manager at Dow Basic Plastics Licensing and Catalyst, a Dow business unit that licenses UNIPOL Polypropylene Process Technology. "As part of the complete package of optimized solutions we bring to our customers, CONSISTA D7000 delivers advantages throughout the entire value chain. It makes transitioning between product grades smoother and faster, improves the performance characteristics of the finished product, and reduces the use of peroxide, thus bringing down resin manufacturing costs."
CONSISTATM D7000 was developed to optimize high-melt impact copolymer polypropylene resins, the type of polypropylene plastic used in automotive interior applications and food contact applications - all challenging but financially rewarding markets for manufacturers. For each of these segments, CONSISTA D7000 helps meet specific quality requirements - from high impact/stiffness balance, to improved polymer taste/odor profile in food contact applications, to reduced C emissions, the volatilized organic chemicals responsible for the "new car" smell.
In commercial trials, CONSISTATM D7000 has been validated by select users of the UNIPOL Process and SHAC Catalyst. At Slovnaft Petrochemicals in Bratislava, Slovakia, plant operators conducted multiple trials using CONSISTA D7000 and found that it allowed for better processing, leading to higher efficiency and reduced costs.
"The goal for switching to CONSISTA D7000 was to improve product properties and we were successful. We also found other unexpected benefits such as reduced processing costs and improved operability similar to other Dow ADT donors," said plant manager Andrej Horak. "CONSISTA D7000 offers the best combination of processing and product benefits.
"As the plant manager, using CONSISTA D7000 means that I can sleep better at night, because of the reduced fouling and plant upsets compared to using conventional donors."
The synergy between all the elements of the technology maximizes the value for the UNIPOL licensees and requires no capital investment. CONSISTA D7000 is compatible with Dow's existing family of SHAC catalyst and donor systems and suitable for all other gas phase polypropylene technologies.
"Our goal - to be the premier supplier of catalyst and donor to the polypropylene industry - continues to drive our robust research and development efforts," said Wrenn. "Dow is the only catalyst manufacturer to have its own line of proprietary donors, and both catalyst and donor systems have been optimized for the UNIPOL process to create a 'foolproof" path to commercial success for our customers."
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About Dow
Dow combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element" to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2009, Dow had annual sales of $45billion and employed approximately 52,000people worldwide. The Company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 214sites in 37countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.
Dow Basic Plastics is a business group of Dow that serves customers worldwide, supplying products, technology and services to industries including appliances, automotive parts, food and beverage packaging, building and construction, consumer goods and electronics, fibers and non-wovens, films, bags and packaging for food and consumer products, plastic pipes and tubing, housewares, medical films and devices.
Press Release 2010