New York - October 04, 2011
The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE:DOW) has introduced CONSISTA™ C601 Polypropylene Catalyst, the first 6th generation Ziegler Natta catalyst. CONSISTA C601 is a non-phthalate based catalyst system with broad applicability and advantaged capability to produce high performance polymers. Requiring no capital or upgrades to existing facilities, this catalyst system enables polypropylene producers to recognize numerous process advantages and product benefits.
“CONSISTA C601 enables customers to offer polypropylene for goods that are lighter, cleaner, and clearer, using maximum machine speeds” said Tracy Cleckler, global commercial director, Dow Polypropylene Licensing and Catalysts. “This new catalyst is the result of our continuous investment in research and development to create drop-in technology for the UNIPOL™ PP Process.”
CONSISTA C601 Catalyst was used in production trials at Slovnaft Petrochemicals s.r.o. in Bratislavia, Slovakia. There, CONSISTA C601 was used to produce homopolymer and high melt flow impact copolymers where significant process advantages were recognized while maintaining excellent product quality. CONSISTA™ C601 demonstrated excellent catalyst yield and the capability to make a broad range of products with a non-phthalate based catalyst system.
“The trials we performed with CONSISTA C601 confirmed our expectations regarding improved product properties with lower production costs ensured by 40 percent higher catalyst yield compared to our current system,” said Andrej Horak, polypropylene plant manager for Slovnaft Petrochemicals s.r.o. “Our plan is to introduce this catalyst for a whole production portfolio as soon as possible because, as a non-phthalate based system, it will allow us to meet future strict REACH requirements.”
Additionally, in a separate trial of CONSISTA C601, the catalyst demonstrated excellent operability and process performance with homopolymer production using standard operation protocol, thereby validating the “drop-in” technology concept.
UNIPOLTM Polypropylene Technology from Dow accounts for 17 percent of global polypropylene output. Polypropylene is a versatile plastic used in packaging, durable goods, automotive parts, non-wovens, fibers and consumer applications.
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 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2010, Dow had annual sales of $53.7 billion and employed approximately 50,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 188 sites in 35 countries 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.
For Editorial Information:
Corey Newsom
The Dow Chemical Company
+1 281 966 4245