With high-performance polymers and specialty additives, Evonik contributes to the circular economy

Evonik, the world's leading specialty chemicals company, will be showcasing its latest sustainable polymer and additive solutions for the plastics and rubber industry at CHINAPLAS 2024 to support the circular economy.

Circular economy refers to a new economic model that promotes economic development by improving resource utilization, reducing resource consumption and pollution emissions. According to the 14th Five-Year Plan for the Development of a Circular Economy (the "Plan") issued by the National Development and Reform Commission, China will build a resource-recycling industrial system and improve the efficiency of resource utilization. The plan estimates that by 2025, the output value of China's resource recycling industry will be

It is expected to reach 5 trillion yuan.

Evonik launched the Circular Economy Project in 2023 to develop circular economy solutions through a number of initiatives, including additives and specialty products to support the circular economy, to increase the utilization of non-fossil raw materials based on recycled materials, biomass and carbon dioxide, and to develop its own technologies to close the loop on material circularity.

Fuliang Xia, President of Evonik Greater China, said: "Circular economy projects are the key to achieving sustainable growth with economic, ecological and social benefits. At present, China is vigorously developing a circular economy. We want to be an active part of it. With our innovative capabilities and sustainability in the field of specialty chemicals, we are able to support our customers in their transition to circularity. ”

Under the theme of "Beyond Chemistry for a Circular Economy", Evonik will showcase its broad product portfolio and expertise in the fields of circular plastics, green energy, smart mobility, healthy living, and additive manufacturing.

Alternative feedstock and material recovery options for polyamide 12

The use of renewable raw materials and the full exploration of the recycling value of materials are important ways to achieve a circular economy. As one of the world's leading producers of polyamide 12 (PA12) and inventor of PA12, Evonik has been expanding the market for this product and optimizing its product portfolio for more than 60 years. In the context of the circular economy, Evonik is increasing the sustainability and circularity of PA12 products through a variety of technological paths. To date, Evonik has launched a sustainable product portfolio that includes reusable

PA12 from raw and recycled raw materials, polyamides from renewable energies, bio-based polyamides based on castor oil. When it comes to material recycling, Evonik is exploring the possibilities of elemental materials. At this year's show, Evonik will be presenting a concept car seat made entirely of PA12 plastic, which was developed jointly with partners. Since the chairs are made from the same material, not only can the consumption of materials be minimized in production, but all materials can be recycled and reused by design.

Contribute to the recycling of plastics

The plastics industry is a key industry in the circular economy, and promoting the transformation of this industry will help to scale up the circular economy. To help make plastics more recyclable, Evonik offers a wide range of additives under the TEGO® Cycle brand name, which are designed to help customers improve their physical recycling processes and improve the final quality of recycled plastics. During the cleaning phase, Evonik's defoamers and wetting agents can be used to increase the efficiency of washing, separating, deinking and other steps, and dewatering aids help to significantly reduce energy consumption in the dewatering process. In the modification phase, Evonik's odor absorbers, compatibilizers, dispersants and processing aids help to improve processes and enhance polymer properties, resulting in significant cost advantages and better quality recycled plastics. In addition to the TEGO® Cycle portfolio, Evonik is also introducing new organically modified siloxane-based TEGOMER® polymer processing aids (PPAs) that replace standard PPAs made from fluoroelastomers in the processing of PE and PP.

Supporting the production of renewable energy

The circular economy encourages the use of renewable energy, which reduces resource consumption. Evonik's range of high-performance materials enables the production of renewable energy sources, including hydrogen and biomass. For example, Evonik's VESTAMID® NRG series polyamide 12 (PA12) has high chemical resistance and excellent mechanical properties, thanks to its excellent hydrogen compatibility and low hydrogen permeability, and can be used in various hydrogen energy fields, such as hydrogen pipelines and hydrogen storage tanks with various structures, providing a safer and more efficient material solution for the hydrogen storage and transportation industry. SEPURAN membranes® can be used for the separation and purification of methane, hydrogen and other gases.

Drive sustainable transformation across all industries

In addition, the use of sustainable and efficient products that extend the life of their products can also contribute to the development of a circular economy. Many of Evonik's products already play a role in different value chains, contributing to the circular economy by improving the quality and sustainability of the end product.

Evonik is committed to providing high-performance specialty chemical solutions for the automotive industry and is continuously expanding the application of traditional sustainable solutions for new energy vehicles. Evonik PA12 has been widely used in the manufacture of automotive fuel lines, and can now also be used in the manufacture of new energy vehicle applications such as cooling lines, hydrogen pipelines, and high-voltage electrical busbars to meet the thermal and power management needs of new energy vehicles.

Evonik VESTAKEEP® PEEK polyetheretherketone offers corrosion resistance, abrasion resistance, high stiffness, low weight, universal machining, and more, resulting in higher system durability and lower manufacturing costs. Thanks to these properties, PEETH is suitable for the manufacture of long-lasting, heavy-duty components for semiconductors, cables, filament and film production, oil exploration, the automotive and aerospace industries, mechanical engineering, food and drinking water applications, medical technology, and more.

EVONIK'S SPHERILEX®30 AB AND SPHERILEX®60 AB SILICA PRODUCTS ARE SUITABLE FOR USE AS AN ANTI-BLOCKING AGENT FOR HIGHLY TRANSPARENT FILMS. The spherical appearance, controllable particle size and narrow particle size distribution of the products bring significant opening performance to a wide range of plastic film products. As efficient additives to plastic powders, SIPERNAT®, AEROSIL® and AEROOXIDE® can be used as gliding aids, anti-caking agents, etc., which greatly improve the operability of the products.