LEVERKUSEN, Germany (Feb. 28) — Lanxess A.G. is expanding capacity for Vulkanox HS rubber processing additive at its Brunsbuttel, Germany, as part of its commitment to its global customer base.
Lanxess plans to increase annual capacity for the material, TMQ (2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline, polymerized), by 25 percent to 25,000 metric tons by late this year, the firm said, after boosting it 33 percent to 20,000 tons recently through debottlenecking measures. The second phase expansion is subject to approval by local authorities.
Vulkanox HS is used in conjunction with p-phenylenediamines for heavily stressed technical goods and tires to protect the goods against oxidation and heat, Lanxess said.
Lanxess claims to be the world's largest producer of TMQ, making the material at plants in India and South Africa. Production at the latter site, though, will end when the expansion in Germany is complete, the firm said.