Teijin Chemicals Develops Polycarbonate Recycling Technology

Japan's Teijin Chemicals Ltd. announced on October 5, 2004 that it has developed a chemical recycling technology for polycarbonate resin, and also its decision to construct a demonstration plant as the world's first commercial development of this technology.

Polycarbonate resin is an engineering plastic widely used for optics, electronics, automobiles and electrical appliances, and its consumption is expected to increase by 7 to 8 percent per year. In response to demands by society for efficient resource use and energy conservation, Teijin successfully developed a 'chemical recycling system' that allows polycarbonate to be recycled back into polycarbonate.

Due to technological developments in the depolymerization process that allow alkaline decomposition at low temperatures and the development of advanced solution purification processes, the polycarbonate recovered can produce plastic equivalent in quality and cost to plastic produced from petroleum.

The company plans to complete construction of the demonstration plant at its Matsuyama Factory compound in Ehime Prefecture in February 2005, and proceed with experimental operation of the plant for commercial application.



Posted: 2005/01/25 12:00:41 PM
Japanese version