Shin-Etsu enters the HCTC market: a new highlight in the adiponitrile/acrylonitrile industry
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Recently, Sinocell stated that it is actively researching the downstream applications and market demand for hexanetricarbonitrile (HTCN), as well as carrying out preliminary research and development on the production process for this product. As an organic intermediate with excellent electrochemical properties and synthetic potential, hexanetricarbonitrile is becoming a new focus in the industry due to its broad application prospects across various fields. I. Product Definition Hexanetricarbonitrile (HTCN) is an organic compound with a unique tricarbonitrile structure. It appears as a colorless to yellowish transparent viscous liquid, and possesses properties such as good chemical stability, a wide electrochemical window, and low viscosity. Its decomposition products are mainly carboxylates, aldehydes, and organic amines; it does not produce the highly toxic CN-, making it far safer than traditional nitrile materials. II. Application Areas 1. Lithium-ion battery additives: Traditional carbonate electrolytes tend to decompose at high voltages above 4.5V, which limits the development of high-energy-density batteries. Due to its trinitrile structure, HTCN possesses a wide electrochemical window, high anodic stability, and low viscosity, which effectively enhances the high-pressure resistance of the electrolyte. At the same time, it can significantly improve the battery’s high-temperature cycle life, safety, and fast-charging performance. After adding HTCN, the electron transfer in the battery increased by 20% after 150 cycles, and the discharge capacity increased by 25%. 2. Key intermediates for specialty isocyanates: HTCN can be converted into a trifunctional aliphatic amine—1,3,6-triaminohexane—through catalytic hydrogenation, which in turn enables the synthesis of high-performance alkane triisocyanates. The polyurethane coatings and adhesives prepared in this way possess excellent weather resistance, yellowing resistance, high elasticity, and good water dispersibility, making them suitable for high-end applications such as premium coatings, automotive paints, and wind turbine blades. 3. Pesticide and pharmaceutical intermediates: They possess certain toxicity and can be used to synthesize efficient and low-toxicity insecticides and herbicides. 4. High-end solvents and organic synthesis raw materials: Thanks to their high boiling point and low viscosity, they can be used as high-boiling-point solvents and intermediates in organic synthesis.
III. Synthesis Pathways and Technical Sources 1. Co-production method: Utilizing the capacity for adiponitrile production for co-production. That is, in the production of adiponitrile via the electrolytic dimerization of acrylonitrile, the proportion of the by-product HTCN is increased through process adjustments. Similarly, in the synthesis of adiponitrile via the catalytic amination of adipic acid, it is possible to control the formation of the key intermediate 1-amino-2-cyano-1-cyclopentene (ACCP), which is precisely the precursor for the synthesis of HTCN. The co-production method has achieved a production capacity of several hundred tons, becoming a new highlight in the adiponitrile industry chain. The disadvantages are that in actual production, there are technical challenges such as complex process control, difficulty in balancing the yields of primary and secondary products, and hardiness in purifying products of high purity. 2. Direct synthesis method: The direct electrolysis of acrylonitrile uses a specific electrolyte system to efficiently and selectively electrolyze acrylonitrile into HTCN, offering advantages such as mild reaction conditions, environmental friendliness, and low energy consumption. Furthermore, routes such as the allyl acetonitrile method do not involve highly toxic cyanide sources, the reactions are mild, and products with a purity of over 99.9% can be produced. 3. Major manufacturers and production capacity: China’s hexanetricarbonitrile industry is still in its infancy and has not yet reached a stage of large-scale industrialization. At present, Lanqi Fine Chemicals in Liaoning Province has a clear production capacity plan of 1,500 tons per year. Taihe Technology, Saiwei Electronics, Jiahang Pharmaceuticals, Xiyah Chemical, Binghang Xinyake Co., Ltd., Junsheng New Materials, Wuhan Kangqiong Biology, Hubei Jusheng, and others are the key players in the domestic market. Among them, Taihe Technology is actively engaged in research on the synthesis processes for lithium battery electrolyte additives such as HTCN. In addition, industry giants such as Huawei, Xinzhoubang, and Wanhua Chemical have filed patents related to electrolytes or synthesis methods, demonstrating a high level of interest in this material. IV. Market Demand and Industry Prospects 1. In recent years, with the rapid development of the new energy vehicle industry, there have been higher demands for fast battery charging, high energy density, and long cycle life, which in turn has increased the demand for high-performance electrolyte additives such as HTCN. At the same time, the demand from the polyurethane industry for high-performance, weather-resistant specialty isocyanates also provides a broad downstream market for HTCN. 2. Industry development trends: (1) Continuous technological improvement and cost reduction: As various synthetic routes are continuously explored and optimized, and in particular as the co-production processes combined with the domestic production of adiponitrile mature, the production cost of HTCN is expected to decrease significantly, thereby overcoming the barriers to industrialization. (2) Expansion of application scenarios: In addition to gaining deeper penetration in the fields of lithium batteries and polyurethanes, its applications in areas such as pesticides and high-end solvents are also under continuous exploration. As technology matures, its value as a “platform-based” intermediate will become increasingly prominent. (3) Acceleration of domestic substitution: The holding of the first seminar on hexanetricarbonitrile technology and applications signals that the industry is pooling its expertise and efforts to speed up the process of development and application. Driven by domestic industrial chain collaboration and technological innovation, HTCN is expected to become another example of China making breakthroughs in the production of high-end functional chemicals domestically.
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