As a chemical engineer, how much do you know about engineering plastics?

Special engineering plastics refer to a category of engineering plastics with high comprehensive properties and a long-term operating temperature of over 150°C, including polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyimide (PI), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), liquid crystal polymers (LCP), and polysulfone (PSF), among others. Among them, special engineering plastics possess unique properties such as high temperature resistance, high strength, fatigue resistance, creep resistance, and chemical resistance compared to ordinary engineering plastics. They are widely used in various fields including aerospace, military industry, electronics and electrical appliances, automotive industry, home appliances, kitchen and bathroom products, transportation, medical devices, machinery manufacturing, and precision instruments. Compared to engineering plastics, specialty engineering plastics have superior performance, stricter technical standards, and higher added value. Special engineering plastics, as new types of polymer materials, represent the third generation of plastics that have emerged after general-purpose plastics and engineering plastics; they possess advantages such as heat resistance, insulation properties, corrosion resistance, and high mechanical strength. With the advent of technologies such as 5G communications, semiconductors, and advancements in materials used in the medical industry, the pace at which specialty engineering plastics replace traditional materials is accelerating further.

As a person in the chemical industry, I firmly believe that the spring of this sector lies in excellence and specialization. As our teacher often says, “Don’t dismiss materials just because they’re uncommon; even a screw, when perfected, can play a crucial role.” ”I look forward to exchanging ideas with my colleagues on modification technologies and the development of application scenarios, so that we can work together to overcome these challenging obstacles! Currently, general engineering plastics do face the challenge of overcapacity. Take PPS material, a key product of our company New Hec, as an example: the planned production capacity in China has exceeded 100,000 tons per year, yet the growth rate of market demand is only around 7%. There is considerable pressure to compete with international giants in terms of quality, while at the same time engaging in price wars with domestic competitors. However, through technological upgrades over the past two years, the company has regained its cost advantage. Recently, the IPDI project went into operation just as there was a shortage in the market, which served as a boost to morale.

Companies place great emphasis on original research and development, continuously increasing their investment in this area. By establishing sound incentives for such efforts as well as mechanisms that allow for tolerance of mistakes, they can endure the challenges involved and stand out from the competition

I saw the Weifang facility of Shin-Nakano; it is renovated and expanded every year. What types of products are produced there?

Special engineering plastics are now also entering a period of rapid development; their market application and usage are increasing, and capital is flowing into this sector at a fast pace. However, it is necessary to be highly vigilant against bubbles in the market.