Nylon 66 in our country is right at our feet – where will it go from here? I’m just throwing out an idea to encourage everyone to share their opinions!
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Nylon 66 is produced through salt-polymerization of adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine. Adipic acid is available in sufficient quantities in China, while hexamethylenediamine remains in a state of tight supply. As the process of localization accelerates, the nylon 66 industry is expected to experience another round of significant growth during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. The main production processes for hexamethylenediamine include the hydrogenation of hexanitroline, which is further divided into the butadiene method, the acrylonitrile electropolymerization method, and the ammonolysis of adipic acid ； Furthermore, the technology for directly synthesizing hexamethylenediamine from caprolactam has also been industrialized; it can truly be said that there is a variety of approaches and competing methods! However, which process route has a cost advantage is either phased and relative; apart from being related to the process itself, it is also directly tied to market conditions. First, from the perspective of technical maturity: 1. Analysis of the technical maturity of adiponitrile: 1) Current technological status abroad – The butadiene method and the acrylonitrile method are considered mature processes abroad; there are virtually no adiponitrile production facilities using the adipic acid method ； The main representative of the butadiene process is Invista, while the main representative of the acrylonitrile electrolytic dimerization process is Oxyden. 2) Status of domestic technology development: The domestic development of technology for adiponitrile production via the butadiene route is still in progress. The localization of Tianchen Qixiang is a milestone; although the device is still in the process of optimization, breaking through and surpassing others is only a matter of time. The technology for producing adiponitrile via the electrolysis of acrylonitrile has not yet been localized in China, and it is a pity that a certain company had to suspend its operations due to an explosion. Huafeng Group is the global leader in the technology for producing adiponitrile via adipic acid, and this technology is already mature. Analysis of the technological maturity of hexamethylenediamine: The mainstream production method for hexamethylenediamine is the hydrogenation of hexamethylenecarbonitrile, which is a mature technology both domestically and internationally. The newly developed caprolactam route, which allows for the direct synthesis of hexamethylenediamine from aminocapronitrile, is of great significance as it largely circumvents the supply constraints associated with capronitrile Secondly, from the perspective of industrial chain support and investment risk analysis: the butadiene route is suitable for enterprises that have the necessary butadiene infrastructure and a stable supply of natural gas; due to the long industrial chain and high capital requirements, the investment risks also increase accordingly ； Furthermore, the technical barriers are high; despite achieving breakthroughs in domestic technology development, there are risks related to the maturity, reliability, and advancement of such technology. The acrylonitrile route is suitable for enterprises that have access to acrylene resources as well as cheap electricity; however, no mature and reliable technology has yet been developed in China to overcome the challenges associated with this route. An industrial plant operated by one company had to be shut down due to an explosion, and while this is regrettable, it also raises concerns regarding the potential safety issues of this approach. The adipic acid route has enabled the industrial production of adiponitrile, and the technology is mature and reliable; as an integrated approach for adipic acid manufacturers, it is a proven successful route ； However, in terms of atom economy, the raw material consumption is high, and the cost is not optimal. The process for directly producing hexamethylenediamine using the caprolactam method was first developed by Toray in Japan; however, due to various other issues, the plant with a capacity of 5,000 tons was shut down and dismantled. Later, Ningbo Gar purchased this technology and succeeded in implementing it on a industrial scale with a capacity of 10,000 tons in China. Currently, there are two operating units in the country, with additional projects planned and under construction. Although the industrialization of the caprolactam route started relatively late, it can avoid the issue of limited supply of the raw material adiponitrile. It boasts advantages such as a shorter production chain, readily available raw materials, and lower costs, giving it a strong potential to overtake competitors. This approach is particularly suitable for enterprises that have both caprolactam and adipic acid in their capabilities, enabling the development of a high-value production chain that starts from the single raw material benzene and leads to nylon 66.
It supports localization, just like chips
In the localization of major equipment and technologies, the localization of key valves has also played a vital role!
Future production capacity will exceed 1,000 million tons
Among domestic producers of nylon 66, I am most optimistic about Xinhéchéng; over the years they have focused on developing their own technologies and have managed to overcome the challenges associated with hexanecarbonitrile technology. Take that billion-yuan nylon project in Tianjin as an example: from adiponitrile to hexamethylenediamine and then to Nylon 66, the entire industrial chain is integrated, thereby breaking through the technical barriers that foreign giants had held onto for decades. Such the courage to move from the laboratory to industrial production on a ten-thousand-ton scale is not something that ordinary companies can handle. The technical approach they chose is also highly insightful; although the butadiene method has a high entry barrier, it advantages in terms of the availability of mature raw materials. Leveraging the petrochemical resources available in the Nangang Industrial Zone, the Tianjin facility has thrived in the butane-based industrial chain, managing to reduce costs while ensuring the security of its supply chain. What’s even more impressive is the introduction of high-end products such as high-temperature nylon, which enables domestic special engineering plastics to compete with those produced by DuPont and BASF. This approach that combines consistency with innovation brings the strategy of replacing imported materials with domestic alternatives to life. What’s most impressive is their unwavering commitment to advancing technology over the course of twenty years. From the pilot production base in Weifang to the R&D center in Shangyu, Shaoxing, and then to the implementation of the billion-yuan project in Tianjin, it has been possible to transform nylon 66 from a laboratory sample into a product that can be produced in tons on a large scale. This is exactly what transformation and upgrading of Chinese manufacturing should look like
The task is arduous and the road ahead is long; it is necessary to clearly identify the gaps, as there is still a considerable distance to cover
It supports localization, just like chips
With new companies producing PA66 and similar materials entering the market, the market capacity is likely to reach a state of saturation. As the economy slows down and competition among products in the same category increases, manufacturers’ profits will continue to decline. The price of PA66 has not been favorable over the past few years; therefore, future development should focus more on PA-based products and special modifications, in order to avoid competition based on different product grades. Otherwise, it will be difficult for PA66 manufacturers to remain profitable in the long term.