[Haichuan Project Updates] The Changshou Shuangxiang project, which aims to produce 300,000 tons per year of optical-grade PMMA/MS materials, is set to commence operations soon
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What is optical-grade PMMA? Methyl methacrylate resin! It is a high-molecular polymer that can be used to produce various products such as light guide plates for flat-panel displays, fiber optic materials, solar cells, automotive headlights, consumer electronics, and electrical appliances. Zhejiang Shuangxiang Group is responsible for implementing this project in Chongqing, and this is also related to the fact that Chongqing is the world’s leading producer of personal computers. The characteristics of this new material are as follows: 1. Its light transmittance is higher than that of glass, and it has the highest light transmittance among all polymer-based transparent materials. 2. Its density is half that of glass, and it boasts high strength, high toughness, insulation properties, heat resistance, weather resistance, and ease of processing. Recently, the investors and Changshou met again, and it was decided that construction on this new optical-grade PMMA/MS material project will begin in late April 2023. On March 30, 2021, Shuangxiang Co., Ltd. issued an evening announcement stating that the company intended to sign a project investment agreement with the Management Committee of Changshou Economic and Technological Development Zone for the construction of a project aimed at producing 300,000 tons per year of optical-grade PMMA/MS new materials. This would be achieved by establishing a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company, which in turn would acquire the relevant land use rights through bidding processes. The total investment required for this project is estimated to be around 1.8 billion yuan. Once the project is fully operational, it is expected to generate annual sales revenue of around 4 billion yuan. In October 2020, the first phase of Chongqing Yixiang Chemical Production Base, owned by Shuangxiang Group, which has an annual production capacity of 450,000 tons of methyl methacrylate (MMA), was put into operation. The project utilizes synthetic ammonia supplied by Chuanwei; through chemical reactions such as hydrolysis and esterification, high-purity MMA is produced, which serves as the main raw material for the production of plexiglass.
The Changshou Chemical Industrial Park is located in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, where it is no longer suitable for developing further chemical projects.
The western regions also need to develop; if they do not develop, instability will arise
Project nature: New construction； Project location: Changshou Economic and Technological Development Zone, Chongqing; land area: 151 mu. Project investment: The total investment in the project is 1,800 million yuan, of which 36.2 million yuan is allocated to environmental protection measures. Construction contents: Include 2 sets of 75,000 tons/year polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) production facilities, 2 sets of 75,000 tons/year methyl methacrylate and styrene copolymer resin (MS) production facilities, 1 set of 20,000 tons/year special methyl acrylate (PMA) production facility, and 1 set of 20,000 tons/year special hydroxy ester (HMA) production facility, along with supporting utility, auxiliary, storage and transportation, and environmental protection systems. Raw materials and supporting items: The methyl methacrylate, which is a raw material required for this project, is supplied by Chongqing Yixiang Chemical Co., Ltd ； The methyl methacrylate-methanol azeotrope produced as a by-product of the PMA production facility is sent to Chongqing Yixiang Chemical Co., Ltd. for comprehensive utilization, in compliance with the relevant requirements regarding the targeted use of hazardous waste in Chongqing. Products: PMA specialty esters include four types of products namely 1,3-butanediol dimethacrylate, 1,4-butanediol dimethacrylate, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, and trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate. HMA specialty esters comprise four types of products: hydroxyethyl acrylate, hydroxypropyl acrylate, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, and hydroxypropyl methacrylate. The production volume is determined based on market demand. Process technology: PMMA and MS are produced using a continuous bulk polymerization process, PMA employs a continuous transesterification process, while HMA uses a batchwise direct epoxide ring-opening process.
Shuangxiang Co., Ltd. is mainly engaged in the production and sales of ultra-fine fiber genuine leather, PU synthetic leather, PVC artificial leather, optical-grade PMMA, and PMMA sheets. The polymethyl methacrylate resin (PMMA) is produced by its wholly-owned subsidiary, Suzhou Shuangxiang Optical Materials Co., Ltd., while the PMMA sheets are manufactured by another wholly-owned subsidiary, Wuxi Shuangxiang Optoelectronic Materials Co., Ltd. Suzhou Shuangxiang Optical Materials Co., Ltd. was established in 2012, with an annual production capacity of 80,000 tons of optical polymethyl methacrylate resin PMMA. Suzhou Shuangxiang’s products are designed as high-performance optical-grade PMMA, and they are widely used in applications such as LCD light guide plates, LED lighting fixtures, optical fibers, aircraft cockpit glass, bulletproof glass, and automobile tail lights. There is a strong demand for these products, with rapid growth in their market usage.