Specialty chemical and lubricant producer Lubrizol has signed a licensing agreement to use Daelim’s polyisobutylenes (PIBs) technology for a new plant in Deer Park, Texas, USA. PIB is a key raw material for Lubrizol’s proprietary dispersants.

Daelim’s technology can produce a wide range of PIBs from conventional PIB (CPIB) to highly reactive PIB (HR-PIB). Lubrizol will now start initial engineering on the project which is expected to be ready for commercial operation in a minimum of three year’s time.

“Through this agreement Lubrizol will ensure its access to process technology that offers the company multiple benefits. It provides Lubrizol formulating flexibility to meet the evolving performance needs of the global lubricant and fuel additives markets over time,” said Dan Sheets, president of Lubrizol Additives.

Lubrizol said the license is consistent with its efforts to renew its additives infrastructure. The company is upgrading and enhancing its global capabilities as part of a 10-year phased investment program.

Meanwhile, additional coatings capabilities have been added to Lubrizol’s Innovation Center in Singapore over the past several months. These include the addition of full plastics extrusion capabilities that allow testing of Solplus polymeric dispersants in masterbatch and compounding applications; new automotive paint spray facilities for testing water- and solvent-borne formulations; coating formulation capabilities; and advanced equipment for measuring surface effects.

Lubrizol said the center is already looking at how nanotechnology can enhance the durability of coatings.