Korea-based chemical producer Songwon has begun bulk manufacture of functional monomers at Ulsan and said it can now supply medium volumes of specialized monomers at competitive prices.

The company began developing the monomers two years ago to supply applications in resins, sealants, adhesives and engineering plastics designed for use in coatings, the automotive sector and electronic packaging.

In particular, the monomers equip resins and polymers with special functions, most importantly improving the physical and chemical properties of the final product, said Heinrich Schulte, leader Market Center Functional Monomers at the Korean company.

Songwon’s first functional monomers to be manufactured in Ulsan are dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) phenol oligomers and bisphenol trimethylcyclohexane (BP-TMC). DCPD functions mainly as an epoxy resin modifier in chain extending reactions and is primarily used in the manufacture of epoxy composites.

According to the company, its new products are “ideally suited to serve the growing market for special epoxy resins that exhibit high dielectric constants and low dissipation factors at high frequencies.” The monomers are used, for example, in wiring boards and packaging material that can meet the new 5G transmission standard requirements.

Songwon’s standard grade BP-TMC monomer is being marketed for use in epoxy or epoxy novolac resins, while the high purity grades are designed for high impact, transparent polycarbonate.