German specialty chemicals producer Evonik said it has improved both the production process and the quality of the high performance polymer in polyetheretherketone (PEEK) it produces at Changchun, China, and markets under the trade name Vestakeep.

With the upgrade, the Essen-based company said it is “positioning itself as a reliable partner on the global PEEK market for the long term.”

In particular, Evonik said, energy requirements, material use and waste generated during production were reduced, and it was simultaneously able to boost productivity of Chinese facility while new technical standards in environmental protection and safety production.

“Our business with Vestakeep high-performance polymers has been showing strong and sustained growth over several years, for example in the automotive, aviation, oil, and gas industries or the medical sector,” said Ralf Düssel, head of the High Performance Polymers Business Line. “With custom-designed and innovative products we will be able to continue serving existing markets while also opening up new ones,” he added.

Thanks to its high-heat and chemical resistance, PEEK can replace metal components to allow sophisticated applications in lightweight construction, the company noted.

Also in China, subsidiary Evonik Tianda (Liaoyang) Chemical Additive (ETL), a joint venture with NEPC (Northeast No.1 Electric Power Construction) has increased capacity for triacetonamine (TAA) derivatives by 50 %. With the expansion, the jv said it is responding to continuous growth in market demand.

TAA derivatives are essential precursors for hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS), which are used in low concentrations to protect and stabilize polymers against decomposition caused by light, oxygen and heat. The stabilizers used in automotive, construction and agricultural applications can increase the life expectancy of plastic materials up to ten times, Evonik said.

Thomas Wildt, head of Evonik’s Agrochemicals & Polymer Additives business line, said the investment at the Liaoyang site further solidifies the company’s leading position in TAA. It expects “continuous growth” for its portfolio, which includes hexamethylene-bis-triacetone diamine, triacetone diamine) and custom-tailored molecules on the basis of TAA.

Along with the facility in Liaoyang, Evonik produces TAA derivatives at its Marl Chemical Park in the German city of the same name.