CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT, MARKET OUTLOOK
Businesswire | May 03, 2023
Cabot Corporation announced the launch of its new ENTERA™ aerogel particles portfolio. ENTERA aerogel particles are a thermal insulation additive designed to enable the development of ultra-thin thermal barriers for electric vehicle (EV) lithium-ion batteries. In this portfolio, Cabot has launched three ENTERA aerogel products that formulators can incorporate into a range of thermal barrier forms including blankets, pads, sheets, films, foams and coatings.
Vehicle fleets are increasingly transitioning from internal combustion engines to EVs. To meet increased EV demand, battery manufacturers are working diligently to develop higher performing lithium-ion battery packs with increased range. These higher energy batteries require more advanced thermal management solutions, including thermal barriers to mitigate thermal runaway, a rare event in which a battery cell overheats to dangerous levels and the heat propagates to neighboring cells within the module or battery pack due to malfunction or damage. As a result of the potential severe risks from an EV battery fire, additional regulations, such as the United Nations’ Global Technical Regulation 20 on Electric Vehicle Safety (UN GTR No. 20) and China’s GB 38031-2020, have been implemented to maximize occupant safety. Aerogel has emerged as a leading, performance-enabling thermal barrier material that is enabling EV manufacturers to meet critical industry safety standards.
Cabot’s ENTERA aerogel products not only help battery and EV manufacturers comply with these new regulations, but they also provide a lightweight thermal barrier solution that offers low thermal conductivity combined with thermal stability. The Cabot ENTERA aerogel particles portfolio ranges in size from microns to millimeters and includes ENTERA™ EV5200 aerogel, ENTERA™ EV5400 aerogel and ENTERA™ EV5800 aerogel.
Furthermore, with greater than 90 percent air volume, Cabot’s ENTERA aerogel is up to 20 times lighter than traditional insulation additives used in thermal barriers. Using lightweight materials in EVs is important to offset the weight of EV batteries as well as to improve efficiency, extend driving range and increase the lifespan of the battery.
“We have been producing aerogel for 20 years and the expansion of our aerogel capabilities for use in thermal barriers for batteries is a natural progression in our commitment to support the tremendous growth of the battery market,” said Jeff Zhu, executive vice president and president, Performance Chemicals segment and Asia Pacific region. “Our new ENTERA aerogel particles provide strong formulation flexibility and play an important role in improving passenger safety, energy efficiency and extended range for EVs. We are committed to developing solutions that solve some of the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges and with these new products, we are well positioned to further support the global transition to vehicle electrification and enable a lower carbon future.”
Cabot has a full range of products that serves the EV battery market. It is the only global manufacturer with a complete conductive additives product portfolio for battery applications, including conductive carbons, carbon nanotubes, and carbon nanostructures, as well as blends and dispersions of these additives to deliver optimal performance. Conductive additives play a critical role in lithium-ion battery chemistry and provide a pathway for electrons to move within the anode and the cathode which enables charging and discharging. Additionally, Cabot offers fumed alumina for separator and cathode active material coatings.
ABOUT CABOT CORPORATION
Cabot Corporation is a global specialty chemicals and performance materials company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. The company is a leading provider of reinforcing carbons, specialty carbons, battery materials, engineered elastomer composites, inkjet colorants, masterbatches and conductive compounds, fumed metal oxides and aerogel.
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CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT
Globenewswire | May 23, 2023
LanzaTech Global, Inc. an innovative carbon capture and transformation company that converts waste carbon into materials such as sustainable fuels, fabrics, packaging, and other products that people use in their daily lives, and Plastipak Packaging, Inc. (“Plastipak”), a global leader in the design, manufacture, and recycling of plastic containers, announce they have successfully produced PPKNatura, the world’s first polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin made from captured carbon emissions. The resin is suitable for food, personal care, and pharmaceutical packaging, as well as other non-packaging applications.
PET is a polymer that is molded into plastic bottles and containers for packaging foods and beverages, personal care products, and many other consumer goods. PET resin comprises 30% monoethylene glycol (MEG) traditionally derived from petroleum. PPKNatura leverages CarbonSmart™ MEG from LanzaTech’s CCT process. It retains the technical properties of virgin fossil PET while carrying a lower carbon footprint. Thus, PPKNatura can be a used for traditional food and pharmaceutical grade packaging and other sensitive applications such as hot-fill, refillables, and applications where a low crystallinity is required. Non-packaging PET applications can also take advantage of this ground-breaking resin.
PPKNatura resin reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and its production process does not require land or food resources. In addition, packaging made out of this material can be fully recycled at the end of its life, keeping the carbon in a circular material cycle.
Leading Swiss retailer Migros and its subsidiary Mibelle Group were the first to use this PET in in-house brand packaging, including in creating PET bottles for smoothies and the containers of household cleaners that also contained LanzaTech ethanol as a key ingredient.
“LanzaTech’s commercial technology is designed to enable our partners in diverse industries to reduce their carbon footprint and overall environmental impact,” said Jennifer Holmgren, Chief Executive Officer of LanzaTech. “Our partnership with Plastipak is critical to demonstrating what is possible today. Today we are producing food- and pharmaceutical-grade packaging and are well on our way to creating a more sustainable future for all.”
LanzaTech’s CCT technology works like a brewery in which proprietary bacteria consume pollution and convert it into CarbonSmart chemicals. Those chemicals are then turned into products ranging from clothing and laundry detergent to sustainable aviation fuel. Using a variety of waste feedstocks, LanzaTech’s technology platform is creating a future where consumers are not dependent on virgin fossil inputs for everything in their daily lives.
“We are delighted to partner with LanzaTech to achieve early progress in our ambition to produce PET with lower environmental impacts. The use of CarbonSmart MEG is a first and important milestone in our journey toward this goal, and combined with use of renewable electricity in the production process, has contributed to significant progress in indicators such as carbon reduction and use of fossil resources. PPKNatura resin is one element of Plastipak’s ESG program, which among other initiatives, targets the extension of our product circularity with the intent of supporting customers in reducing their Scope 3 emissions. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial partnership with LanzaTech as we work together to achieve our long-term goals,” said Pedro Martins, Executive Managing Director Europe of Plastipak.
About LanzaTech
Headquartered in Skokie, IL, LanzaTech Global, Inc. captures waste carbon and transforms it into materials such as sustainable fuels, fabrics, packaging, and other products. Using a variety of waste feedstocks, LanzaTech’s technology platform is contributing to a future where consumers are not dependent on virgin fossil feedstocks for everything in their daily lives. LanzaTech’s goal is to challenge and change the way the world uses carbon, enabling a new circular carbon economy where carbon is reused rather than wasted, skies and oceans are kept clean, and pollution becomes a thing of the past.
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CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT, SCIENCE AND RESEARCH
Businesswire | April 20, 2023
Origin Materials, Inc. the world’s leading carbon negative materials company with a mission to enable the world’s transition to sustainable materials, and the Green Chemistry Division (“GCD”) of the Minafin Group (“Minafin”), a global fine chemical company, today announced a new commercial arrangement whereby Minafin will become Origin’s manufacturing partner for the downstream supply chain of Origin 1, Origin’s first commercial manufacturing plant.
The initiative, which expands on the companies’ previously announced strategic partnership to industrialize sustainable chemicals, aims to further build on the strengths of Origin’s patented technology platform, which turns the carbon found in sustainable wood residues into useful materials, and Minafin’s manufacturing capability, supply chain strength, and deep expertise in furanic specialty products.
As part of the manufacturing initiative, CMF produced by Origin at Origin 1 will be delivered to Minafin, which will convert CMF into downstream intermediates and products. The initiative is expected to position the companies’ complementary technologies to grow the value of the bio-based supply chain for high-value chemicals and materials including bio-based PET.
“Origin’s expanded relationship with the Green Chemistry Division of Minafin represents a key milestone in our mission to transition the world to sustainable materials,” said Origin Materials Co-CEO Rich Riley. “This partnership strengthens our supply chain at Origin 1, enhances our ability to leverage our versatile platform technology, and supports our commercialization strategy of developing higher-value applications for our intermediates. Minafin’s GCD team offers a valuable skill set and fully integrated capabilities in Memphis, Tennessee, seamlessly linking R&D, scale-up, engineering, and production. We are grateful to deepen our relationship with Minafin, with whom we share a common vision for the role that sustainable, carbon-negative materials can play in creating value worldwide.”
“We appreciate that the partnership with Origin Materials recognizes the Minafin GCD team, capabilities, and position as a global leader in furanic chemicals and materials. We are delighted to support Origin’s scale-up of their groundbreaking technology for converting biomass to value-added materials,” said Frederic Gauchet, Founder & President Minafin Group. “Minafin and Origin Materials are both deeply committed to accelerating the commercialization of bio-based and carbon-negative products to customers worldwide.”
About Origin Materials
Headquartered in West Sacramento, Origin Materials is the world's leading carbon negative materials company. Origin’s mission is to enable the world’s transition to sustainable materials. For over a decade, Origin has developed a platform for turning the carbon found in inexpensive, plentiful, non-food biomass such as sustainable wood residues into useful materials while capturing carbon in the process. Origin’s patented technology platform can help revolutionize the production of a wide range of end products, including clothing, textiles, plastics, packaging, car parts, tires, carpeting, toys, fuels, and more with a ~$1 trillion addressable market. In addition, Origin’s technology platform is expected to provide stable pricing largely decoupled from the petroleum supply chain, which is exposed to more volatility than supply chains based on sustainable wood residues. Origin’s patented drop-in core technology, economics and carbon impact are supported by a growing list of major global customers and investors.
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