Daelim’s (Seoul, South Korea; www.daelim.co.kr) Petrochemical Business Division announced a plan to expand its highly reactive polybutene plant. The company intends to expand the annual output of its existing plant, which is located at Yeosu National Industrial Complex, from 65,000 metric tons per year (m.t./yr) to 100,000 m.t./yr by November 2016 by investing KRW 74 billion. After the expansion, Daelim will be able to produce 185,000 m.t./yr of polybutene by including the polybutene plant’s annual production output of 85,000 m.t./yr of general-purpose polybutene.
Polybutene is mainly used as raw material for lubricant additives and fuel purifiers. Because the highly reactive polybutene can simplify the lubricant-manufacturing process, it enhances production efficiency. In addition, eco-friendly products can be produced since polybutene has no chlorine ingredient. With environmental regulations consolidated worldwide, the eco-friendly lubricant additive and fuel purifier markets are expanding. In this regard, the highly reactive polybutene market has been steadily increasing by 4% on the average every year.