MOSCOW (MRC) -- Braskem is distributing its polypropylene (PP) filament and pellets for additive manufacturing (3D printing) through Nexeo Plastics' online marketplace, said the company.
Braskem, which manufactures thermoplastic resins, claims that its PP filaments and pellets are suitable for additive manufacturing depending on its recyclability, impact strength, chemical resistance and dimensional stability.
The company said that the properties make its polypropylene an ideal material for several 3D printing applications. The distribution agreement will enable Braskem to extend its global distribution of PP filament and pellets for additive manufacturing to North America and Europe.
Nexeo Plastics president and CEO Paul Tayler said: “We are focused on providing our customers with the most comprehensive portfolio of 3D materials and solutions. “Our expanded partnership with Braskem will provide 3D printers with the innovative, quality materials they need."
Last year, Braskem invested in a dedicated additive manufacturing lab as part of its ongoing commitment to innovation and to bringing new solutions to the additive manufacturing sector. The manufacturing lab forms part of an expansion of the company’s Innovation & Technology (I&T) Centre located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Braskem additive manufacturing commercial director Jason Vagnozzi said: “Our new partnership with Nexeo Plastics marks an important moment for our Additive Manufacturing business as we extend the international reach of our products across the European market through Nexeo Plastics’ comprehensive online marketplace.
Braskem stated that its filaments will facilitate quick prototyping, custom product design, light-weighting, optimising geometries and designing spare parts. They are available in 1.75mm and 2.85mm diameters to fit a broad range of printing applications.
We remind that Brazilian petrochemical producer Braskem's 450,000 mt/year PP plant in LaPorte, Texas, along the Houston Ship Channel completed its initial commercial production, as per the company's statement as of Sept. 10. "The launch of commercial production at our new world-class PP production line in La Porte clearly affirms Braskem's position as the North American polypropylene market leader," Braskem America CEO Mark Nikolich said in a statement. With a USD750 million investment, the new PP plant's construction started in October 2017 and was completed in June, 2020.
Braskem operates five other US PP plants in Texas, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, with a cumulative capacity of 1.57 million mt/year that the company acquired. The new plant in La Porte, Texas, is Braskem America's first PP new build.
According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's PP shipments to the Russian market were 727,160 tonnes in the first six months of 2021, up by 31% year on year. Supply of homopolymer PP and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased. Supply of statistical copolymers of propylene (PP random copolymers) subsided.
Braskem S.A. produces petrochemicals and generates electricity. The Company produces ethylene, propylene, benzene, toluene, xylenes, butadiene, butene, isoprene, dicyclopentediene, MTBE, caprolactam, ammonium sulfate, cyclohexene, polyethylene theraphtalat, polyethylene, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
MRC