Borealis branches out with PP process
15 Jan 2000
Nordic polyolefins specialist Borealis is to launch a new technology to manufacture polypropylene, with a 200 000tpa plant scheduled for construction in Austria.
The new process, dubbed Borstar PP, is based on the Borealis' successful polyethylene technology. It uses loop and gas-phase reactors, which operate 'in cascade' with a Ziegler-Natta type proprietary catalyst. 'We had developed a catalyst for PP, which will be adapted for Borstar PP technology,' says project manager Jouni Takakarhu.
The new plant will cost some DKr1 billion. It will replace two existing slurry PP lines, and should come on-stream in mid-2000.