Du Pont announces new capacity, technology for Teflon

Citation

(1999), "Du Pont announces new capacity, technology for Teflon", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 51 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/ilt.1999.01851eab.003

Du Pont announces new capacity, technology for Teflon

Du Pont announces new capacity, technology for Teflon

Keyword: Du Pont

Du Pont plans to build a $40 million development and manufacturing facility at its Fayetteville, NC, USA, site, to evaluate new polymerisation and processing technology for its Teflon fluoropolymer resins. Upon demonstration of the new technology, the company plans to construct a world-scale fluoropolymer and fluoromonomer facility, representing a US$275 million investment over the next seven years.

The new technology, which was developed by DuPont in conjunction with the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, is more efficient, more flexible and yields less waste than current processes. It also will allow Du Pont to expand its product line by enabling the manufacture of new and specialised fluoropolymers.

Production at the facility is scheduled to begin in 2000, with initial annual capacity of about 2.5 million pounds. Location for the full-scale facility is under evaluation. A US$2 million pilot facility at Du Pont's Experimental Station in Wilmington, Delaware, USA, began operation this year.

"We are looking for a successful demonstration of new technology that will reinforce and advance Du Pont's position as the technology and innovation leader in fluoropolymers well into the next decade", said Henry B. Voigt, Global Business Director for Du Pont Fluoroproducts. "The additional capacity and new products we will gain from this investment will strongly support our customers in the rapidly growing data communications, semiconductor and automotive markets." Du Pont is the world's largest producer of fluoropolymers, with facilities in the USA, Europe and Japan. The Fayetteville site currently produces Butacite polyvinyl butyral, used as a laminate in automotive windscreens, and Nafion polymer membrane, used in chlorine and caustic production.

Du Pont Fluoroproducts markets high performance chemicals and polymers worldwide, serving customers in the telecommunications, aerospace, refrigeration, air-conditioning, pharmaceutical, automotive, electronics, chemical processing and housewares markets. Among its best-known brands are Teflon and Tefzel fluoropolymer resins, SilverStone and Autograph non-stick finishes, and Suva refrigerants.

Founded in 1802, Du Pont is a global science and technology-based company. Du Pont serves worldwide markets including food and nutrition, health care, agriculture, fashion and apparel, home and construction, electronics and transportation. The company operates in 65 countries and has 92,000 employees.

For more information contact Linda Terry. Tel: +44 (0) 1438 734833.