United States-based performance chemical supplier SI Group said Wednesday that it has expanded capacity to make phenolic ester antioxidants at its factory in Jinzhou, China. The chemicals are used in lubricants among other applications.
SI did not disclose the cost of the project nor the volumes involved in the expansion. A news release issued Wednesday did say that the company sees growing demand for the products from both the lubricants and plastics industries in the Asia-Pacific region.
The company markets the hindered phenolic antioxidants under the Ethanox brand name as low-volatility, easy-to-handle liquid additives for use in high-temperature lubricant applications such as automotive engine oils.
It also markets them under the Nauguard brand name as additives that help reduce scorch during production of flexible polyurethane foam.
A year ago SI announced plans to spend $50 million increasing antioxidant capacity at three factories in the United States. Unlike this week, the company did not then specify the locations of the project. SI has seven production sites in the U.S.
The U.S. project is scheduled to be completed during the second half of this year.