News

2023/10/12

MCG Group Strengthens the Business of BioPTMG, a Plant-Based Polyol - Adopted in spandex for Nisshinbo Textiles -

The Mitsubishi Chemical Group (hereinafter, the “MCG Group”)'s Yokkaichi Plant (Yokkaichi, Mie) will optimize product composition and allocate product tanks for PTMG (polytetramethylene ether glycol), which uses plant-based raw materials (hereinafter, “BioPTMG”), in the autumn of 2023. As a result, the MCG Group will be able to steadily meet growing demand and ship flagship grade BioPTMG 1000 and BioPTMG 2000 in tanker trucks and ISO tanks in addition to conventional oil cans and drums.
Additionally, to meet further demand growth in the future, the MCG Group plans to increase its capacity to 3,000 tons/year.

BioPTMG is a plant-based polyol developed by the MCG Group in 2021 that can provide flexibility, durability and high resilience to polyurethane and polyester products. The MCG Group’s unique refining technology eliminates coloration when used in resins, enabling application in a wide range of fields, from interior decoration and clothing to industrial materials, just like petroleum-based products. With its content of Biomass exceeding 92%, BioPTMG not only contributes to reducing consumption of petroleum, a depletable resource, but also reduces greenhouse gas emissions, as plants used for base material consume carbon dioxide in their growth stages. BioPTMG is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 40% over its life cycle compared to petroleum-based products.

BioPTMG is used in Biomass Mobilon, a spandex (elastic fiber) developed and marketed in 2022 by Nisshinbo Textile Inc. (headquartered in Osaka, Japan). This was the first time for BioPTMG to be adopted in spandex, which is the largest application for PTMG, and it is expected to be used in a wide range of applications in the future.

Biomass Mobilon and other products that use BioPTMG are exhibited at the 3rd Sustainable Materials Exposition to be held at Makuhari Messe on October 4-6, 2023.

The MCG Group will accelerate research and development of BioPTMG and other plant-based materials to contribute toward realizing a sustainable society.

Category

Headline News