|  |
HOUSTON (November 8, 2006) – ExxonMobil Chemical today announced a major
expansion of halobutyl manufacturing at its plant in Baytown, Texas. The U.S.
facility will increase capacity to produce Exxon™ Bromobutyl rubber by 60
percent by modifying existing equipment and adding new equipment. The
expansion is part of the company's commitment to satisfy strong demand and
high growth in the global halobutyl rubber market and tire industry.
Construction completion is anticipated during the second quarter of 2008.
"The company continues to invest in halobutyl manufacturing at the Baytown
complex, with projects exceeding $400 million since 2000," said Art Sullivan,
vice president of ExxonMobil Chemical's Butyl Polymers Global Business. "This
further demonstrates our continued global supply commitment to customers in
the tire industry, supported by 70 years of experience in butyl rubber
research and development, services and product know-how."
The ability of halobutyl to be vulcanized with other rubbers, providing unique
properties such as low air permeability, high heat resistance, excellent flex
cracking resistance, and processability, makes it valuable in tire inner liner
applications. The superior moisture vapor barrier properties of halobutyl
inner liners help prevent the rusting of steel cords in the belts and carcass
of passenger and truck tires. Better inflation pressure retention (IPR)
afforded by halobutyl rubber has been demonstrated to improve the durability
of aged tires.
ExxonMobil Chemical is a major supplier of halobutyl rubber to the global tire
industry and has expanded its capacity to produce this polymer by 80 percent
in the past decade.
-
In 2002, the company completed an expansion at Baytown that quadrupled its
halobutyl capacity.
-
Japan Butyl Co. Ltd., an ExxonMobil Chemical joint venture, recently completed
an expansion that increased its halobutyl production capacity to 70,000 tons a
year to meet growing demand in Asia Pacific.
In another expansion at the Baytown butyl plant, the company is doubling its
capability to produce proprietary Exxpro™ specialty elastomer, used for new
high air barrier technologies for tire inner liners. Announced in 2005, the
project is targeted for completion by year end.
ExxonMobil Chemical is a global leader in technology, product quality and
customer service with petrochemical manufacturing and/or marketing operations
in more than 150 countries around the world. To find out more about ExxonMobil
Chemical visit
www.exxonmobilchemical.com.
>
View release in Chinese (PDF)
>
View release in Japanese (PDF)
Note to the editors:
ExxonMobil, the ExxonMobil logo, the
"Interlocking X", Exxpro, and Exxon Bromobutyl are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Exxon Mobil Corporation or its affiliates. The term "ExxonMobil
Chemical" refers collectively to some or all of the companies affiliated with
Exxon Mobil Corporation which have chemical manufacturing and/or marketing
operations around the world.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ExxonMobil News Media Desk: (281) 870-6607
|
ExxonMobil Chemical's Butyl Polymers Global Business will increase capacity to
produce halobutyl rubber by 60 percent at its Baytown, Texas, plant. The
company completed an expansion in 2002 that quadrupled halobutyl capacity at
Baytown. Click here
for larger photo.
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
