Sinopec, Kingfa Sci & Tech, Shandong Shama Jointly Take Action!

Recently, Sinopec, Kingfa Sci. & Tech., and Shenma Co. have successively announced related actions.

First, Sinopec Yangzi Petrochemical's long-chain nylon industrial chain project announcement. The total investment of the project is 3,043.28 million yuan (excluding VAT), covering a total area of 157,980 square meters. It plans to build a 50,000 tons/year YDA industrial-scale unit and an 18,500 tons/year special nylon polymerization unit.

Secondly, the environmental impact assessment information for the Zhuhai Wantong 40,000-ton/year bio-based high-temperature nylon (Phase I) project of Kingfa Sci. & Tech. is hereby announced. The project's production capacity is 8,000 tons per year, with main products including bio-based high-temperature nylon PA10T/1012, PA1012, PAMACM12, etc.

The proposed approval announcement for the Environmental Impact Report of the Gaodingshan Shenma Engineering Plastics High-Temperature Nylon 6T Resin Modification Project. The company currently operates with a total production capacity of 80,000 tons per year of Nylon 66 chips. This project has a total investment of 33 million yuan and is designed to produce 1,000 tons of high-temperature nylon resin. It plans to utilize part of the existing, now discontinued, 23,000-ton intermittent polymerization plant on the east side, floors 1 to 4, for modification (replacing a 1,000-ton capacity, while the remaining 22,000-ton production capacity will be separately modified in line with the company's development).

Long-chain nylon, represented by varieties such as PA11, PA12, PA610, PA1010, PA1012, PA1212, etc. (with the number of methylene groups in the molecule being ≥10), has advantages such as low water absorption, low-temperature resistance, and dimensional stability. It is used in automotive oil pipes, pneumatic brake hoses, submarine cables, 3D printing, and more.

International representative companies include Evonik (PA12), Ascend (PA610, PA612), Arkema (PA11, PA12), UBE, EMS (PA12), etc. Domestic companies include Wanhua Chemical (PA12), Dongchen Ruisen, Guangyin New Materials, and others.

It can be seen that currently the vast majority are mainly based on PA12, because its performance is nearly perfect. However, the price is still quite high in China, so PA1012 seems to have been developed as a potential replacement for PA12. In terms of modification, Huitong Co., Ltd. recently announced that it has successfully developed single-layer and multi-layer long-chain nylon tubing materials, which have already been used in the thermal management systems of many well-known automobile brands such as BYD, Seres, and Changan.

Representative varieties of high-temperature nylon include PA46, PA4T, PA6T, PA9T, PA10T, and PPA (polyphthalamide), which are mainly used in automotive engine parts, electronic connectors, and other applications. Major international companies include Evonik, Solvay, EMS, etc. Currently, domestic industrialization mainly focuses on semi-aromatic nylons, with a gap still existing. Key domestic enterprises include Kingfa Sci. & Tech., Sanli Bennu, and Water Shares. Recently, Water Shares postponed a 45,000-ton special polymer project, which includes high-temperature nylon. The research team from Zhengzhou University has established a thousand-ton-level production line for Nylon 12T.

Transparent nylon, with representative types such as PATMDT, PACM12, and PA6/66 copolymers, can achieve a light transmittance of up to 90%, which is higher than that of PC and close to PMMA. It is widely used in household products, electronic devices, precision optical instruments, sports equipment, healthcare, and the automotive industry.

Major global manufacturers include EMS (PAMACM12, PA6I/6T, PA6/12), Evonik (PAPACM12, PA6-3-T), Arkema (PAMACM4), BASF (PA6/66/136), and DuPont (PA6V6T/PACMI, PA6I/6T).

In July this year, Arkema announced plans to build a new Rilsan® Clear transparent polyamide production facility at its Singapore plant, with an investment of approximately $20 million. It is expected to officially commence production in the first quarter of 2026. Jinhui Kaifa Technology's project includes PAMACM12, which is a polymer formed from dodecanedioic acid and MACM (3,3'-dimethyl-4,4'-diaminodicyclohexylmethane), making it quite unique.

Bio-based nylon is defined by the sustainability of its raw materials and spans all categories of nylon. The core is the use of bio-based caprolactam, bio-based dicarboxylic acids, or bio-based diamines. Common types of bio-based nylons include nylon 11, nylon 1010, nylon 610, nylon 510, nylon 56, nylon 410, nylon 1012, nylon 12, etc., which are generally produced through either sugar-based or oil-based technological pathways.

The major global players include Arkema (PA11, PA1010, and PA610), Evonik (PA1010, PA610, PA1010, and PA1012), BASF (PA610 and PA11), DuPont (PA1010 and PA610), EMS-Grivory, Radici, Solvay, Toray, LG Chem, and others. In April this year, LG Chem launched a new bio-based nylon material called Earthyle™. This material uses lysine extracted from sugar as a raw material, which is then transformed into a key intermediate, PMDA, through bio-fermentation technology, and finally converted into the end material through polymerization processes.

The main domestic players are Cathay Biotech, Yipin Bio, and Kingfa Sci. & Tech., the project announced this time. Among them, Cathay Biotech has been more active in application promotion over the past year, including cooperation with CATL.

The core of bio-based nylon lies in the monomers, and many companies are also increasing efforts to certify upstream raw materials. For example, recently, Invista's plant in Victoria, Texas, received ISCC PLUS recertification for its bio, circular, bio-circular, and renewable products of adipic acid, adiponitrile (ADN), and hexamethylenediamine (HMD).

From the above, it can be seen that in terms of specialty nylon, the domestic industry is still at an early stage, with many varieties remaining unaddressed. Coupled with its application potential in new energy vehicles, low-altitude economy, and the explosive growth of these emerging industries, this may be the reason why the aforementioned companies are actively investing in these "niche" materials.