Recent Development in Polyacrylamide Industry

In June 2023, BASF, a leading German chemical company, and Avient, the biggest American manufacturer of polymers, announced that they were going to supply Ultrason high-performance polymers in bright colors to the international market in collaboration. Through aggregating their capacities under this deal, Ultrason—a sequence of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) polymers greatly in demand based on their greater strength, heat tolerance, and chemical stability—will gain access to a broader market and further make itself popular.

The plan with the two companies' colour versions of Ultrason is to meet growing volumes of demand for visually differentiated, tailor-made material for electronics, medical devices, and automotive markets. In support of enhancing the design and performance opportunities of high-performance polymers, the partnership leverages BASF's expertise in polymer innovation and Avient's technical expertise in colorant technology. Growth also reflects the companies' interest in delivering functional and sustainable solutions to high-growth industries that have applications that need advanced materials, thus emerging as world leaders in high-performance polymers.

In February 2022 Kemira, reaffirmed that it has initiated commercial production of its newly developed polymer-based polyacrylamide using biobased feedstock at a high scale. Kemira's vision of providing sustainable chemical solutions, particularly to water-scarce industries, is upheld by this significant development. In contrast to traditional petroleum-based products, biobased polyacrylamide provides a greener alternative, minimizing its environmental footprint and supporting the transition towards a circular economy. Kemira, through its manufacturing, seeks to meet the growing demand for green water treatment solutions, especially in the mining, oil and gas, and paper manufacturing industries.

Through this action, Kemira solidifies its position as a leader in sustainable chemistry and encourages global initiatives to slow down climate change and encourage greener industrial processes. The company's dedication to satisfying customer and environmental needs in a more environmentally conscious market is reflected in its investments in sustainability and innovation

In January 2022, Solenis acquired the entire issued capital of SCL GmbH, a company that manufactures DMA3, a key raw material for the production of cationic polyacrylamide. Solenis made the strategic acquisition as part of its market position enhancement strategy for polyacrylamide and insourcing milestones realization. To make the supply chain more effective and have a better-assured supply of this important raw material for making polyacrylamide, Solenis decided to produce DMA3 internally.

The transaction is consistent with Solenis' overall worldwide expansion strategy for polyacrylamide, which has widespread application in various industries such as mining, paper manufacturing, and water treatment. This move is a testament to Solenis' commitment to expanding its portfolio of products and market expansion in polyacrylamide, strengthening its leadership in the industry. This market expansion is driven by the increasing demand for efficient and eco-friendly water treatment technologies around the world, positioning Solenis to better meet the growing need for sustainable solutions across global markets.

The polyacrylamide market is witnessing huge growth, and the reason behind this is its widespread use in wastewater treatment owing to its high flocculating and coagulating capabilities.

One of the primary reasons is the increasing demand for water treatment products because polyacrylamide is extremely effective in flocculating and coagulating wastewater in various environments, such as the industrial, municipal, and agricultural sectors. The increasing mining and oil and gas industries are also driving the demand for polyacrylamide to be used in mineral processing and improved oil recovery. The market is growing with the booming construction industry, which applies polyacrylamide in cement additives and soil stabilization. The industry demand for bio-based polyacrylamide alternatives is also driven by the increasing focus on ecologically friendly and sustainable chemicals.

Sources: Company: Kemira

Company: BASF

News outlet: Business wire