Proprietary process technology SBS Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene block copolymers Versalis proprietary process technologies available for licensing II 1 Our company Our commitment to excellence, in quality of our Versalis – the petrochemical subsidiary of Eni – is products and services, makes our company an active a dynamic player in its industry sector facing the partner for the growth of customers involved in multifold market needs through different skills. petrochemical business. With a history as European manufacturer with more Through engineering services, technical assistance, than 50 years of operating experience, Versalis stands marketing support and continuous innovation, our as a complete, reliable and now global supplier in the knowledge is the key strength to customize any new basic chemicals, intermediates, plastics and elastomers project throughout all phases. market with a widespread sales network. Customers can rely on this strong service-oriented Relying on continuous development in its production outlook and benefit from a product portfolio that plants as well as in its products, strengthening the strikes a perfect balance of processability and management of the knowledge gained through its long mechanical properties, performance and industrial experience, Versalis has become a worldwide eco-friendliness. licensor of its proprietary technologies and proprietary catalysts. The strong integration between R&D, Technology and Engineering departments, as well as a deep market expertise, are the key strengths for finding answers to customers requirements. Introduction to Versalis SBS technology SBS copolymers, made by styrene and butadiene production in the same unit of Low Cis Butadiene linked homopolymer blocks, belong to the class Rubber (LCBR) grades and/or SB (diblock styrene- of thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), whose elastic butadiene polymers) used mainly for plastic behaviour – the properties to change and recover the modification or tyre market is possible; shape when a force is first applied and then removed process design advanced features in – and thermoplastic behaviour – the property to polymerization and purification sections; become soften, viscous and free-flowing like a liquid optimized configuration of the stripping section when heated and return solid when cooled at room with three stages arrangement to minimize steam temperature – are joined together in the same material. consumption without impact emissions of VOC; The elastic/rubbery and thermoplastic/viscous small quantity of volatile organic compounds behaviours are displayed at room and high (solvent) enter finishing section (low release during temperatures respectively allowing the fabrication extrusion). 2 of TPE goods having the same rubbery feeling than production plants and the acquired experience regenerative-type thermal oxidizer (ISBL) in order to 3 traditional vulcanized rubbers, but considerably less Versalis can always provide appropriate solutions to transferred to the licensed technology, in order to minimize the environmental impact of the process. expensive in manufacturing process due to the full different client’s needs thanks to its capabilities and reach not only the best process performances, but also Normal process venting are collected and can be sent recyclability of scraps, the shorter cycle, time and the experience in the following fields: a safe and reliable plant arrangement. to flare or other OSBL systems. easier process automation/robot assistance. This balance between properties and processability Research & Development Mechanical design Industrial applications leads SBS based material focusing on unique The presence of a strong R&D team, established in Versalis Engineering Dept. has been working in close Versalis is currently one of the major industrial applications instead of only replacing general-purpose Ravenna since the early 70s, qualifies Versalis as coordination with the Process Dept. since a long time. producer of SBS polymer. Three industrial units rubber. Versalis SBS technology is well-known for its an outstanding owner of know-how in the field of This fact has allowed to develop unique and well worldwide, in Italy, Far East and US, are currently based high flexibility in tailoring the different product grades elastomers. Reliable and updated facilities (pilot plants, sound engineering solutions for critical equipment, on proprietary SBS technology. Another unit is under required by the SBS market which is characterized synthesis and analytical labs, equipment for elastomer that guarantee the best results in terms of mechanical construction in the Mid East Area. The Italian plant by a continuous product innovation to meet new processing), allow Versalis to continuously up-to-date reliability and process performances.Versalis SBS is on stream since 1970 based on a current 90 kt/y application requirements. Versalis SBS technology the technology in order to support the elastomers technology allows to provide with a single line a fairly capacity, which has been reached throughout two allows then competitive production of the most business in a very competitive and demanding market broad range of economically feasible capacities: plant revampings, in 1991 and in 2001. common SBS grades, as well as additional grades for scenario. Additional services are then available for up to 50 kt/y per reaction unit, up to 30 kt/y per single The US plant is on stream since 1992 based on a special applications. potential Licensees, such as technical assistance, finishing line. current 45 kt/y capacity; since 2003 this plant is no Key features of Versalis SBS production technology training, development of analytical methods, site longer property of Versalis. The Far East plant has are: assistance for start-up and follow up, development Wastes and emissions been recently set on stream (2009) and is based on high flexibility in terms of product mix and good of tailor made products on demand. The process produces oily waste water which a current 80 kt/y capacity. A fourth unit (based on quality constancy and reproducibility; can be treated in a normal bio-treatment. Large 30 kt/y capacity of SBS and 30 kt/y of SB/LCBR) has high plant capability as well as easy operability due Process design & operational experience waste air emissions from finishing require only a been licensed in Middle East and is currently under to both specifically designed feeding system for Process design is flexible and able to face different scrubbing process (dedusting). Some selected exhaust construction. chemicals and batch automation; conditions and constraints. Any project is individually streams from finishing section are usually sent to a cyclopentane, cyclohexane or blend highly evaluated to offer the best solution, tailored to specific compatible with all different polymer compositions customers needs. Thermal and fluodynamic analysis can be used as solvent depending on local climate (CFD) can be applied to the design of key equipment conditions; such as reactors, agitators and strippers. high purity linear and radial triblock polymers, with The design takes also advantage of the Versalis four arms, are allowed by the proper selection of long-term manufacturing experience. halosilane structure as coupling agent; New technological solutions are first tested in The Europrene® SBS block copolymers portfolio Material properties are mainly dictated by the ratio The Versalis proprietary SBS technology allows the between polystyrene and polybutadiene amounts as production of many grades of Dry and Oil Extended well as by the molecular weight of the homopolymer polymers, mainly characterized by a different blocks. At microscopic scale, low styrene content percentage of styrene block as well as by different elastomers show a morphology of polystyrene spheres linear or radial molecular structures. with dimensions of 300-350 angstrom dispersed in a rubbery matrix while the progressive increase of Such portfolio of products is continuously improved by styrene content leads polystyrene spheres to change our R&D centers through market feedback. All polymer into cylinders and then into lamellae. A further increase grades are stabilized with a specifically designed in styrene content turns the material into a plastic antioxidant package. Versatile tuning of final product matrix in which the dispersed elastomer gradually properties can be easily obtained by mixing with changes from cylinders up to spheres. The material other polymers, oil and fillers allowing wide product 4 Main process parameters then behaves as a vulcanised elastomer at low styrene applications, ranging from enhancer of bitumen 5 content, when the elastomeric phase is the continuous performance in road paving and roofing applications per MT of oil extended SBS one, while impact resistance properties predominate (particularly under extreme weather conditions), at low butadiene content, when the polystyrene phase through adhesives, sealants, coatings, footwear up to Raw material (Butadiene + Styrene + Paraffinic oil extensor) 1,010 kg becomes the continuous one. compounds able to enhance grip, feel, and appearance properties in toys, automotive, personal hygiene, and Electricity 0.55 MWh A proper pre-definition of both molecular weights packaging goods market. and molecular weight distribution of the blocks, as Steam (medium pressure + low pressure(1)) 5 MT well as their purity, avoids the progressive worsening of the mechanical characteristics due to poor phase separation. per MT of dry SBS Raw material (Butadiene