There will be no shortage of engineering compounds availablewhen the economy returns to normal. Major companies are opening large amounts of new capacity, showingconfidence in engineering resin demand, as well as the economy.

ChevronPhillips Chemical Co. announced that a new 10,000 metric-ton-per-year Rytonpolyphenylene sulfide (PPS) plant in Borger, TX is mechanically complete. Theplant is currently in the commissioning and start-up phase, with commercialproduct available soon. Builtside-by-side to an existing PPS plant in Borger,the new facility expands the company's total PPS capacity at the site to 20,000metric tons per year.

"With the start-up of the new plant, Chevron PhillipsChemical now has the broadest portfolio of PPS polymers available," says MarkAmelunke, general manager of the company's engineering polymers group.

Polyphenylene sulfide is a dimensionally stable polymerknown for its ability to resist chemical and thermal attack. PPS is also aprecursor to a conducting polymer. Oneway to identify a component made from the plastic is by the metallic sound itmakes when struck.

Much of the PPS produced by ChevronPhillips will be sent to ChevronPhillips Chemical's compounding facilities in LaPorte,TX and Kallo, Belgium whereit is compounded with glass fibers and minerals to boost strength.

PPS is used in injection molding, blow molding andextrusion applications for computer components, automobile parts, industrialparts, fibers and various electrical appliances. Chevron Phillips Chemical isequally owned by Chevron and ConocoPhillips and is headquartered in TheWoodlands, TX.

Other producers of PPS include Ticona (Fortron), Sabic InnovativePlastics (Supec), Solvay Advanced Polymers (Primef) and Toray (Torellina).
Earlier this year, Ticona announced development of a low-viscosity grade ofFortron PPS that meets requirements for low-halogen materials.
Design News reportedearlier that capacity for compounded nylon is being expanded by Invista. SabicInnovative Plastics is also boosting capacity to produce polycarbonate.

ChevronPhillips doubles PPS capacity in Texas A