INVISTA Nylon Chemicals (China) Co. inaugurated its new adiponitrile (ADN) plant at the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park (SCIP). 

 

Being a critical part of INVISTA’s integrated nylon 6,6 value chain, the plant, which is a more than 7 billion RMB (over US $1 billion) investment, has a capacity of 400,000-ton/year and is the largest capital project in the company’s history. 

 

The plant will further boost local production capability for nylon 6,6 and help accelerate the high-quality upgrades of the Chinese chemical industry.

 

“We are excited about the completion of the ADN plant and are grateful for SCIP’s support through the entire project,” said Gary Knight. 

 

“INVISTA believes that China will be the largest consumer for nylon 6,6 in the near future, and the plant reinforces our long-term commitment by providing the key building block to produce nylon polymers. Together with our partners and customers, we hope to realize the full potential of the nylon industry and downstream applications areas," added Knight. 

 

"Today we are here to witness the signing, groundbreaking and start-up of several projects, which are led by the INVISTA ADN project that further enhances the efficiency and stability of the nylon 6,6 value and supply chains. These projects, like ‘water from the source,’ will contribute to Shanghai's nylon industry development and future material industrial zones," said Zhang Wei.

 

The new plant deploys INVISTA’s most advanced, proprietary, butadiene-based adiponitrile technology. In addition to advantages in commercial scale and overall efficiency, INVISTA’s ADN technology and manufacturing process result in up to 60% lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to propylene-based ADN and up to 80% lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to adipic acid-based ADN. Once in full operation, the new plant can support 800,000 tons of nylon 6,6 production every year.

 

In line with the need for reduced cost and improving demand, INVISTA’s nylon 6,6 value chain integrates the recently opened INVISTA Asia Innovation Center and existing HMD and polymer sites, providing a comprehensive capability ranging from application development and raw materials to high-performance polymer supply. ADN can be used to make nylon polymer, fibers and other specialty materials such as hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) for coatings.

 

INVISTA has also announced the start of construction for the project to double its nylon 6,6 polymer capacity to 400,000-ton/year.