China’s Sunsine expanding rubber accelerator capacity

Singapore – Chinese rubber chemicals producer China Sunsine Chemical Holdings Ltd has received government approval to trial run an expansion project in Shandong province.

Subsidiary Shandong Sunsine Chemical Co. Ltd is completing the 30-kilotonne-per-annum (ktpa) TBBS (N- tert-butyl-benzothiazole sulphonamide) project in two phases, the company said 10 Jan.

The first phase, rated at 10ktpa, has now been completed and commercial production will start upon the successful completion of the trial run.

Once operational, the phase 1 will increase the group’s TBBS production capacity for the accelerator to 97ktpa.

TBBS is a delayed action accelerator with fast cure rate. It also possesses good anti-scorching quality and is processing-safe.

Sunsine asserts that it is the world’s largest accelerator manufacturer as well as China’s biggest producer of insoluble sulphur (IS) – used in the rubber industry to avoid blooming in high-temperature mixing.

Sunsine added that it is trial running a 10ktpa IS expansion project but did not elaborate further on the location of new plant.

Listed on SGX-ST (Singapore Stock Exchange), Sunsine produces rubber accelerators, insoluble sulphur, other vulcanising agents and antioxidants.

According to its website, the company supplies to major tiremakers, including Bridgestone, Michelin, Goodyear, Pirelli and Sumitomo Rubber.