French chemicals company Arkema (Colombe) has announced that it will increase production capacity of its new Kepstan polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) in France and the United States to meet growing demand for the material in carbon-fiber composites and 3D printing applications.
Arkema intends to double production at its French facility by mid-2016. The company also plans to build a PEKK production plant at its Mobile, AL, site, which it wants to bring on stream in the second half of 2018. Currently the Mobile plant manufactures products based on acrylic polymers, thio chemicals and organo tins.
Characterized by its compatibility with a range of processing technologies and its thermo-mechanical behavior, PEKK complements the company's range of thermoplastic resins and broadens applications in the aerospace, energy and electronics sectors, says Arkema. The company already has a large footprint within those sectors through its Rilsan (PA11) and Kynar (PVDF) specialty polymers, as well as its Elium acrylic resins.
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Arkema has a global presence with 19,000 employees and operates research centers in North America, France and Asia. It reports annual revenue of approximately €7.6 billion.
