Dupont Buys Eastman’s Crystallines Business

DuPont Engineering Polymers, Troy, MI, has purchased the crystalline plastics business of Eastman Chemical, Kingsport, TN. The business involves Eastman’s Titan liquid crystal polymers, Thermx EG reinforced thermoplastic polyesters, and Thermx PCT polycyclohexylene dimethyl terephthalates, and includes intellectual property and customer bases but no physical assets or staff. Terms were not disclosed.

Titan will be integrated into DuPont’s Zenite LCP line, giving it products with added toughness and weld-line strength. Thermx EG will be folded into DuPont’s Rynite range. Plans are to phase out the Eastman brand names. Phil Griswold, vp. and general manager of Eastman’s specialty plastics business, says the supplier is focusing on its amorphous copolyesters and cellulosics businesses.

PCT will be a new offering from DuPont. It provides the dimensional stability and thermal capabilities of thermoplastic polyesters for electronics applications such as surface-mount circuit boards, says the firm. The Thermx PCT brand name will be retained.

DuPont will assume production of Titan and Thermx EG resins at existing DuPont facilities — Chattanooga, TN, for the former, and Parkersburg, WV; Ulsan, South Korea; and Mechelen, Belgium, for the latter. Eastman will supply the materials during the transition, and produce Thermx PCT under a long-term agreement, notes Paul Flynn, business market manager. Eastman’s LCP and thermoplastic polyester plants will be converted for other products.