Zeon to hike acrylic rubber capacity

Zeon Chemicals L.P. plans to boost production capacity of HyTemp acrylic rubber at its Louisville factory to meet growing global demand for the oil-resistant material.
The division of Japan's Zeon Corp. will hike capacity by 1½ times the facility's current level by next July. The company didn't disclose capacity figures for the synthetic rubber, nor the cost of the project. The International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers lists total capacity at the facility at 5,100 metric tons per year.
Zeon said demand for the rubber, used primarily for automotive seals and hoses, has risen in recent years along with vehicle production and the need for long-life products throughout the world.
Additionally, higher engine temperatures in response to the need for lower fuel consumption and the increase in the use of turbocharger systems means demand will rise for superior heat- and oil-resistant acrylic rubbers, Zeon said.