With this new achievement, Braskem consolidates its leadership position in technology and innovation in the regional market, reaching one of the most promising and challenging frontiers in the area of polymer science and materials in general.

"Braskem has been committed to investing in technology and innovation since the company was founded because that is the way to add value throughout the sector’s productive chain and to increase its competitiveness, providing the consumer with ever more differentiated final products with more affordable prices," underscores José Carlos Grubisich, Braskem president. This new product reinforces the company’s specialties line, which is in tune with its objective of focusing on market segments with greater profitability.

This polypropylene with nanocomposites was developed at the Braskem Center for Technology and Innovation in Triunfo,RS, in partnership with the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul’s Department of Chemistry. It is the result of a R$ 5 million investment and the extreme dedication of a highly competent team focused on nanotechnology comprised of 15 specialists and researchers.
 
The result of this effort is a material four times more resistant to impacts when compared to the same resin, whether national or imported, manufactured using traditional technology. It also has other exclusive characteristics. It can be used in the production of lighter pieces and components for vehicles, or in packaging that is more resistant to heat, sunlight and humidity, improving both performance and safety, important additional benefits offered by the resin.

Furthermore, Braskem’s launch substantially increases today’s application with traditional resin. "The development of this new resin and the beginning of production open new opportunities for the petrochemical sector’s third generation, which is comprised of thousands of transformers that seek differentiated materials to satisfy client needs," underscores Luiz de Mendonça, vice-president of the company’s Polyolefins Units.

The polypropylene produced with nanotechnology is already being tested by Braskem clients who have begun to develop new applications for the resin. One of these clients is Termolar, a renowned Brazilian manufacturer of thermoses headquartered in Rio Grande do Sul. Based on the first prototypes, the company found great advantages in using the resin, which provides better performance to the final product and adds more value.

Braskem’s capacity to produce polypropylene with nanocomposites will reach 10 thousand tons/year starting mid-2007. This volume could be doubled every six months according to market demand or depending on the speed in which the transformers adapt their machines to take advantage of all the new resin’s qualities and properties. Estimated market potential for the resins produced using technology in Brazil is 100 thousand tons/year over the next ten years.

According to Luís Fernando Cassinelli, director of the Braskem Center for Technology and Innovation, the new resin places the country at the forefront of the international petrochemical sector in nanotechnology and stands out as the best response to the world market"s new demands. "Besides attending to internal market needs, Braskem’s launch has great export potential since it meets the expectations of globalized sectors such as automobiles and household appliances," says Cassinelli.