Technip Stone & Webster Process Technology

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) Emulsion Technology

Polybutadiene • ABS High Rubber Graft Styrene Acrylonitrile • Compounding

A key thermoplastic used in the electronics, appliances, building, construction and transportation industries is poly (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene), or ABS. SABIC’s ABS process technology is one of the most extensive in the industry offering unique, reliable, high quality products and exceptional health, safety and environmental performance. The technology includes recently patented processes that have been commercially proven at multiple locations during the last 10 years and longer. Technip Stone & Webster Process Technology is the exclusive worldwide licensor of this modernized technology.

SABIC has a leading position in North America, with four ABS manufacturing sites and the broadest product offering. SABIC’s ABS product portfolio, marketed under the brand name CYCOLAC*, encompasses a versatile family of thermoplastics designed for both high volume and specialty applications. The portfolio provides an array of products that can meet the most demanding application requirements. SABIC ABS offers excellent mechanical, thermal, and processing performance and provides both high and low gloss finishes standard and high heat capability, excellent electrical properties and flame performance. It also offers food and medical capability and an array of paint-

ability, plate-ability and chemical resistance to meet the widest range of application requirements.

The technology is comprised of four process elements: polybutadiene latex polymerization, high-rubber graft (HRG) polymerization and isolation, styrene acrylonitrile (SAN) polymerization, and final product compounding. All reaction processes have inherently safe design characteristics and all process elements have been optimized for maximum productivity.

StyreneAcrylonitrile

Butadiene

BD Wash

BD Recovery

Vacuum Reactor,Utility, Flash

PBD LatexStorage

Particle SizeAdjustment Technology

BD Reaction

BD Flash

HRG Reaction

HRG ResinCoagulation

HRG ResinDewater/Dry SAN Pelletizing

MonomerRecovery

SAN Degassing

SAN Reaction

Recycle

SAN PelletStorage

HRG ResinStorage

ABS Compounding

Packaging

ProductWarehouse

Additives

Chain Transfer

Initiator

ABS Emulsion ProcessBlock Diagram

Cycolac* ABS Emulsion Technology n Excellent HSE performance—exceeds current

North American regulatory requirements n Inherently safe reaction processes n High reactor productivity n Exceptional product quality n A broad family of products to meet the most

demanding application requirements n Competitive capital and operating costs n Commitment to process and product development

SABIC ABS Plant, Emulsion Process, Ottawa

*Trademark of SABIC’s product

ABS

Advantages:nn Reactor capability: • Higher reactor utilization due to semi-batch process

that utilizes 85-90% of available working capacity compared to batch process using as little as 70-75%;

• Significantly shorter reaction cycle compared to standard batch and direct growth technologies (8 hours versus 18-48 hours);

• Clean reactor technology only requires one shutdown per quarter;

• Even heat load and patented technology to improve heat transfer resulting in lower cooling water demand;

• Higher reactor productivity resulting in fewer number of reactors and lower capital cost;

• An efficient monomer recovery process and outstanding emulsion stability result in a process yield greater than 99.5%

nn Health, Safety, and Environmental performance: • Fail safe technology—the exothermic reaction stops

when feeds are stopped; • Semi-batch operation results in lower monomer

inventory, and reduced runaway reaction potential. nn Products: • One polybutadiene product results in simplified

operation and cost effect operation; • Bi-modal particle-size distribution results in improved

flow/ impact balance and low emulsifier non-polymer impurities in the final product.

Polybutadiene Process

High Rubber Graft (HRG) Process

This semi-batch resin process is also a patented process technology. The process has been in service for 15+ years at three production sites without a major process safety incident. This represents more than 150 reactor-years of operation. A major process chemistry improvement was made in 2001 to minimize emissions and maximize conversion.

This semi-batch polybutadiene process is a unique, patented technology that produces the key building block that differentiates SABIC’s process and products from the competition. The process has been in service for more than 10 years at two production sites, representing more than 100 reactor-years of operation.

Advantages:nn Reactor capability • Significantly shorter reaction cycle compared to

standard technologies (4.25 hours versus 8-16 hours) • Significantly higher rubber content allows for lower

HRG usage and results in lower capital cost and lower operating costs

• Special reactor cleaning technology allows a reduction in reactor cleaning shutdowns to once per year

nn Health, Safety, and Environmental performance • Fail safe technology—exothermic reaction stops when

feeds are stopped

• Semi-batch operation results in lower monomer inventory, and reduced runaway reaction potential

• Patented technology results in higher monomer conversion (> 99.8 percent) resulting in lower emissions and higher yield

nn Product • One high rubber graft product results in simplified

operation and cost effect operation • Optimized impact-flow performance with low organic

volatiles and non-polymer impurities

Polybutadiene Latex Reactors

HRG Reactors

TECHNIP HEADQUARTERSTechnip89 Avenue de la Grande Armée75773 Paris Cedex 16 France Phone: +33 (0)1 47 78 24 00

Technip Stone & Webster Process Technology

HEADQUARTERS Brent SCHIER1430 Enclave ParkwayHoustonTexas 77077 - USAPhone: +1 281 848 5234Fax: +1 281 848 5392Email: bschier@technip.com

USAMassachusettsVincent WELCHOne Financial CenterBoston, MA 02111Phone: +1 617 748 7240Fax: +1 617 748 7127Email: vwelch@technip.com

This document is the property of Technip and is not intended to be a binding contractual document. Any information contained herein shall not result in any binding obligation on the part of Technip, or any of its affiliates, and is provided for information purposes only.

Styrene Acrylonitrile (SAN) ProcessThis process has been in service for more than 30 years without a major process safety incident. The process was recently optimized to improve productivity and product quality.

Advantages:nn Reactor capability • Continuous reaction process results in

high reactor productivity • Efficient reaction and monomer recovery

process resulting in >99% yield • Robust and flexible process allows for

multiple co-monomers and various % acrylonitrile content

nn Health, Safety, and Environmental performance • A chemically initiated reaction minimizes

reaction runaway potential • No solvents used in manufacturing or

cleaning processes – Very low emissions—integral vapor recovery system in process design

nn Products • Chemically initiated technology results in

excellent color, low residual monomers, low oligomers, narrow molecular weight distribution and good impact/ flow balance

• Versatile process technology allows production of polymer products with acrylonitrile content up to 34%

Versatile process technology allows production of a wide variety of molecular weight polymers with the ability to rapidly transition between products

Compounding ProcessThis extrusion process is optimized to control specific energy and provide the best quality with minimum energy usage. It also provides maximum product flexibility and cost effective production.

Advantages: nn Compounding extruders• Optimized extruder sizes from 70 mm

to 133 mm for flexibility and maximum productivity

• Investment reduction opportunity available by optimizing production line capacity based on product families

• Robust rework capability to maximize yield

nn Health, Safety, and Environmental performance• Advanced compositional control ensures

oxidative stability during processing to improve operational safety

• Low emissions due to optimization of polymer intermediates and vacuum vent system

nn Products • Product portfolio with more than 23

grades to meet demanding customer requirements

• Additive flexibility allows easy development of specialty products –Natural/black/white to custom colors possible

• Vacuum venting results in low residual monomer levels and reduced non-polymer impurities

• Excellent product portfolio for general purpose molding and extrusion; high heat ABS; building and construction grades; appliances; fire retardant ABS; and specialty grades for anti-static and low/high gloss applications

Compounding and Storage SilosSAN Unit