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China trial runs a rare-earth based synthetic rubber plant

The facility, run by a PetroChina subsidiary, will produce 100,000 tonnes per year after starting production on July 16.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Mining

Chinese researchers say they have completed trials of a rare-earth based synthetic rubber production facility that is intended to industrialize a key input for making electric vehicle and heavy-duty vehicle tyres. SCMP Economy reports the unit is backed by research from the Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry and builds on decades of rare earth catalytic work.

The plant is being developed by Dushanzi Petrochemical, a Xinjiang-based PetroChina subsidiary, and is designed for capacity of 100,000 tonnes a year. Production began on July 16, according to the report.

The synthetic rubber at the center of the effort is butadiene rubber, a resilient, wear-resistant material used for tyres and other higher quality rubber products. The article notes that cis-butadiene rubber is a higher-grade form engineered for improved durability and elasticity.

The production process typically relies on a metal-based catalyst, including nickel, titanium, cobalt, or rare earth metals. SCMP Economy adds that one major catalytic system uses neodymium, a rare earth metal produced mainly in China, as part of the butadiene rubber manufacturing approach.

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