History of Nippon Shokubai

During World War II, producing munitions was the priority. Once the war ended, Japan saw soaring demand in various industries related to food, clothing, and housing due to recovery efforts. The phthalic anhydride we developed in 1941 was in high demand as a raw material for aircraft coatings and plastics during the war. Afterward, it was used as a plasticizer for vinyl chloride resin, which was being used for everything from clothing to construction materials and beyond, thus contributing to the development of the vinyl chloride industry.

Rapid economic growth and the desire for convenience and comfort for more affluent lifestyles drove mass production, which resulted in growing demand for the chemical goods needed to create the underlying materials and products. The ethylene oxide we developed in 1959 has contributed significantly to the development of the Japanese petrochemical industry, and is now used as a raw material for many familiar items, including PET plastic bottles, polyester, construction materials, and detergents.

Began in-house, low-cost, large-scale production of acrylic acid amid challenging economic circumstances, including a 20% reduction of operations by synthetic fiber manufacturers due to trade friction between Japan and the USA and rising crude oil prices from OPEC. Our acrylic acid was used as a raw material for coating and adhesives, and we also used it to produce derivative products such as superabsorbent polymer AQUALIC™ CA.

In 1985, as more women began working outside the home and demand increased for products to reduce the burden of childcare, we began mass-producing superabsorbent polymer AQUALIC™ CA, which dramatically increased the performance of disposable diapers. The excellent absorbency and liquid retention of our superabsorbent polymers has reduced the average number of daily diaper changes, contributing to better living by making childcare less burdensome.

Larger, thinner LCD TVs and the advent and proliferation of smartphones drove demand for optical films for flat-panel displays. Our commercialization of high-performance acrylic resin ACRYVIEWA™, a functional polymer with high transparency and advanced optical properties and durability, in 2006 contributed to the popularization of digital devices.

Lithium-ion batteries have underpinned the proliferation of mobile phones, smartphones, and other devices. IONEL™ is used as an electrolyte for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that works effectively, within a broad temperature range from low to high temperatures, to improve cycle durability, rate capability and preservation stability, as well as in preventing battery pack bulging. In line with the moves to mitigate climate change and promote efficient energy use, applications of IONELTM are expected to expand especially in the fields of electric vehicles (EV) and electricity storage in the future.