Core Technologies of Nippon Shokubai

Since its founding, Nippon Shokubai has used world-class vapor phase oxidation reaction to consistently produce acrylic acid, ethylene oxide, and other basic chemicals. We have developed business around the world for the superabsorbent polymers and other polymer products using these monomers. We also harness our core technologies—Inorganic Catalyst, Organic Synthesis, Polymer—to:

  • Apply advanced catalyst design and mass production technology in the environmental purification and fuel cell fields, among others.
  • Develop markets for uniquely structured, functional chemicals and monomers produced using our proprietary organic synthesis and mass production technology.
  • Respond to our customers’ needs by producing functional polymers in safe, stable processes using proprietary designs and monomers that must be handled with care.

We intend to continue striving to create products that contribute to the global environment and people’s lives while utilizing and advancing our core technologies and making proactive efforts to create and incorporate new technologies.

Core technologies

Continuously integrate and innovate around three core technologies to create products with high-added value.

figure of three core technologies
  • The company’s business domains are displayed under Materials (Basic Materials Business and Acrylics Business) and Solutions (Industrial & Household Solutions and Energy & Electronics Solutions)
  • Key materials: Nippon Shokubai’s proprietary high-performance chemicals and monomers

Inorganic
Catalyst
Vapor phase oxidation control technologies

Technologies by which we control temperature, pressure, feed gas, and catalyst properties to efficiently produce ethylene oxide, acrylic acid, and other chemicals through vapor phase oxidation reactions. We also devote energy to creating higher-performance catalysts in an effort to establish eco-friendly chemicals production technologies.

Example products:Acrylic acid, acrylates, ethylene oxide

Inorganic
Catalyst
Catalyst design and mass-production technologies

Technologies by which we design catalysts based on advanced control of catalytic components, crystalline structures, acid-base properties, micropores, catalytic geometry, and other parameters with respect to target reactions. We also own technologies for mass-producing catalysts, which we amassed in the process of commercializing chemical synthesis catalysts and environmental catalysts.

Example products:Environmental catalysts

Nippon Shokubai products in action!

De-NOx catalysts

Catalysts that convert the nitrogen oxides(NOx) in the exhaust from waste incinerators or industrial boilers into nitrogen and water.

Organic
Synthesis
Functional monomer manufacturing technologies

The reactivity of the many different functional monomers makes it quite difficult to produce them in large quantities. We control the danger by preventing the monomers from polymerizing during production. The result is a safe, consistent production process. These efforts are at the core of our production technology, and we continue to improve and advance them day by day.

Example products:Acrylic acid, acrylates, ethylene oxide, specialty monomers

Nippon Shokubai products in action!

Acrylates

These monomers are the raw materials for high-performance coating. As a key ingredient in the top coats of motor vehicles, they help protect auto bodies.

Organic
Synthesis
High-performance molecular design technologies

With detailed designs down to the molecular level, we achieve the ideal structure and synthesis for chemical compounds to efficiently exhibit the desired properties. We also own technologies for realizing high yields and purity for the compounds, equipping us to rapidly discover optimal solutions for customers. 

Example products:Electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries

Nippon Shokubai products in action!

IONEL™

This electrolyte for lithium-ion batteries improves battery performance across a wide range of temperatures and is a component of electric vehicle batteries.

PolymerSuperabsorbent polymer production technologies

We have established processes for acrylic acid polymerization/gelation, drying, pulverization/classification, surface-bridging, and other aspects of superabsorbent polymer production. Each of our processes is highly efficient, energy saving, and linked to the others. We also own many fundamental technologies for meticulously meeting to needs in terms of the comfort of disposable diapers, the main end use of superabsorbent polymers.

Example products:Superabsorbent polymers

Nippon Shokubai products in action!

AQUALIC™ CA

Just 1 g of AQUALIC™ CA can absorb 100 to 1,000 g of water. As a material used to make disposable diapers, this chemical product reduces the burden of caring for children and elderly people.

PolymerSpecialty monomer development and utilization technologies

Our ability to do everything from designing to synthesizing and polymerizing uniquely structured monomers allows us to offer many products with unique functions that cannot be created simply by combining existing monomers. We also safely and consistently combine highly toxic and dangerous monomers to create high-performance polymer products.

Example products:Specialty monomers (VEEA ™, AOMA ™), resist materials, ethyleneimine derivatives

Nippon Shokubai products in action!

VEEA™/AOMA™

The excellent dilutability and UV curing properties of these products make them an apt choice for high-definition QR code printing as well as printing labels for cosmetics and other products.

PolymerHigh-performance polymer design and manufacturing technologies

We use elaborate polymer structure designs and precise polymerization technologies to develop exactly what our customers need. We have also established systems for smoothly upscaling processes from the lab to the production stage, which allows us to respond to our customers’ desires without delay. 

Example products:High-performance acrylic resins, high-performance surfactants, water-soluble polymers

Nippon Shokubai products in action!

UWR™

Resins for coating that deliver unprecedented ultra-weatherability and high gloss. These resins are used in many coatings, mainly for construction materials and architectural exteriors.

SOFTANOL™

Low-irritation, biodegradable surfactants that improve the performance of dish soap and laundry detergent and reduce the environmental impact of wastewater.

AQUALOC™

This highly dispersive comb-shaped polymer for strengthening concrete is used in large bridge piers, roadways, and other structures where safety and reliability are essential.

Polymer Fine particle synthesis and manufacturing technologies

We combined the elaborate structural designs of inorganic, organic, and hybrid particles with various fine particle synthesis technology (e.g. suspension/emulsion polymerization, sol-gel reactions, hydrothermal synthesis) and pulverizing/classification technology to develop exactly what our customers need. We have also developed surface treatments, solvent dispersions, and other processes for supplying customers with products in the desired state.

Example products:Fine particles

Nippon Shokubai products in action!

SEAHOSTAR™/EPOSTAR™

With a wide range of refractive indices and a full lineup of average particle sizes from submicron to 10 μm, these products are used in the optical films of LCD panels and as diffusion agents in LED lighting.

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