After an abnormal chemical reaction, a fire broke out at Nippon Shokubai Co.’s plant in Japan. An acrylic acid storage residue tank exploded around 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, the fire later spread to another acrylic acid tank and a toluene tank. The plant produces about 20% of the world’s SAP and 10% of global output of acrylic acid.
Nippon Shokubai Co., LTD in Japan
The monomer of poly (PAA, CAS number 9003-1-04) is acrylic acid; a high volume chemical that feeds into a broad range of products. Used to make highly water-absorbent resins, one of the main applications is in the manufacturing of super-absorbent polymers that can soak up large amounts of liquid – mainly disposable diapers. A super-absorbent polyacrylic acid (SAP) was patented in 1966 by Gene Harper of Dow Chemical and Carlyle Harmon of Johnson & Johnson; it was first used in diapers in 1982. Nippon Shokubai is one of the world’s biggest makers of acrylic acid, the main ingredient of a resin called SAP.
Polyacrylic acid is found in a wide variety of household and personal care products:
- Hand sanitizer
- Mascara
- Aftershave
- Toothpaste
- Hair-styling products (gels, dyes, sprays)
- Moisturizer
- Pet shampoo
- Metal polish
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Tags: acrylic acid, CAS number 9003-1-04, chemical, disposable diapers, imports, Japan, manufacturing, poly, polyacrylic acid, resin, SAP, U.S. imports
December 31, 2012 at 10:56 am |
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