Soarus commercializes vinyl alcohol resin for fuel cells
Soarus LLC has commercialized Nichigo G-Polymer, a water solution polymer with potential uses in fuel cell systems.
Soarus, based in Arlington Heights, Ill., introduced the material earlier this year, commercial development manager Jim Swager said in a recent phone interview. The material is made at two Japanese plants operated by Soarus’ parent firm, Nippon Gohsei Co. Ltd. of Osaka, Japan. Current annual capacity for G-Polymer is about 5 million pounds.
Production can be added if needed at a Nippon Gohsei plant making EVOH (ethylene vinyl alcohol) resins in La Porte, Texas, but Swager said that Soarus has no definite timetable on when that move will be made.
G-Polymer is described as a high amorphous content vinyl alcohol resin where crystallinity can be tailored down to the point of being totally amorphous. The material, available in pellet or powder form, has excellent gas barrier properties and can be used in household power fuel cell systems and in fuel cell powered cars. G-Polymer can be used in all extrusion processes as well as in injection molding and also is biocompostable, officials said.
Swager said G-Polymer bridges the gap between EVOH and PVOH (polyvinyl alcohol) resins. Officials also said the material provides high strength, flexibility and antistatic properties when used in nonwoven fabrics, polymer alloys, multilayer film and similar applications.
Soarus represents Nippon Gohsei’s North American technical and marketing efforts for Soarnol-brand EVOH and other related products.
