Evonik begins production at new precipitated silica plant in US

Evonik Industries has started up a precipitated silica plant in South Carolina, USA. The German speciality chemicals firm has invested about $120-mn in this plant, in response to high demand from the tyre industry in North America.

The automotive sector needs highly dispersible precipitated silica for production of tyres with improved rolling resistance and better wet grip. Silicas are part of ‘Smart Materials’, one of Evonik’s four strategic growth engines.

Evonik will also produce the recently developed Ultrasil 7800 GR silica in South Carolina. Due to its larger specific surface area, Ultrasil 7800 GR gives the tread compound more rigidity without negatively impacting its processability. It is therefore particularly suitable for SUVs, whose main global market is the US.

Overall, Evonik has a global production capacity for all silica-based products of about 1-mtpa.