Huntsman Amines Bridge Gap In Beijing-Shanghai Rail Project
EVERBERG, Belgium - A series of concrete bridges that support a new high-speed rail line connecting Beijing and Shanghai is set to benefit from the protective properties of specialty polyetheramines from the Performance Products division of Huntsman Corporation.
The Chinese Ministry of Railways is building a 1300 km (800 miles) dedicated passenger rail link to ease pressure on one of China’s busiest transport routes. Due to be operational by 2012, the new track runs parallel to an existing freight route and will carry an estimated 220,000 passengers a day. Trains are expected to reach up to 350 km per hour (185mph) cutting the journey time between the two cities from 14 hours to approximately four and a half.
The route crosses the Yellow River and the Yangtze delta. Because of the soft terrain in this area and the need to minimize land usage, almost 80 per cent of the line is being built on metal and concrete bridges that are compatible with the transportation system already in place. It is on these structures that Huntsman's polyetheramines have been put to good use.
JEFFAMINE® D-2000, JEFFAMINE® T-5000 and JEFFAMINE® D-400 polyetheramines have been used to create a polyurea-based coating that is being sprayed onto the bridges’ concrete slabs, which act as a hard-wearing base for the ballastless tracks. Forming a waterproof, protective layer, the coating will guard the concrete against weather, abrasion and general wear and tear – extending the lifetime of the bridges and reducing long-term maintenance costs.
JEFFAMINE® products were specified by some of the top systems houses involved in the rail scheme. With excellent physical properties, the role of the amines is to ensure that the final coating formulation reacts quickly once applied, remains unaffected by moisture and temperature changes during application and cures without the need for a catalyst.
Work to apply the JEFFAMINE®-based coating to the Beijing-Shanghai rail bridges is scheduled for completion by September 2010. Most of the amines used are being manufactured at Huntsman’s Asia-Pacific polyetheramine plant in Singapore.
JEFFAMINE® polyetheramines are part of an expanding range from Huntsman’s Performance Products division – one of the world's largest amine producers. They enhance the manufacture and functionality of a wide variety of products including coatings and paints, furniture polish, automotive seat cushions, herbicides, lubricants and fuel additives, and liquid detergents.
About Huntsman:
Huntsman is a global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated chemicals. Its operating companies manufacture products for a variety of global industries, including chemicals, plastics, automotive, aviation, textiles, footwear, paints and coatings, construction, technology, agriculture, health care, detergent, personal care, furniture, appliances and packaging. Originally known for pioneering innovations in packaging and, later, for rapid and integrated growth in petrochemicals, Huntsman today has more than 12,000 employees and operates from multiple locations worldwide. The Company had 2008 revenues in excess of $10 billion.
Forward-Looking Statements:
Statements in this release that are not historical are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management’s current beliefs and expectations. The forward-looking statements in this release are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances and involve risks and uncertainties that may affect the company’s operations, markets, products, services, prices and other factors as discussed in the Huntsman companies’ filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Significant risks and uncertainties may relate to, but are not limited to, financial, economic, competitive, environmental, political, legal, regulatory and technological factors. In addition, the completion of any transactions described in this release is subject to a number of uncertainties and closing will be subject to approvals and other customary conditions. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that such transactions will be completed or that the company’s expectations will be realized. The company assumes no obligation to provide revisions to any forward-looking statements should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by applicable laws.
JEFFAMINE® is a registered trademark of Huntsman Corporation or one of its affiliates in one or more, but not all, countries.
Contact: Michael Scharf
+ 32 2 7589884