The newly established Sinopec Ningbo New Materials Research Institute of Zhenhai Refining and Chemical Company of Sinopec successfully independently developed and produced polyethylene rotoplastic special materials, which can be widely used in the manufacture of outdoor rotoplastic products materials such as boats and water tanks. It fills the gap in China. The first batch of 400 tons of new products in July has been snapped up by downstream manufacturers.

Special materials for polyethylene rotomolding. Photo by Zhang Lingzhi

Rotomolding is a kind of plastic hollow forming method. Outdoor rotoplastic products such as boats and water tanks have special requirements for material properties because they are in a complex environment such as damp heat, exposure and impact for a long time, and Chinese manufacturing enterprises rely on imports of raw materials for a long time. At present, affected by the international epidemic, Chinese enterprises manufacturing large rotoplastic products are facing the situation of out of stock in foreign supply chains.

"The machinery of downstream enterprises is running, but there is no rice to cook, and China has no alternative independent products." Liu Chuanchuan, deputy director of polyolefin Research Office of Sinopec Ningbo New Materials Research Institute, lamented after visiting and investigating the rotoplastic market in early June, he identified this as a challenge of "turning crisis into opportunity" : "The market demand exceeds our expectations, to seize this wave of opportunities, we must respond quickly."

Research institute for new product characteristics, using rapid characterization analysis, additive formulation research, data reasoning and experimental verification and other methods, quickly clear the target product performance and core production parameters, within a month to complete the product formula, naming, code, production, which usually takes three months or even half a year in the past. It has been proved that the rotomolding material processed by the special material has the specific performance of high stiffness, high toughness and high UV resistance as one, which fully meets the manufacturing needs of downstream enterprises.