In February 2004, ExxonMobil Chemical announced the start-up of its new commercial
metallocene ethylene elastomer manufacturing facility in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The plant can
produce 90,000 mta Vistalon® EP(D)M, Vistamaxx™ specialty elastomers, and Exact®
plastomers. In this review, we evaluate the production of an ethylene-based elastomer by a
solution polymerization process with Exxpol™ metallocene catalyst. The production cost
evaluation will be based on the production of EPDM terpolymer elastomer using multi-stage
reactors.
By Susan Bell
