European Chemical Industry News & Insights

BASF Expands Water-Soluble Polyacrylate Production

At a glance
  • BASF invested a single-digit million-euro amount to enhance its polyacrylate production plant in Ludwigshafen.
  • The upgraded plant is now operational.
  • Water-soluble polyacrylates and copolymers are marketed under the Sokalan® brand.
  • Sokalan® grades are used in cleaning products and technical processes.

Investment and Upgrade

BASF has made a single-digit million-euro investment to enhance the flexibility and slightly expand the capacity of its water-soluble polyacrylate production plant at the Ludwigshafen site in Germany. The upgraded plant is now operational, providing increased capacity for specialty chemicals used in various industries.

Applications and Benefits

Water-soluble polyacrylates and copolymers, marketed under the Sokalan® brand by BASF's Care Chemicals division, have numerous applications. Sokalan® PA and Sokalan® CP grades are utilized in household and commercial cleaning products for water softening and in technical processes to prevent fouling. Sokalan® HP grades act as dye transfer inhibitors, protecting fabrics from discoloration during washing. The latest Sokalan® NR grades, with their narrow molecular weight distribution, serve as highly effective mineral dispersing agents.