Recent developments
Semiconductor materials
Toray Industries introduced a negative photo definable polyimide sheet enabling simultaneous microfabrication of redistribution layers and TGV filling via photolithography, reducing copper plating and supporting sub-10 µm microvias, with mass production targeted for April 2026. To improve ESD control in fabs, Toray also unveiled a new TOYOLACPAREL ABS resin with 10^9 Ω/sq surface resistivity achieved through proprietary polymer-alloy design. On advanced packaging dielectrics, Asahi Kasei received the 2025 TSMC Excellent Performance Award and highlighted its PIMEL photosensitive dielectric products and capacity expansion plans supporting AI-related packaging.
Battery materials shifts
Arkema and Semcorp signed a Memorandum of Understanding to co-develop next-generation battery separators for EVs, ESS, and consumer electronics, combining PVDF/acrylic solutions with separator manufacturing and global deployment. Trinseo launched its Fourth-Generation SBR Binder Platform (VOLTABOND 109) offering up to 30% higher peel strength and compatibility with graphite and silicon-blend anodes, with production across APAC, Europe, and North America. Asahi Kasei sold its lead battery separator business, Daramic, and plans to invest in its Hipore wet-process lithium-ion technology while expanding separator operations in North America, Japan, and Korea.
Portfolio and capacity moves
CABB Group agreed to sell Jayhawk Fine Chemicals to Anupam Rasayan for about $150 million, realigning toward pharma and life science specialties while enabling Anupam’s US manufacturing and performance materials expansion. Mitsubishi Chemical will expand carbon fiber capacity in Japan and the US through 2027 to serve high-strength, high-modulus applications in aerospace, sports, and hypercars. WACKER and SICO opened a Jining application development center for organofunctional silanes to accelerate additive, adhesion promoter, and stabilizer development for plastics, coatings, and adhesives in electromobility and electronics. AGC decided to exit specialty glass for chemical strengthening, with Dragontrail production ending at Takasago by Q3 2026.
Supply and computation
Uniper and QatarEnergy signed a long-term sales and purchase agreement to supply roughly 70 million scf per year of liquid helium for up to 15 years from Ras Laffan, supporting demand across MRI, semiconductor manufacturing, and fiber optics. Eni selected ten projects under Call4Innovators with access to the HPC6 supercomputer for advanced modeling in computational materials science and related domains, evaluated with AMD, HPE, and CINECA.