Kaneka Awarded the 51st JCIA Technology Award “Grand Prize”

―For “R&D and Industrialization of KANE ACE® MX”―

Kaneka Corporation
June 13, 2019

Kaneka Corporation (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Mamoru Kadokura) was awarded the 51st JCIA Technology Award’s “Grand Prize”*1 by Japan Chemical Industry Association*2 (Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Chairman: Tsutomu Tannowa) for the “R&D and Industrialization of KANE ACE® MX ” at the award ceremony held on May 24 in the General Assembly of Japan Chemical Industry Association (Venue: Palace Hotel Tokyo).

KANE ACE® MX (“MX”) are modifiers that are composed of thermosetting resins such as epoxy resins with polymer particles having a multilayer structure (core shell rubber *3, “CSR”) uniformly dispersed. MX can improve toughness and durability without reducing thermal resistance property which epoxy resins originally have. Conventional CSR is in a powdery form, which makes it difficult to be dispersed uniformly on liquid thermosetting resins such as epoxy resins, and thus it has been rarely used industrially. Kaneka was awarded the prize in recognition of its development of the unique process to disperse specially-designed CSR in epoxy resins and successful industrialization.

The sale of MX has been expanding across the world for structural adhesives for automotive, adhesives for blades of wind power generators, and reinforcing materials for composites and copper-clad laminates. In order to meet the increasing demand, the plan to double the production capacity has already been set out and it is scheduled to start operation in July, 2020.

By providing MX globally to contribute in evolution of mobility and more comfortable life, Kaneka will expand the business, aiming for sales of 20 billion yen in 2025.

  1. JCIA Technology Awards recognize the research and development of ingenious and outstanding technologies that have contributed to the technological development while having high industrial values and greatly contributing to the development of the industries, economy and society. The awards are presented for three different categories; the Grand Prize, the Special Technology Prize, and the Environmental Technology Prize.
  2. Japan Chemical Industry Association, established in 1948, is an association engaged in the research and study of production, distribution and consumption of materials relating to the chemical industry, research and study of issues on technology, labor, environment and safety of the chemical industry, and planning and implementation of measures against such issues.
  3. A particle which has a multi-layer structure with a “core” in its center and a “shell” wrapping around the core. The combination of a core and a shell develops a variety of functions.

 

 

 

 

Photograph taken at the award ceremony for the 51th JCIA Technology Awards
From left in the front row are Nobumasa Nakajima and Ryuji Furukawa
From left in the rear row are Masakuni Ueno, Katsumi Yamaguchi, and Yoshio Furukawa