Published November 2009
Cyclic Olefin Copolymer (COC) exhibits superior optical properties with high temperature resistance and moisture barrier characteristics. Demand has been growing rapidly in optical films for liquid crystal displays, lenses and high-end pharmaceutical packaging. Global capacity expanded from 7 thousand to 72 thousand metric tons from 1998 to 2009.
This review provides an industry update and summarizes new patents since PEP published its first report on COC in 1998. Among all disclosed technologies, a new Zeon technology based on a novel organoruthenium ROMP (Ring Opening Metathesis Polymerization) catalyst is selected for process economics study. The novel catalyst has high conversion in the ROMP reaction and does not poison Pd/C hydrogenation catalyst. The subsequent hydrogenation process can be carried out in the reaction mixture without separation or removal of the ROMP catalyst. The new Zeon technology is chosen for this review since it represents a major advancement of the ROMP-Hydrogenation process for producing COC. The new technology is expected to offer significant advantage in cycle time and capital costs. A conceptual design based on Zeon's new organoruthenium catalyst technology is presented, and the associated production costs and capital investments are assessed.
