Sumitomo Chemical Achieves Production-Scale Bio-Based Liquid Crystal Polymer Manufacturing

Sumitomo Chemical has achieved production-scale manufacturing of liquid crystal polymer containing a portion of biomass-derived monomer, and is preparing a mass production system for bio-based LCP using biomanufacturing technology. The company plans to begin supplying customers with samples from this production-scale output. Its bio-based LCP is equivalent in heat resistance, fluidity and mechanical properties to fossil-based LCP, with the biomass-derived content about 30% of raw material weight for the compounding grade SUMIKASUPER E6008.

Key facts

Market context

Liquid crystal polymers are high-performance thermoplastics valued for dimensional stability, high-temperature resistance and the ability to flow into thin, intricate molds. They are widely used in connectors, surface-mount electronic components, camera modules and other parts of smartphones and electronic devices, as well as in automotive electrical components and office automation equipment. Demand is therefore closely tied to consumer electronics production cycles and to the electrification of vehicles, where miniaturized, heat-resistant parts are required. LCP production is concentrated among a small group of specialty chemical makers, so a supplier that can offer a comparable product with a biomass-derived share may gain attention from buyers facing lower-carbon sourcing requirements. Bio-based grades are typically judged on whether they match fossil-based properties, and buyers will look closely at the consistency of supply and the cost of bio-derived monomers as commercial volumes develop.

Source: official release on sumitomo-chem.co.jp. Summary and context written by Market Krystal.