Eastman Chemical Company (world HQ: Kingsport, Tennessee 37662, USA) plans to increase its annual production capacity for the high performance polymer polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) to 10,000 tonnes during the second half of 1995. The addition of a continuous process for PEN production at Tennessee Eastman Division in Kingsport will position Eastman as a leading supplier, according to Jim Lewis, vice president and general manager of Eastman's Flexible Plastics business organization. "Eastman's leadership in the field of polyester chemistry is clearly demonstrated by our commercial facilities for PEN polymer," Lewis said. "Our goal is to be the world's preferred supplier of polyester polymers for packaging, film, moulding and fiber applications. With PEN, Eastman is taking another step toward accomplishing that goal."

Jim Caldwell, market development manager for PEN, said the plant can produce PEN homopolymers and copolymers in a range of molecular weights to satisfy the application and performance needs of customers. Properties of PEN include high glass transition temperature; high dimensional, thermal, and hydrolytic stability; and high tensile strength, stiffness, and chemical resistance and UV barrier. End uses could include high-tenacity highmodulum fibers, biaxially oriented films, rigid packaging, and clear injection molded parts. Eastman has petitioned the Food and Drug Administration for a regulation governing the use of PEN homopolymer for food packaging.