Five years after the market launch of its high performance aliphatic ketone polymer “Carilon” at “K ´95”, Shell Chemicals Ltd. (GB-London, SE1 7NA) is shutting down production facilities and withdrawing the polymer from the market, as its exit from the plastics sector nears completion. The fact that, unlike Shell´s other polymers activities, “Carilon” was not sold apparently reflects the lack of market interest. In a statement, Shell said the business was “thoroughly marketed and discussions held with several interested parties; however, none developed into a sale.”

Quantities of the semi-crystalline polymer will be available to customers from the 20,000 t/y production facilities at Carrington,UK, for a limited time before the plant is shut down, Shell said. A 25,000 t/y “Carilon” plant initially scheduled to be brought onstream at Geismar, Lousiana, in the US, will not open. This unit´s capacity originally was foreseen to be doubled at some point in the future.