ZHENJIANG, China — The joint venture between Evonik and the Chinese company Wynca, Evonik Wynca (Zhenjiang) Silicon Material Co. Ltd., is starting operations at its new fumed silica plant at the Zhenjiang New Material Industry Park in Jiangsu Province, China. Evonik's first fumed silica production site in China, the plant will produce fumed silica marketed under the brand name AEROSIL^®. More than 150 participants, including employees from Evonik and Wynca, partners, government, and media representatives, attended an opening ceremony for the new facility.

Fumed silica is a functional material that offers features such as thickening, thixotropy, anti-precipitation, and matting. Industrial applications include silicones, coatings, adhesives and sealants. Evonik reports that demand for fumed silica in the Chinese market is growing steadily.

The joint venture will combine Evonik's product technology with Wynca’s silicone industry chain, producing high-value fumed silica products through the comprehensive use of monomer by-products, methyltrichlorosilane and chlorosilane from Wynca. Meanwhile, the by-product hydrochloric acid will also be fully utilized as a raw material for the Wynca Zhenjiang site. This production loop is expected to contribute to synergies among silicone monomer, chlorosilane and fumed silica production, and ultimately to a circular economy.

Dr. Claudine Mollenkopf, head of Evonik's Silica business line, said, “I am excited to witness the cooperation between Evonik and the Chinese partner Wynca. The joint venture will be a strong complement to Evonik’s global presence in fumed silica. We expect win-win results through leveraging the expertise of both parties in silicon materials.”

According to Jianhua Wu, Chairman of the Wynca Group, “The partnership allows both sides to realize integration and complementarity in the supply chain of fumed silica and the recycling of materials. The improved value chain will enable us to deliver premium services and products to customers in China and Asia.”

Fuliang Xia, President of Evonik Greater China, said in his speech at the opening ceremony, “Since the plant broke ground in December 2019, we’ve completed the construction work on schedule with high quality and safety standards. We live up to our commitment to the customers. Evonik continues to develop its global footprint and focus on providing local customers with tailor-made products and services. We are also looking forward to joining forces with Wynca, our strong partner in China, to drive the growth in the Chinese market.”

Additional information is available at https://corporate.evonik.com/en and www.wynca.com.