Japans Mitsui Chemicals Inc. plans to expand capacity for its Lucant-branded polymer lubricant additives, the company told Lube Report Asia recently.
We are looking into expanding our Lucant capacity either in Japan or overseas, said a company spokesman. The company declined to provide further details.
The Tokyo-based company originally developed Lucant, a transparent and viscous liquid, for the automotive lubricant market. Mitsui has capacity to produce around 18,000 metric tons per year of Lucant products at its Iwakuni-Ohtake Works facility in Yamaguchi Prefecture.
In 2014, United States-based lubricant additive heavyweight Lubrizol agreed to an exclusive deal to sell Lucant products to the lubricant industry worldwide.Mitsui markets the product for plastics and resins applications.
According to Lubrizols website, Lucant products enhance the performance of lubricants formulated with API Group II and Group III base oils to meet performance standards of synthetic formulations. The hydrocarbon-based synthetic fluid is soluble in Group I, II, III and IV base stocks, providing low-temperature fluidity.