Evonik announces price increases across all product lines, BASF signs memorandum of understanding with SevenTeng Robotics, and China makes a major breakthrough in sodium-ion batteries...

(Source: China Chemical Industry Weekly)

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April 7, 2026

Domestic News

BASF Signs Memorandum of Cooperation with Qiteng Robotics

On April 3, BASF officially signed a memorandum of cooperation with Qiteng Robotics. According to the memorandum, both parties will jointly explore the application of Qiteng Robotics products and intelligent inspection solutions at BASF sites, helping to promote digitalization and automation in the chemical industry, with a focus on safety-related key application scenarios. They will also collaborate on material innovation for core robot components. Leveraging BASF’s deep expertise in engineering plastics, thermoplastic polyurethane, and polyurethane systems, the partnership will focus on exploring the potential of material technology in lightweight design for quadruped and humanoid robots, continuously advancing material performance to support performance optimization and iterative upgrades of robotic products.

Major Breakthrough in China’s Sodium-Ion Batteries

On April 6, the team led by Hu Yongsheng from the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, published a groundbreaking achievement in Nature Energy: they successfully developed a self-protecting polymerizable non-flammable electrolyte (PNE), achieving complete thermal runaway prevention in sodium-ion batteries at the ampere-hour level for the first time worldwide. The team challenged the traditional notion that “flame-retardant electrolytes are equal to safety,” breaking out of a single defense line and constructing an integrated “thermal stability - interfacial stability - physical isolation” smart safety protection system. This polymerizable non-flammable electrolyte system uses NaBF4 as the main salt and NaPF6 as an auxiliary interface regulator to form a dual-salt system, solving the compatibility issues with hard carbon anodes and optimizing the electrode-electrolyte interface. Additionally, based on triethyl phosphate (TEP), it achieves thermally induced polymerization on an inert basis, allowing rapid solidification at high temperatures to form a barrier layer that blocks mechanical and chemical interference between cathode and anode, thoroughly preventing thermal runaway reactions. The battery features excellent wide-temperature performance (-40°C to 60°C) and high-voltage stability (>4.3V), with all materials being mature industrial products, offering significant industrialization competitive advantages.

Wanhua Chemical Launches New Automotive PMMA Material

Recently, Wanhua Chemical and Xingyu Automotive Lighting jointly announced the release of a new PMMA material specially developed for automotive tail lights that resists alcohol cracking. This material breakthrough aims to upgrade tail light quality. The newly launched PMMA is specially optimized for tail light applications, maintaining excellent optical performance while significantly improving resistance to alcohol solvent corrosion and stress cracking, effectively solving common issues such as material cracking and appearance defects, and meeting higher standards for automotive lighting manufacturing and long-term use.

Jilin Chemical Fiber Breaks Ground on 25k Tons/Year High-Performance Carbon Fiber Project

On April 2, Jilin Chemical Fiber’s national high-performance carbon fiber project with an annual capacity of 25k tons broke ground. The project has a total investment of 2.02 billion yuan, plans to build six self-developed intelligent carbon fiber production lines, and supports a 20k-ton composite material project. The products target T700, T800, and higher-grade high-performance carbon fibers. Once completed, Jilin Chemical Fiber’s total carbon fiber capacity will exceed 100k tons, making it the first company globally to reach this scale.

Hubei 15k Tons/Year Fluorine-Containing Functional Material Project Public Notice

On April 4, Hubei Fosi Innovation Materials Co., Ltd. announced a pre-approval public notice for a project with an annual capacity of 15k tons of fluorine-containing functional materials. The project involves an investment of 117 million yuan, constructing a new sulfuryl fluoride reaction unit, along with tank areas, external pipes, safety facilities, and environmental protection facilities. The project will add a similar reactor, replacing raw materials from sulfuryl chloride to sulfur dioxide and chlorine, with other processes unchanged.

Gansu Yumen Chemical Plant Fire

On April 6, a fire occurred at a chemical company in Yumen City, Gansu Province, resulting in 3 deaths and 2 injuries. The cause of the accident is under further investigation.

International News

Evonik Announces Price Increases Across All Products

Recently, Evonik Operations GmbH announced that prices for its surfactants and polyurethane additives will be increased immediately or according to existing contracts. Evonik stated that prices for all silicon-based products will rise by up to 10%, while all other products will increase by up to 15%, depending on the product category. Some special products may see even higher price hikes. The company explained that the adjustment is due to the significant rise in raw materials, labor, energy, utilities, packaging, and logistics costs over the past year, especially in recent weeks.

Toray Restructures R&D System

Recently, Japan’s Toray Industries announced on its official website that effective April 1, it has comprehensively restructured the “Basic Research Center” located in Kamakura, significantly strengthening its integrated research functions in synthetic chemistry, biotechnology, and digital technology. Under the restructuring plan, Toray will integrate its pharmaceutical research institute within the Basic Research Center into the “Advanced Fusion Research Institute,” achieving a leap in research capabilities by deeply integrating core technologies accumulated over the years—including synthetic chemistry, pharmacological analysis, gene recombination, cell culture, as well as computational science and informatics—accelerating the output of innovative results.

Rohm’s Chemical Recycling Technology Achieves Industrialization

Recently, Rohm Group announced that at its Walsum, Germany, site, it has achieved industrial application of its independently developed innovative chemical recycling technology to process and purify recycled methyl methacrylate (MMA). The technology uses polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) as raw material, undergoing depolymerization to produce high-quality MMA monomers. This new process can be seamlessly integrated into Rohm’s existing MMA production system, helping to build a scalable closed-loop material cycle. Starting from summer 2027, recycled MMA will be used in Rohm’s full industry chain to produce environmentally friendly proTerra series products.