European speciality chemicals firm Solvay has bought a materials portfolio to bolster its progression in the lithium-ion battery market.
Belgian firm Solvay’s Special Chem global business unit has bought a portfolio of high performance salts and additives for electrolytes from Dupont.
The portfolio includes Dupont’s nanofiber-based polymeric battery separator Energain™ technology.
Nicolas Cudré-Mauroux, Solvay Group general manager for Research & Innovation, said the acquisition reinforced Solvay’s ability to compete in areas like modelling and formulations, which in turn would help the completion of the company’s technological roadmap in batteries.
Du Hua, Solvay Special Chem GBU president, said: “Achieving high energy at an affordable cost, without compromising safety is a key objective of the lithium-ion battery industry.
“With the addition of Energain™ to our portfolio, we are offering new solutions to our partners to reach their high voltage goals.”
The news came in the same week Solvay announced it had appointed Carmelo Lo Faro as president of the Composite Materials Global Business Unit.
Lo Faro takes over the role from Bill Wood who is set to retire following the successful integration of chemicals firm Cytec into the Solvay Group.
Carmelo joined Solvay following the acquisition of Cytec in December 2015, leading the Industrial Business Line and Strategy and Business Development at Composite Materials.
He was Chief Technology Officer and a member of the Executive Leadership Team of Cytec.
Carmelo Lo Faro is due to begin his new position on April 1.