Lubrizol and Mitsui Chemicals ink alliance pact for Lucant polymer

The Lubrizol Corporation and Mitsui Chemicals Inc have entered into an alliance agreement making Lubrizol the exclusive worldwide seller and marketer of the Lucant polymer product range to the lubricant industry. This agreement will maximise each company's strengths and utilises a joint development approach to new polymer R&D. Lucant will be marketed as a viscosity modifier for lubricant applications as well as a synthetic base fluid component for lubricant formulations.
 
The addition of Lucant significantly expands Lubrizol's portfolio of performance polymers. Through Lubrizol's extensive application knowledge and testing capabilities, Mitsui Chemicals expects to strengthen the appeal of Lucant to the lubricant oil industry and better respond to individual customer needs by accelerating research and development efforts for new products and expanding applications.
 
The Lucant technology portfolio consists of well-established viscosity modifiers primarily used for driveline and industrial applications, providing strong end-user benefits in multiple applications. The products are typically used based on their good balance of treat cost and performance, including good low temperature characteristics, high shear stability, high viscosity index and enhanced traction coefficient.
 
Lubrizol expects to begin supplying Lucant products in the first quarter of 2015 and both Mitsui Chemicals and Lubrizol are committed to making the transition as seamless as possible for existing Lucant customers.
 
Mitsui Chemicals will continue to offer Lucant for applications outside of the lubricants industry (synthetic resin modifier), and focus on expanding applications and developing sales of its high-performance polymer.