Dixie Chemical completes capacity expansion for NMA plant in U.S.

Dixie Chemical (Pasadena, Texas, U.S.) has announced the completion of its planned capacity expansion for nadic methyl anhydride (NMA) production at its plant in Pasadena, Texas. This milestone reaffirms Dixie Chemical’s commitment to be at the forefront of innovation in anhydrides with a highly comprehensive and broad product portfolio. The new capacity is geared toward supporting the growing demand for high-temperature, high-performance epoxy-based composites, insulators and adhesives/sealants in the U.S. and globally.

Dixie Chemical is a U.S.-based specialty chemicals manufacturer with products such as curatives for composites, fuel and lube additives, paper sizing agents (ASA) and an array of specialty additives/chemicals. Its Pasadena facility manufactures a broad range of pure anhydrides, blends and pre-catalyzed grades that are customized for efficiency in processing, handling and performance.

Dixie Chemical claims that it is the sole North American producer of NMA and leads the production in high-purity NMA grades, a liquid alicyclic anhydride widely used for curing epoxy resins. Dixie’s NMA, characterized by its mechanical performance and optimal die-electric properties, makes it ideal for critical applications such as high-voltage insulators, high strength-to-weight ratio composites, potting compounds and performance adhesives. When reacted with cycloaliphatic epoxies, Dixie’s NMA enables epoxy-based composite systems with a glass transition temperature of up to 240°C.

Dixie notes that its plant expansion comes with an ever-increasing need to upgrade/add global electrical infrastructure (transmission lines, storage and distribution). In addition to ensuring security of supply to its customers, Dixie is looking forward to supporting the global energy transition and contributing toward a green sustainable future with this critical raw material. 

Dixie Chemical’s NMA products complements its broad anhydride portfolio with products such as epoxy curing agents (ECA), MHHPA, MTHPA, HHPA, DDSA, THPA, various blends and pre-catalyzed grades. Its formulated systems offer controlled reactivity and viscosity that are designed for complex processes such as filament winding, pultrusion, resin transfer, vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) and related processes. Combined with strong technical support, custom product development, Dixie Chemical’s solutions help customers improve productivity and achieve higher performance in their composites.