Innovative R&D

Vision of OUCC’s Innovative R&D

• Become the helmsperson in the petrochemical and specialty chemical businesses; accelerate the development of core technologies and advanced high value-added products to enhance the competitive advantage in the industry.
• Increase domestic and international exchanges and move towards the development of multiple domains including specialty chemicals, biodegradable polymer materials, and medical biotechnology to create the industrial new value.
• Dedicated to issues of environmentally friendly and energy saving, proactive development of low carbon products, and supply of high value-added new products through carbon capture and storage technologies.
• Nurture talents, strengthen R&D capabilities, and strive for corporate excellence.
  

As deeply engaged in specialty chemicals, OUCC has been the only one in Taiwan, even rare in Asia, with "reductive amination technology" and production capabilities. We respond to the government's policy of domestic sourcing and localization of key raw materials by producing materials used in high-end composite applications such as wind turbine blades, yachts, waterproof and anti-corrosion coatings, and durable and weather-resistant building structures, which also possess carbon reduction capabilities.

Reductive amination technology for polyetherpolyol :

• This technology has been granted by the Ministry of Economic Affairs a 2-year subsidy (2021/7/1-2023/6/30) amounting NT$30 million, for the establishment of the trial production plant, fulfilling the goal of domestic sourcing and localization of key raw material.
• In 2023, the polyetheramines mass production tests were completed and launched production and sale. Currently available items include MA204(molecular weight 2,000, monoamine), DA021(molecular weight 230, diamine), DA041(molecular weight 400, diamine), DA201(molecular weight 2,000, diamine), and EA041(molecular weight 400, triamine).
  

Reductive amination technology for alcohol amine molecules :

• The mass production tests were completed in 2023. Currently available items include ethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine, triethylenetetramine, aminoethylethanolamine, and piperazine, which are in production and sale.
• In 2024, we did not slow down our pace in research and development and kept improving the development of desulfurization and decarbonization agents, N-hydroxyethylpiperazine (HEP), 1,4-dihydroxyethylpiperazine (BHEP) and other product items, and were also able to provide carbon capture technology and development.
• R&D continues optimizing the proprietary catalysts and production process to enhance product value, securing our leading position in innovative technology and market competition.

OUCC leverages sustainable and environmentally conscious thinking in terms of design to actively explore innovative products that reduce energy consumption while achieving high value. 

Innovative & environmentally friendly detergent :

• In 2022, we innovatively developed an environmentally friendly detergent with 20wt% recycled PET content, low foaming, high biodegradability (>95%), and excellent cleaning ability. It has been tested in laundry capsule products by downstream customers.
• The product reduces carbon emissions by approximately 35% compared to the common AEO.
  

Recycled polyester polyol development :

• In 2023, the recycled polyester polyol RPN02 was successfully developed, containing more than 30% recycled PET with application to PU infusion glue, which resulted in circular resources and waste reduction.

High-value fine chemicals :

• We have also developed and mass-produced a series of specialty detergents with special features such as hydrophilicity, softness, quick-drying, antibacterial and anti-mite properties, and cooling sensation, which bring convenience to daily life and enhance application values.

Highly efficient functional additives :

• We have successfully developed high-efficiency water-reducing agents, slump retainers, and functional additives with properties such as retardation and high flowability, to be widely used in the construction industry.
• In 2023, we developed highly efficient powder-type water reducing agent PWR01 and 6-carbon type HWR01, which of the latter is superior to the 4-carbon type in efficiency.
  The R&D required feedstock monomer EPEG3000 was also developed along with the air-entrained foam stabilizer JFA03 and foam-suppressing defoamer JDF05 for lightweight concrete.

In line with the global trend in energy conservation and carbon reduction, and the government’s promotion in 2050 net zero carbon emissions, OUCC is actively promoting energy-saving processes and low-carbon products. With petrochemical energy gradually replaced by green energy, OUCC has ethylene carbonate (EC), which is converted from the carbon dioxide generated in the process, as a key raw material to further invest in the research and development of lithium battery materials.

In 2024, OUCC successfully developed high-quality battery-grade HPDMC, coupling with HPEC for electrolyte research, and in the meantime collaboratively develop solid-state lithium battery material with ITRI. We’ve also participated in the "A+ Enterprise Innovation R&D Quenching Program" of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, with the theme of "Using Carbonate Synthesis for Solid-State Electrolyte Materials", and been granded a three-year subsidy of NT$114 million out of the approx. total of R&D fund NT$300 million.

In addition, OUCC has built a battery testing platform with the ability to encapsulate and develop electrolytes. It is expected to build a battery-grade EC production line with an annual output of 20,000 MT within three years, and develop solid-state electrolytes that can extend battery life by around 20%. The estimated carbon reduction benefit is 120,000 MT, which is likely to draw more than NT$380 million investment.