Even greater focus on… essential chemistry

Bridges are by their nature built in places with challenging conditions, such as rushing water, high heights, and wind. It is essential that they are safe when they are built and that they remain safe over time, even more so when conditions are challenging.

At Nouryon, many of our products help protect and improve the durability of bridges and other structures. For example, we work with partners in China to protect some of the most technologically complex bridges in the world. Two such bridges are the Xingkang Bridge and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, or HZMB.

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The Xingkang Bridge is an engineering marvel located in the Sichuan province. Part of the new Yakang Expressway, the 1400-meter-long bridge crosses a wide reservoir on the Dadu River, helping cut travel time between Ya'an city and Kangding county in half. At 280 meters, the bridge is one of the highest in world, and it’s also one of the longest suspension bridges ever built, with a main span of 1100 meters. To make conditions even more demanding, it is located in a highly active seismic zone with a complicated wind field.

Meanwhile, the HZMB connects Hong Kong, Zhuhai, and Macau, three major cities on the Pearl River Delta, and reduces travel time in the region. The bridge is a 55-kilometer-long system consisting of a series of three bridges, an undersea tunnel, and four artificial islands to connect the various sections. It is both the world’s longest sea bridge and the longest fixed link on earth - 20 times longer than the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. The bridge is not only massive – it’s also designed to withstand earthquakes and typhoons.

For these bridges, durability is crucial, and Nouryon’s Thioplast G plays a key role in ensuring that durability. Thioplast G liquid polysulfide polymers are used in sealants applied to cables and other bridge components to resist corrosion. As they cure, these polymers become rubber-like and show excellent resistance to weathering by water, UV light, acids, and many other chemicals. As a result, Thioplast G helps extend the service life of a cable from 60 to up to 100 years, increasing safety and reducing the need for maintenance.

Thioplast G’s superior performance has helped make it the leading product used in polysulfide sealants and Nouryon the global market leader in liquid polysulfides. “Nouryon is the only company in China with the product performance and expertise necessary to meet the requirements of these bridges,” explains Peihua Pan, Sales and Marketing Manager SD Asia. “Simply put, we offer the best polymer in the world for this application.”

Through Nouryon's focus on developing the essential chemistry behind Thioplast G, we help our customers achieve what was once thought impossible and help communities safely explore once inaccessible places, stay connected, and make the most of their time.