Japanese Partners Develop Eco-friendly Urea Resin

Mitsubishi Gas Chemical and Panasonic Electric Works have developed a process that uses methanol produced from CO2 to synthesize an environmentally friendly urea resin, a process shown to reduce CO2 emissions by 20-30% compared to conventional methods. The new resin is targeted at wiring devices such as electrical outlets.

MGC Woodchem Corporation, a MGC subsidiary, will use methanol that MGC produces from CO2 to manufacture formaldehyde that it will supply to Panasonic, which will produce environmentally friendly urea resin for use in wiring devices that the company aims to begin selling in 2025 or later.

The new eco-friendly urea resin has the same molding and physical properties as conventional urea resin, so it can be used with existing manufacturing equipment to produce and connect wiring devices of the same quality as conventionally made products. However, the new resin reduces CO2 emissions by about 20-30% compared to conventional urea resin, and reduces the carbon embodied in buildings that use these end products.2

Urea resin is a thermosetting resin derived from the reaction of urea and formaldehyde. With its excellent tracking and arc resistance, it is used in electrical sockets and many other electrical components that must ensure electrical safety. Although it cannot be melted after hardening, even with heat, which prevents it from being recycled, MGC and Panasonic’s new eco-friendly manufacturing process achieves carbon recycling3 by using methanol, the raw material for urea resin, produced from CO2.

MGC has the technology and business know-how to produce methanol from CO2, waste and biomass, and then use the resulting green methanol as fuel and in everyday products. To this end, MGC has established and promotes Carbopath as a platform for developing and supplying methanol that is contributing to a decarbonized, recycling-oriented world. Going forward, MGC will continue to accelerate cross-sector partnerships and collaborations with related industries and local governments for the production and use of green methanol.