Dutch chemical group DSM (Sittard; www.dsm.com) has entered into a cooperation with North America’s Elevance Renewable Sciences (Bolingbrook, Illinois; www.elevance.com) in the field of specialty bio-based high performance thermoplastic materials. According to a letter of intent, signed in mid-May, Elevance undertakes to provide DSM with natural monomers whereas the Dutch company will tend to research, application development and commercialisation.

A DSM spokeswoman declined to comment on a Plasteurope.com inquiry into what polymers exactly would be produced, but given the fact that the Dutch group’s activities are centred on polyamides, it is highly likely that the new materials will fall under this category, too.

Founded in 2007 as a spinoff of Cargill, Elevance uses natural materials such as soybean and corn oil to produce speciality chemicals. The company has already entered into other cooperations with chemical giants such as Dow Corning, Stepan and Wilmar International.