My Turn – Commentary by Dr. Balaji B. Singh
Some good reasons to attend Flexpo2006 in Houston, Sept 20-22, 2006 1. Overview of innovative developments in Olefin Block Copolymers from most major organizations including, Dow, ExxonMobil, Sumitomo, Mitsui, Universities, etc., Get a good start on this new growth area – what is it? When was it developed? What are the commercial applications? What impact will it have on the markets?
2. Come congratulate Dr. P.S Chum one of the 22 surviving Plastics Hall of Fame inductees. (Just look at how many of the Plastics Hall of Fame inductees are still living… It will be a privilege….. By mistake, the Plastics News even killed Mr. Jack Welch. See Plastics New’s latest issue, list of inductees…,
Dow introduces INFUSE™ olefin block copolymers
Dow Chemical announced the introduction of INFUSE™Olefin Block Copolymers (OBCs), a breakthrough in olefin elastomers. According to the company, the unique block architecture of INFUSE OBCs delivers enhanced performance and processing properties beyond current olefin elastomers, including outstanding high-temperature performance, faster set-up in processing (reduced cycle times), improved abrasion resistance, and excellent elasticity and compression set properties at both room and elevated temperatures.
INFUSE OBCs were developed using INSITE™Technology, Dow’s proprietary approach to linking the science of catalysts, processes, and materials to address customer needs. Through this approach, a leading-edge catalyst system was developed that allows for control of the molecular architecture required to produce the olefin-block structure in a continuous process. The block structure is the key to delivering the outstanding properties of the INFUSE olefin block copolymer family. These new olefin elastomers will enable a wide range of new application opportunities for converters and manufacturers of flexible goods and products.
According to Dow, the advantages of INFUSE Olefin Block Copolymers will enable customers to differentiate their products and optimize cost-in-use compared to traditional elastomer materials.
INFUSE will enable olefin elastomers to further expand into a wide range of market applications including flexible molded goods, profile extruded products, hoses and tubes, elastic fibers and films, foams, coated fabrics, adhesives, and tapes.
Detailed plans concerning manufacturing facilities will be announced at a later date.
Comments: This is yet another feather in the Dow team’s cap. There are two significant issues associated with INFUSE.
1. The concept of olefin block copolymers has been around for a while, but INFUSE is the first product that does not compromise the basic performance characteristics of polyethylene in its attempt to bring on a more elastic nature – opening up lots of markets and improvements heretofore unavailable.
2. The world is full of people, and organizations, with brilliant ideas. There is no dearth of people who want to satisfy themselves with brainy ideas – but there are very few people in any industry sector, profession, and /or life in general, who can stay up and do it – bring the product to market – take a chance – speed the innovation to benefit everyone – Dow has done it – congratulations.
Dow continues its tradition of introducing new materials based on single-site catalyst chemistry. The unique architecture of the INFUSE products comprises segments of soft and hard copolymers. The soft copolymer segments provide properties such as flexibility and low-temperature properties.
The hard copolymer segments provide properties such as high-temperature resistance and faster set-up times. The technology is able to deliver the combined advantages of soft and hard copolymer chemistry. INFUSE materials present several intermaterial substitution opportunities including, but not limited to, (1) f-PVC, (2) EVA, (3) TPVs, (4) SBCs, (5) flexible polyolefins, and others. This and other developing technologies in this area will be showcased at the upcoming FLEXPO2006 conference in Houston/Galveston, TX (Sept. 20-22, 2006). Please contact us for more details.
Dow and Mitsui enter into a joint research agreement for the development of catalyst systems for olefin block copolymers
Dow Chemical Company announced that it has entered into a joint research agreement with Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. to further the development of catalyst systems for the production of olefin block copolymers. The agreement will bring Dow’s novel invention, process understanding, and materials expertise of the recently announced olefin block copolymers technology together with Mitsui’s rich catalysis know-how.
According to Dow, this agreement supports Dow’s commitment to developing and expanding the platform of olefin block copolymers. Mitsui Chemicals said that it was very significant to utilize Mitsui’s catalysis technology to carry out the further development of OBC.
Comments: Dow and Mitsui have a rich history of collaboration in the polyolefins and flexible polymers area. In 1999, the companies agreed to license certain patents to each other pertaining to metallocene-based ethylene/alpha olefins copolymers and ethylene/alpha-olefin/propylene terpolymers to enjoy greater freedom to practice their technologies. Soon after, they announced a collaboration to develop markets and advance the technology for Dow’s ESI line of products, which assumingly was dissolved when Dow decided to shelve the technology. These companies have also collaborated on PLA polymer via Cargill Dow. The recent joint research agreement brings together two of the leaders in the polyolefins & elastomers industry and should increase the likelihood of commercial success of the resulting family of olefin block copolymers.
Mitsui is an innovator in polyolefin catalysts and technologies – Mitsui and Dow have always teamed up to bring the best technologies and share knowledge to bring products to market. Some of the details will cross the proprietary hurdles by Sept and we hope to hear more in FlexPO2006.
Basell introduces three new Metocene polypropylene resins for packaging applications
Basell announced the introduction of new metallocene-based Metocene polypropylene cast film and injection molding grades to customers in a variety of packaging manufacturing processes.
The company introduced a new, higher viscosity Metocene homopolymer cast film resin and two injection molding grades for thin-wall applications that require high clarity and high rigidity. These are reactor-grade products which mean that no peroxide is used during pelletizing to control rheology, therefore there are no peroxide residuals or peroxide by-products.
• Cast Film – Metocene X11291-55-1 – reactor grade, non-is broken resin with enhanced product consistency to customers producing cast film applications. It is a 9.5 g/10 min melt flow rate resin with very narrow molecular weight distribution and an uncharacteristically lower melting point compared to conventional polypropylene homopolymer resins. This enables exceptional optical properties and good sealability in film applications.
Typical film applications include stationery, food, multimedia, medical packaging, low volatile packaging, candy twist wrap, photo albums, laminations, floral and product packaging, etc.
• Injection Molding – Metocene HM640T – high melt flow (60 g/10 min) reactor grade homopolymer resin with nucleation and a very narrow molecular weight distribution. This enables a high degree of resin consistency which is sought by manufacturers desiring low warpage/high dimensional stability parts, high clarity, and good stiffness.
Typical injection molded applications include thin-wall food containers and thin-wall multimedia packaging (CD/DVD cases), etc.
• Injection Molding – Metocene HM1753 – very high (140 g/10 min) melt flow reactor grade homopolymer resin with nucleation and antistat for customer thin-wall packaging. It has excellent stiffness, transparency, and low warpage. Very fast cycle times promote high productivity.
Typical injection molded applications include housewares, thin-wall food containers (cups, lids), closures, thin-wall multimedia packaging (CD/DVD cases), etc.
Comments: Metallocene-based polypropylene has been increasingly used in various applications due to its improved performance properties. These properties include high clarity, good organoleptics for low off-taste and odor, and improved fiber strength for applications such as nonwovens. The homogeneity of metallocene-based polypropylene also provides processing advantages. The major applications for mPP include (1) fiber (2) cast film (3) injection molding (4) polymer modification. The fiber application has the highest consumption with close to 45% of the total demand. Basell’s introduction of mPP resins in injection molding and cast film application takes advantage of the fastest-growing markets for metallocene polypropylene.
Borealis introduces new PP grade for healthcare applications
Borealis introduced a new PP grade – an addition to its Bormed™ family of dedicated healthcare polyolefins. The new grade, Bormed TD109CF, is a polypropylene (PP) sealing material that combines processing advantages with high transparency, purity, excellent sealing behavior, and sterilisability. End uses which can benefit from the performance advantages include pouches, form-fill-seal (FFS) film, the sealable layer for lids for the packaging of medical devices, and lid films for blister packaging. With this new grade, Borealis’ range of solutions for the medical film industry becomes uniquely broad.
Bormed TD109CF fulfills the need of the medical industry for pure polymers due to its low solubles and extractability. In co-extruded films, Bormed TD109CF’s typical broad sealing window of approximately 35°C allows converters to seal different films on the packaging line, without the need to adjust sealing parameters, thereby improving the speed of production. Its low sealing initiation temperatures in the range of 103°C to 105°C deliver reduced cycle times, leading to an increase in line speed and the potential for increased production volumes. This new grade can be processed by cast-, tubular quench-, and blown film technologies.
In addition to these unique characteristics, Bormed TD109CF displays the key advantages of Borealis’ Bormed range developed to satisfy the demand from the pharmaceutical industry for consistency of quality and appropriateness for healthcare applications. These include a Broad spectrum of healthcare properties: including transparency, chemical inertness, sterilisability at 121°C, and environmental stress cracking resistance, and Contamination-free quality: strict, controlled processing conditions ensure contamination-free quality.
Comments: The medical market has always been looking for polymers that are sterilizable, clear, and low extractable. The new resin will enable Borealis to compete against some of the applications that flexible PVC is traditionally used especially in regions where there is a stronger push to move away from f-PVC. The polypropylene film markets have been growing steadily at close to 7% per annum and accounting for close to 10% of the total plastic film demand in North America. Bormed TD109CF, having good sealing properties, high clarity, high purity, and sterilisability will allow Borealis to further expand its product portfolio for medical applications where there is a push to look for resins with low extractables. Typical applications include pouches, form-fill-seal (FFS) film – the sealable layer for lids in the packaging of medical devices and lid films for blister packaging.
Dow introduces a new propylene-based polymer for thermoforming applications
Dow Chemical introduced a new performance plastic designed for cut sheet thermoforming. INSPIRE™EFP 500 Performance Polymer addresses the formability concerns that have historically been a key barrier in the technology for large thermoformed parts. The propylene-based polymer is developed using Dow-patented technologies in both polypropylene and elastomers.
According to Dow, this polymer has the potential to broaden the opportunities with new parts and applications for sheet producers, thermoformed, and OEMs. Thermoformers have struggled to create large parts using existing thermoplastic olefin (TPO) technology, and INSPIRE EFP 500 Performance Polymer was designed with these difficulties in mind. For example, the melt strength properties of the polymer are suited specifically to large-part thermoforming. The melt strength is high, and it is also the right type of melt strength for the cut sheet thermoforming process.
INSPIRE EFP 500 Performance Polymer provides several performance benefits for OEMs that use large parts, including low-temperature toughness, ductility, chemical resistance, and excellent fastening capabilities. The polymer can be used alone or with a complementary high gloss cap layer with UV and scratch/mar resistance.
For these end users of thermoformed parts, INSPIRE EFP 500 Performance Polymer contributes to excellent cleaning chemical resistance, lower weight, weather ability, and strong durability and impact resistance compared to existing materials.
Comments: Dow is in the swing of bringing new Polyolefins to growing but unmet needs of the market such as the sheet thermoforming area. This is a key development technically and commercially. The homo PP is considered a competitor to impact polystyrene, PVC, and others in many thin-gauge thermoforming applications. It is priced competitively at $/lb with the competition, but it’s 900 kg/m3 density is 83% of that of PS and two-thirds of that of PVC and APET. Its modulus, about 200,000 psi, is typically about half that of its competitors, at 400,000 psi. PP finds applications where the product must sustain high temperatures [100oC] and aggressive environmental conditions. But unlike HDPE, homo-PP has relatively little melt elasticity and a very narrow thermoforming window that precludes its acceptance as thermoformable material. The modifications to homo-PP to improve its melt strength or melt elasticity focused on copolymerization with ethylene and fillers. Recently, metallocene PPs seem to offer potential benefits, since their morphological structure apparently can be readily tailored to create higher melt strength. High-melt strength PPs have been under development for a few years now. Currently, it appears that Montell and Amoco have competitive resins available for thermoformed. The general characteristics of these PPs seem to be short-chain branching, much like HDPE. The branching yields much greater melt strength and therefore, less sag and much more controllable sag, than homo-PPs. It seems that Dow’s new product- the high melt strength PP offers another choice for the thermoforming industry. Irrespective of the PP type, thermoformers have learned that PP requires better process controls and more attention to mold design and trimming.
NOVA Chemicals introduces new SURPASS® resins for tough, durable frozen food packaging
NOVA Chemicals Corporation is the commercialization of two new grades of SURPASS® polyethylene resins that are formulated for outstanding performance in demanding frozen food packaging applications. SURPASS resin grades IFs542-R for food packaging tubs and IFs730-R for lids provide a complete solution for the packaging of ice cream and other frozen foods that require superior impact resistance at extremely cold temperatures.
According to Nova, its SURPASS polyethylene resins enable significant advances in packaging for ice cream and other frozen foods.
SURPASS IFs542-R and IFs730-R resins are manufactured with NOVA Chemicals’ Advanced SCLAIRTECH™ technology utilizing a proprietary single-site catalyst. This catalyst system produces resins that deliver significant processing advantages, including faster cycle times and energy savings due to lower processing temperatures. SURPASS resins for frozen food applications also offer opportunities for brand enhancement through design flexibility, industry-leading organoleptics, and increased toughness.
SURPASS resin grades IFs542-R, engineered for frozen food tubs, and IFs730-R, designed for lids, are currently available to customers in the sample or commercial quantities. The new SURPASS resin grades are the latest additions to NOVA Chemicals’ suite of Performance Products for food packaging, which also includes DYLARK® FG, Foamable DYLARK® FG, ZYLAR® EX, and SURPASS® resins.
Comments: This is in the right direction for Nova Chemicals – expanding the breadth of their current “SURPASS®” family of resins based on their advanced SCALIRITECH™ technology to get into the competitive frozen food packaging applications. Others – Exxon Mobil Chemical, Dow, Basell, Borealis, and Total Petrochemical have already introduced their versions to the demanding frozen food packaging applications.
Most of these are LLDPEs except those (PP based) from both Basell and Borealis. In spite of other resin choices – PET, HDPE, LDPE, PP, PS, the LLDPEs are emerging as the front runner for the challenging frozen food packaging applications due to their superior low-temperature impact and other attributes that are possible by the advanced catalysts technology. Hopefully, these new resins will offer choices to converters for brand enhancement through design flexibility and cost advantages.
NOVA Chemicals announces inadvertent production stoppage at Ontario ethylene facility – impact on earnings
NOVA Chemicals Corporation announced a temporary production interruption at its Corunna, Ontario, manufacturing facility. The interruption was the result of the inadvertent activation of a process shutdown switch, apparently caused by a contractor employee installing structural steel platforms. The facility sustained only minor damage during the shutdown and the company expects to be back in full production within two weeks.
As a result of the shutdown, the company has declared Force Majeure on propylene, crude C4, and other pipeline-delivered co-products. The Force Majeure is expected to remain in place until the plant returns to normal operating rates and inventory levels. The outage and associated loss of sales is expected to reduce second-quarter net income by approximately U.S. $8 million with an additional third-quarter impact of up to U.S. $3 million. This incident is unrelated to the extended outage in late 2005 and early 2006.
Comments: The Ontario ethylene facility has been having a streak of bad luck. At the end of January, NOVA Chemicals Corporation announced that its Corunna, Ontario, manufacturing facility had returned to normal operations following a maintenance outage that was extended primarily due to equipment problems. The facility had just resumed production on January 24, 2006. After that, the company lifted its force majeure on ethylene, polyethylene, propylene, and other co-products individually in February. The negative impact on net income in the first quarter of 2006 was expected to be U.S. $20 – $25 million. Now the current production stoppage will again impact the company’s bottom line. NOVA Chemicals’ Corunna facility houses a flexi-cracker with close to 900 KT ethylene and 400 KT propylene capacity. The impact of the force majeure on margins is uncertain.
Georgia Gulf to acquire Canadian firm Royal Group Technologies
Georgia Gulf Corporation announced a definitive agreement to acquire all of the outstanding common stock of Royal Group Technologies Limited for CAD$ 13.00 per share in cash. The total transaction is valued at approximately CAD$ 1.7 billion, which includes payments for Royal Group’s equity of CAD$ 1.2 billion and assumed net debt of CAD$ 491 million as of March 31, 2006. Based on an exchange rate of CAD$ 1.10 to USD$ 1.00, this translates to an offer of USD$ 11.82 per share and a total transaction value of USD$ 1.6 billion.
Royal Group is a leading producer of vinyl building and construction products, which include custom window profiles, decorative moldings, siding, pipe and fittings, and other home improvement products. Royal Group is headquartered in Toronto, Canada with sales primarily in North America. Georgia Gulf manufactures commodity chemicals, vinyl resins, and vinyl compounds, which are the basic materials used to manufacture vinyl building and construction products such as pipe, siding, and windows. The combination of Royal Group’s diversified and innovative product portfolio with Georgia Gulf’s vinyl resins and compounding technology as well as operational efficiencies should result in a stronger, more competitive combined company in the vinyl building and construction products industry.
Comments: The acquisition of Royal Group by Georgia Gulf enables it to be further integrated into the PVC business. The company is mainly focused on chloralkali products and this is a good move in terms of value chain integration. Georgia Gulf is vertically integrated into the manufacture of PVC resin as well as PVC compounds for both rigid and flexible markets. Royal Group is one of the North American market leaders in the manufacture of rigid PVC products for construction applications.
This deal received mixed reactions from the industry. According to government data, the housing market in the US is slowing down which could affect the demand for PVC pipes.
DuPont and Alcoa collaborate to develop a new hurricane-resistant architectural panel system
DuPont and Alcoa have collaborated to develop a new product for the commercial building and construction market that protects against the damage of hurricane wind-borne debris.
DuPont and Alcoa are introducing an innovative new product that incorporates both companies’ science and technical expertise in high-strength materials technology. Called Reynobond® with Kevlar®, it is a durable architectural panel system designed to withstand wind-borne debris and wind speeds common in hurricanes up to a Category 3 storm. (Category 3 hurricanes have wind speeds up to 130 mph). Reynobond® made with Kevlar® brand fiber acts as a safety net by helping to protect the façades of buildings from hurricane-propelled debris, frequently the main cause of hurricane damage.
Reynobond® with Kevlar® combines the weight and flexibility benefits of Alcoa’s Reynobond® aluminum composite material with the impact-resistant strength of DuPont™ Kevlar® fiber. Reynobond® with Kevlar® will initially be available throughout U.S. hurricane-related markets from Texas to Florida and north to Maine and then globally.
Comments: This is an excellent move for both DuPont and Alcoa. DuPont is the market leader for the manufacture of Kevlar® while Alcoa is one of the market leaders for the manufacture of aluminum. Moreover, this is a new application for Kevlar®.
Kevlar is a type of aramid fiber developed in the 1960s by DuPont. Kevlar is five times stronger than steel on an equal weight basis, providing reliable performance and solid strength. The traditional applications for Kevlar include: (1) rubber reinforcement ((high-pressure hoses and power transmission belts), (2) protective fabrics (protective, bullet-resistant vests and helmets for military and law enforcement ballistics applications), (3) ropes and cables, (4) composites, and others.
This will also provide Alcoa the opportunity to enhance its lightweight, widely used Reynobond® aluminum composite material to a new level of usage by inserting DuPont’s ultra-strong Kevlar® fabric into the architectural panel.
PKN Orlen SA agreed to acquire AB Mazeikiu Nafta
PKN Orlen agreed to acquire 30.66% of the Lithuanian state’s stake in AB Mazeikiu Nafta for Euro673 million (USD852 million dollars). In this agreement, the Government of Lithuania can exercise an option to sell the remaining 10% of its stake in AB Mazeikiu Nafta. This will make PKN Orlen the largest oil refiner in Central Europe.
Comments: Russian oil giant Yukos was finally able to sell its 53.7% stake in the Lithuanian Mazeikiu Nafta Oil complex after the decision of the New York court.
This deal was possible after a US bankruptcy court decided to lift a restraining order barring Yukos from selling its 53.7 percent stake in Mazeikiu Nafta, which included the only oil refinery in the Baltics.
In a separate deal, PKN Orlen will buy a 30.66% stake in Mazeikiu owned by the Lithuanian government, which holds a 40.6% stake in the refinery. The price per share for this deal will be the same as the price paid by PKN Orlen for the Yukos’ stake. If the deal is approved PKN Olen will consider investing $230 million to build a polypropylene plant.
PKN ORLEN is a Polish company and with this deal, it is the largest refiner of crude oil in Central Europe. PKN ORLEN, though its association with Basell, is also Poland’s largest manufacturer of petrochemicals, in particular polyethylene and polypropylene. The JV has 400 KT of polypropylene capacity in Poland. The 50/50 JV between the two companies was formed in 2002 with initial plans to operate 150 KT PE and 140 KT PP plants. Feedstock for this plant was supplied from PKN’s ethylene cracker. The JV started its operation in November 2005 with 400 KT of PP, 150 KT LDPE, and 320 KT HDPE capacity.
BP and DuPont enter into collaboration for biofuels development
BP and DuPont formed a partnership to develop, produce and market the next generation of biofuels to help meet the increasing global demand for renewable transport fuels.
BP and DuPont have been working together since 2003 to develop advanced biofuels with properties that can help overcome the limitations of existing biofuels. That work has now progressed to the point where they are able to bring the first jointly developed product to market.
By pooling their knowledge and expertise, the two companies aim to be the world leaders in the development and production of advanced biofuels, driving the growth of biofuels, which today account for less than two percent of global transportation fuels. Current projections show that biofuels could become a significant part of the transport fuel mix in the future – possibly up to 20-30 per cent in key markets.
The first product to market will be biobutanol, which will be introduced in the United Kingdom as a gasoline bio-component. The initial introduction is targeted in the UK in 2007 where BP and DuPont are working with British Sugar, a subsidiary of Associated British Foods plc, to convert the country’s first ethanol fermentation facility to produce biobutanol. Additional global capacity will be introduced as market conditions dictate and a feasibility study in conjunction with British Sugar is already underway to examine the possibility of constructing larger facilities in the UK.
Both companies recognize that while existing biocomponents have proven to be an excellent starting point for the introduction of biofuels and will continue to play a role in the future, there are issues that needed to be addressed to increase market penetration. In particular, compatibility with existing fuel supply and distribution systems, the ability to blend in higher concentrations without requiring vehicle modifications, and fuel economy were identified as areas where improvements are needed. This next generation of biofuels will help deliver on these targets. Biobutanol’s low vapor pressure and its tolerance to water contamination in gasoline blends facilitate its use in existing gasoline supply and distribution channels. It has the potential to be blended into gasoline at larger concentrations than existing biofuels without the need to retrofit vehicles and it offers better fuel economy than gasoline-ethanol blends, improving a car’s fuel efficiency and mileage.
Biobutanol also enhances the performance of ethanol blends in gasoline by, amongst other things, reducing ethanol’s impact on vapor pressure, one of the issues which hampers a wider use of ethanol in existing gasoline distribution channels.
Initial production of biobutanol will be based on existing technology, enabling early commercial market introduction. In addition, development work on a new biotechnology process that aims to produce biobutanol competitively with ethanol is already underway. Production is planned to utilize a range of feedstocks such as sugar cane or beet, corn, wheat, or cassava and, in the future, cellulosic feedstocks from fast-growing “energy crops” such as grasses or agricultural byproducts such as straw and corn stalks. Since the production of biobutanol is similar to ethanol and uses similar feedstocks, existing ethanol capacity can be retrofitted to produce biobutanol.
Like most biofuels, biobutanol will provide significant environmental benefits over petroleum-derived transportation fuels, reducing overall environmental emissions of greenhouse gases. Biofuels reduce the overall volume of carbon dioxide emissions entering the atmosphere by absorbing carbon dioxide as crops grow while emitting roughly the same amount of carbon dioxide as conventional fuels when they are burned. While greenhouse gases are also generated in the production of biofuels, the net effect is still lower than using conventional fossil fuels.
Comments: This collaboration between BP and DuPont is another effort to develop environment-friendly fuels. DuPont has been successful in commercially producing 1,3-propanediol from renewable feedstocks using biotechnology. This makes DuPont one of the ideal partners for BP to form a joint collaboration. This partnership is also consistent with DuPont’s strategy to deliver sustainable growth by increasing shareholder and societal value while reducing the environmental footprint along the value chains where DuPont operates.
BP’s decision to devote a significant level of resources to widening the availability of biofuels is part of its strategy of identifying low-carbon or renewable fuels for the future. It follows on from the company’s announcement of BP Alternative Energy – a dedicated alternative energy business that is active in solar, wind, hydrogen, and combined-cycle-gas-turbine (CCGT) power generation – and the establishment of a biofuels business within its Refining & Marketing Business.
San Francisco bans Bisphenol A and some phthalates in childcare articles and toys for young children
San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors unanimously approved legislation that would ban the manufacture, sale, and distribution within the metropolitan area of childcare articles and toys containing bisphenol A and some phthalates for children under three years old. Under the ordinance, San Francisco manufacturers of baby bottles, pacifiers, and toys for young children must replace bisphenol A and the phthalates with the least toxic alternatives. The ban goes into effect on Dec. 1.
San Francisco is the first city in the nation to institute such a ban. A similar measure was introduced in the California legislature this year but failed to pass.
The banned phthalates include di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate, benzyl butyl phthalate, diisononyl phthalate, dodecyl phthalate, and di-n-octyl phthalate. These phthalates and bisphenol A are restricted, the ordinance says, because they are hormone-disrupting chemicals that may interfere with the development of young children. The European Union has placed similar bans on phthalates.
Comments: There have been ongoing concerns about the safety of phthalates and bisphenol A over the last few years. Bisphenol A reportedly leaches from plastics products produced such as polycarbonate and epoxy resins. There have been studies reporting a possible link between bisphenol A and endocrine disruption.
To avoid potential litigations and due to health concerns, San Francisco has decided to ban these phthalates and bisphenol A. This may not be a major impact on the overall markets for polycarbonate in North America.
Contact us at ADI Chemical Market Resources to learn how we can help.