Dow introduces a new line of Affinity GA polyolefin plastomers for hot melt adhesives and polymer modification
Dow Chemical Company announced the commercial launch of AFFINITY® GA Polyolefin Plastomers (POPs), a new line of highly versatile polyolefin polymers. Developed using Dow’s proprietary INSITE® Technology and Solution Process, AFFINITY GA POPs are the first products of their kind specifically developed for hot melt adhesive formulations and a range of polymer modification applications. Dow has commercially launched two AFFINITY GA POPs products: (1) AFFINITY GA 1950 POP with a density of 0.874, a viscosity of 17,000 cps at 350º F (177°C) (by Brookfield spindle #31), and an approximate melt index of 500 and (2) AFFINITY GA 1900 POP with a density of 0.870, a viscosity of 8,200 cps at 350º F (177°C) (by Brookfield spindle #31), and an approximate melt index of 1000.
AFFINITY GA POPs are suitable for hot melt adhesive applications such as packaging (case and carton sealing), disposable nonwovens (adult and infant hygiene products), and graphic arts (bookbinding). These new high-flow products provide hot melt users with a number of distinct processing and performance advantages compared to EVA-based adhesives, including reduced filter plugging, less machine wear and tear, improved color and clarity, negligible odor, and decreased system downtime.
AFFINITY GA POPs can also be used to modify the flow, flexibility, adhesion, and mechanical properties of a broad range of other polymers – allowing for their use in a wide range of applications. Many plastic end products produced by injection molding, extrusion, blow molding, or powder injection molding can be enhanced by formulating with AFFINITY GA POPs during compounding or processing operations.
AFFINITY GA POPs can be compounded or blended with other plastics to improve flow properties. Added at low levels in thermoplastic olefins (TPOs), the new polymers improve flow without reducing impact resistance. In masterbatch applications, the high filler loading capabilities of AFFINITY GA POPs make them extremely efficient and cost-effective carriers for hard-to-load colors and/or additives.
As tie-layers in multi-laminate structures such as nonwovens and films, AFFINITY GA POPs offer improved adhesion along with excellent flexibility and toughness – whether they are used alone, blended with other polymers, or even spun into a web. Likewise, the polymers demonstrate excellent performance as additives in the binder systems of thermoplastic road paints by enhancing adhesion, durability, and retro-reflectivity, especially in colder climates.
Comments: Polyolefin plastomers are ethylene-based copolymers with densities between 0.885 and approximately 0.9 g/cm3. Dow commercialized its Affinity® line of polyolefin plastomers in 1993 based on itsInsite® constrained-geometry catalyst technology (CGCT). The company’s production facility is located in Freeport, TX where it operates a Dowlex® solution technology plant having a capacity of 100 million pounds. Since the 1990s Dow has introduced several products such as Versify® based on its Insite technology.
Some of the traditional technology gaps in the elastomer/plastomer markets have been (1) processability, (2) higher clarity, (3) higher heat resistance, (4) higher modulus products, and (5) compatibility with polypropylene, thus warranting the need for elastomers/plastomers based on propylene as the backbone.
The name “Plastomers” was initially popularized by Exxon’s Exxpol technology. In the early days of metallocene development, Exxon’s use of “Plastomer” terminology evoked a lot of comments from traditional thermoset elastomer industry leaders (e.g.., late Dr. Emmanuel Kontos.., ) the major issue being, plastic can never exhibit “true” elastomeric nature. Dow Chemical Company stayed away from these discussions calling their AFFINITY – polyethylenes and ENGAGE elastomers. The introduction of POPs, Polyolefin Plastomers will be watched with a smirk by Dr. Kontos from heaven.
Basell commercializes the production of Metocene PP resins in North America
Basell announced the starting of production of its metallocene-based Metocene brand polypropylene resins in commercial scale volumes at the company’s 200 KT Spheripol process plant in Bayport, Texas, USA.
Metocene grades are characterized by narrow molecular weight distribution and extreme homogeneity, which open new opportunities in melt processing. Four Metocene homopolymer grades are produced in Bayport: Two textile grades for spunbond nonwovens (MFR: 15 and 25g/10‘), one injection molding grade (MFR: 60g/10‘), and another textile grade for melt-blown fibers (MFR: 1200g/10‘). While the MFR: 15 – 60g/10’ grades have been produced on Basell’s European Spheripol process assets, the meltblown grade was produced for the first time on a commercial Spheripol line in Bayport.
Comments: Until now Basell produced metallocene-based PP in Europe and now it has commercialized it in North America as well.
Basell’s entry into metallocene polyethylene deserves special comments. Basell’s predecessors, Montell and Himont had a major technological influence on Montedison Dr. Natta, the original inventor of polypropylene and Ziegler- Natta chemistry. Himont in the early days and Montell under the leadership of Prof. Paolo Galli dedicated most of the effort to Z-N technology and strongly believed in the Advanced Z-N platform via RGT (Reactor Granule Technology), while the metallocene technologies progressed way beyond everyone’s imagination – thanks to the excellent marketing and technology by the two leaders – ExxonMobil and Dow.
The transformation of Montell to Basell brought in two major developments: (1) reduced the influence of Montedison technology and (2) entry of BASF’s metallocene platform. The last four years have witnessed the transformation of Basell under the BASF technology umbrella. Basell has gone through a major transformation in North America by reducing its presence – especially in polyethylenes.
This new commercialization of Metocene (from BASF) into North America heralds a new phase for Basell, BASF, and Shell, emerging out of the past Z-N technology shadows.
For further details of the latest developments in related issues, refer to our Metallocene Polyolefins Multiclient study and various feature articles in our New Generation Polyolefins Bimonthly Review.
Oman Oil Company sells its 20% stake in Oman Polypropylene to Gulf Investment Corporation
Oman Oil Company (OOC) announced its plans to sell 20% interest in Oman Polypropylene LLC (OPP) to Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC). The joint venture is between OOC and LG International of Korea on an 80:20 per cent basis, respectively.
The share of GIC will be carved out from OOC’s 80 per cent ownership in the company. OPP was established to construct and operate a polypropylene plant in Sohar industrial area with a capacity to produce 340,000 MT/year of polypropylene products. The project, which started as part of the Sohar refinery complex, aims to add value to the propylene stream to produce a product that can be used in a large array of downstream industries.
Recently OPP secured a $219 million loan from local, regional, and international banks at very attractive prices. The plant is being constructed on EPC basis by a consortium of LG International Cooperation and LG Engineering and Construction Corporation. The plant is expected to employ 150 people in operation. The project’s total cost is around $313 million.
Comments: Oman currently does not have any polypropylene supplier. Oman Polypropylene will be the first and the only supplier of polypropylene when the plant comes on-stream. The plant is expected to start in 2006 with an estimated capacity of 170 KT and will increase the capacity to 340 KT by 2007. The plant is based on the Novolen process.
The total capacity for polypropylene in the Middle East was approximately 1550 KT in 2003 and is expected to double by 2006. Saudi Arabia is the largest producer of polypropylene in the Middle East with an approximate 2003 capacity of 950 KT. Other polypropylene-producing countries in the Middle East include (1) Iran, (2) Israel, (3) Kuwait, (4) Oman, (5) Saudi Arabia, and (6) Turkey. Iran is expected to triple its polypropylene capacity in the next five years.
Pemex to increase LDPE capacity by 75,000 MT/year
Pemex announced its plans to increase LDPE capacity at its facility in La Cangrejara, Mexico by 75,000 MT/year to 315,000 MT/year. The capacity expansion is expected to be completed by the end of 2004. Pemex recently completed the expansion of its ethylene plant by 100,000 MT/year to 600,000 MT/year.
Comments: Pemex is the only supplier of LDPE in Mexico with an approximate capacity of 290 KT. Pemex has LDPE capacity based on ICI’s autoclave technology. The majority of its capacity is located in La Cangrejera, Ver. The total LDPE capacity for the facility in La Cangrejara is 240 KT. Pemex is planning to expand this plant by over 30% to 315 KT per year.
Low-density polyethylene has come a long way since its introduction over sixty years ago. Today, more than 37 billion pounds of LDPE is consumed globally, with growth anticipated to be around d2.1% per annum. Despite LDPE’s market maturity and the overall trend towards downgauging LDPE continues to achieve market growth because of its application and processing advantages. Among the different types of polyethylenes, LDPE continues to command a price premium as a result of these performance benefits and related market dynamics.
The North American market has not witnessed a grassroots LDPE capacity expansion since the mid-1980s when Eastman and Dow expanded. The market for LDPE has been quite stable in recent years, and producers have been able to satisfy demand through incremental expansions. This reluctance to add capacity and the conservative and restricted approach to capacity expansions has also helped LDPE maintain a premium over other polyethylenes. By expanding its current facility Pemex is continuing with the trend and keeping the supply and demand in check. Such an expansion will help Pemex address the market needs without affecting the price or margins.
Mitsui Chemicals to introduce metallocene PE waxes Excerex®
Mitsui Chemicals announced its plans to launch a new product line of metallocene-catalyzed polyethylene (PE) waxes under the trade name Excerex®. The products will be launched in October 2004.
The company started construction of a 9,000 MT/year unit to produce Excerex waxes earlier this year with a manufacturing facility located at Iwakuni-Ohtake Works. Mitsui plans to market Excerex waxes in applications such as processability improver/property modifiers for different resins, fillers, printing inks, and others.
Comments: Mitsui currently produces PE waxes based on Zeigler-Natta catalysts at its plant in Iwakuni having a capacity of 11,000 MT/year. The company also produces PP waxes based on thermal decomposition. The addition of metallocene-based polyethylene waxes will increase the total capacity to 23,000 MT/year.
The demand for PE waxes is constantly increasing and producers are bringing on purpose production capacities for PE waxes. Recently, Dow Chemical also started the production of metallocene-based PE waxes in Sarnia, Canada. The total demand for PE waxes in North America in 2003 was about 270 million pounds. PE waxes mainly compete with paraffin & microcrystalline waxes in most applications. The other reason for the increase in PE wax supply is that the production of paraffin & microcrystalline waxes is limited due to the refiners’ switching to catalytic dewaxing of lubricant.
Paraffin & microcrystalline waxes are produced as by-products during the dewaxing of lubricants. Catalytic dewaxing improves the quality and quantity of lube stock compared to solvent dewaxing at the expense of paraffin wax. For more information, please refer to “Global PO&E – Volume 2, Issue 10”
Borealis introduces PP grades to be used on PE blown film line
Borealis introduced new polypropylene grades designated for use in the production of a blown film on lines designed for PE film production. The new Borclear® and Borsoft® products overcome PP’s traditional drawbacks for the blown film approach through increased melt strength and enhanced cooling and optical properties.
New grade Borclear RB707CF gives optical properties that have never been achieved before in conventional blown film technology, the group claimed. According to Borealis, the new grades can be used in applications in stiff packaging film for textiles or foodstuffs, hygiene film, labeling, and barrier packaging films.
Comments: Blown film coextrusion is a highly versatile technology covering a wide range of applications including complex structures based on 2 to 7 layers of different materials.
India to launch polymer futures by Sept. 2004.
The National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX) of India announced its plans to launch polymer futures by September 2004. According to NCDEX, pending energy futures, especially in the absence of a hedging mechanism for crude oil, the polymer sector will be able to cover its price risk through the novel product.
Polymer futures will provide a platform for Rs 26,000-crore domestic industry dominated by Reliance Industries, IPCL, Haldia Petrochemicals, and Gail India Ltd. Futures trading will also provide price risk hedging mechanism to 16,000 odd small-scale units in the polymer and plastic sector.
If launched in time, NCDEX will be the first commodity exchange in the world to launch futures trading in polymers that are also popularly called as ‘plastic commodities futures’. London Metal Exchange (LME) has already announced its intention of introducing plastic commodities futures by December 2004.
NCDEX is currently designing the products to be offered for futures trading in the polymers sector. NCDEX is likely to be ready with designing plastic commodities contract paper over the next two months. Details for plastic commodities contract, size, and deliverable form/packaging, etc will be finalized.
NCDEX will enter the league of leading international commodity exchanges offering novel derivative products used not just by manufacturers, processors, and traders but also by small-scale plastic processing units across the nation.
Comments: Continuously increasing oil prices and the advantages of superior technologies, faster computers, and faster broadband services are forcing/allowing countries like India and the UK to launch a futures market for polymers. If these two countries are able to successfully launch the exchange then other countries will follow.
Symyx Technologies and Dow extend their research collaboration
Symyx Technologies, Inc. and Dow Chemical announced the signing of an extension to their research and development collaboration. The collaboration will continue to focus on the discovery of catalysts to produce polyolefins, which are polymers used in a wide variety of industrial and consumer plastic products. This extension covers the period from July 1 through December 31, 2004, to enable the collaborative research to proceed as the companies continue discussions to define future business arrangements.
Symyx® and Dow have worked together in research collaboration since January 1999, including a previous extension in June 2002. Dow expects to use catalyst systems developed during the collaboration in the manufacture of its new product family of VERSIFY® Plastomers and Elastomers starting later this year. This new polymer family is designed to improve optics, sealing, and hot tack performance, elasticity, flexibility, and softness for flexible and rigid packaging producers, manufacturers of thermoplastic elastomers and olefins, and converters in the consumer products sector. Upon their successful commercialization, Symyx will earn royalties from the sale of the new polymers made using the catalysts developed under the Dow-Symyx collaboration. Finally, Dow purchased Symyx Discovery Tools®, including Symyx Renaissance Software®, in 2002 and 2003.
Comments: High throughput experimentation (HTE) combines advanced computational and experimental techniques thereby offering a faster and more effective route to better products and processes.
HTE can also be defined as the accelerated completion of two or more experimental stages in a concerted and integrated fashion incorporating various technologies. HTE is applied to different applications including (1) oil and gas conversion, (2) basic and intermediate chemicals, (3) environmental, (4) polymerization, (5) specialty and fine chemicals, and others.
There have been continuous developments in regard to polyolefins catalysts primarily to develop new polyolefin products. The historical methodology for new single-site catalyst discovery has involved chemists synthesizing new structures one at a time, followed by activation and evaluation in polymerization reactors.
New combinatorial and high-throughput methods are being developed which promise to substantially shorten the development time for discoveries in polyolefin catalysts. The polyolefins workflow consists of design, synthesis, sample preparation, property screening, and data analysis, using ligand and catalyst synthesis equipment, parallel polymerization reactors, rapid FTIR, SAMMS, and rapid GPCTM.
The companies develop their software packages to fully integrate all the steps in the discovery process to improve the probability of success, reduce time to market, uncover unexpected results, and capitalize rapidly on opportunities.
BP is going to present a paper at the conference FlexPO 2004 organized by Chemical Market Resources, Inc regarding its “Experiences in High Throughput Experimentation”. FlexPO 2004 will be held on Sept. 15-17, 2004 at San Louis Resort, Galveston, TX.
Qatar Petroleum and ExxonMobil Chemical conduct feasibility study for ethane cracker & derivatives complex
Qatar Petroleum and ExxonMobil Chemical Company announced their plans to conduct a feasibility study for a world-scale, ethane-based cracker, and ethylene derivatives complex in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar. The Qatar Petroleum and ExxonMobil joint study will define the technical and commercial aspects of a world-class petrochemical growth platform in Qatar. The complex will utilize ethane feedstock from new gas development projects in Qatar’s North Field and supply competitively advantaged products to Asia and Europe.
Exxon Mobil Corporation, through its subsidiaries, has had a presence in Qatar since 1935. Qatar Petroleum and ExxonMobil are currently working together to diversify the use of the North Field gas into new areas in addition to LNG, including the supply of pipeline gas to domestic and regional customers, Gas-to-Liquids (GTL), and other projects.
Comments: This is then an early example of what most pundits say is going to continue to keep coming from the Middle East – a continued stream of basic materials based on very inexpensive feedstocks, ethane in this cast. With ethane at a floor of $.50 – $75/mm btu, this project’s potential economics can’t be beaten, ethylene will be somewhat less than 50% of the cash cost of Western and Asian production. Although the integrated derivatives can only be surmised at this time and will be probably determined by the Statement of Intent (SOI) Study, it would seem a significant probability that certain ExxonMobil technologies offered could find a home in this complex such as LDPE. The raw material and accessibility to Asian and European markets for instance would certainly be right. Other similar projects in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are also of this generation, this project would certainly appear to make sense on all fronts given the current and probable global tides expected.
Westlake Chemical to acquire assets of PVC pipe producer Bristolpipe Corporation
Westlake Chemical Corporation announced that, through an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire substantially all of the net assets of Bristolpipe Corporation.
The purchase price of $33.0 million is subject to adjustment at closing to reflect customary closing adjustments. The closing is anticipated to occur on or about July 31, 2004.
Bristolpipe Corporation reported revenues of approximately $114 million for the calendar year 2003. They employ approximately 200 employees and operate three manufacturing plants located in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Georgia.
The closing of the acquisition is subject to the approval of the shareholders of Heywood Williams Group PLC, the ultimate parent company of Bristolpipe Corporation, and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
Comments: Westlake Chemical Corporation is a vertically integrated international manufacturer and supplier of petrochemicals, polymers, and fabricated products with headquarters in Houston, Texas. The company’s range of products includes ethylene, polyethylene, styrene, vinyl intermediates, PVC and PVC pipe, windows, and fence.
Westlake has 363 KT of PVC capacity in Calvert City, KY. The company also has an idle PVC plant in Geismar, LA. Westlake accounts for 5% of the total PVC capacity in the United States. PVC is widely used in pipe application and Westlake will gain a cost advantage by vertically integrating into the manufacture of pipes through Bristolpipe Corporation.
Bristolpipe Corporation is headquartered in Elkhart, Indiana, and primarily produces PVC pipe products for a wide range of applications including domestic and commercial drainage, waste, and venting; underground water; sewer pipe and telecommunications cable ducting.
PolyOne sells its elastomers & performance additives business to Lion Chemical Capital and ACI Capital
PolyOne Corporation announced its plans to sell its Elastomers and Performance Additives business to a group formed by an investor group led by Lion Chemical Capital LLC and ACI Capital Co., Inc.
The purchase agreement provides that PolyOne will receive gross proceeds before associated fees and costs of approximately $120 million, of which $106 million will be paid in cash and $14 million in the form of a note from the buyer.
The Elastomers and Performance Additives business is a leading merchant provider of customized, high-performance elastomer materials and additives for use in diverse end markets, including the transportation, electrical, industrial, and printing industries. Headquartered in Solon, Ohio, the group operates five manufacturing facilities in the United States and one each in Mexico and the United Kingdom. Revenues for the four quarters ended March 31, 2004, were $349 million, which represents 13.5 percent of PolyOne’s total sales from both its continuing and discontinued operations during that period.
PolyOne announced last October that, as part of its efforts to improve profitability and strengthen its balance sheet, it would confine its strategic emphasis to its Plastics Compounding, Color and Additives Masterbatch, and Distribution businesses. These businesses have leading market positions, and most of them are global in scope. In line with this goal, PolyOne announced that it would divest its Elastomers and Performance Additives, Engineered Films, and Specialty Resins businesses. As a result, the Company began reporting these business units as discontinued operations in the fourth quarter of 2003. PolyOne has stated that it expects to complete all three dispositions in 2004. The pending Elastomers divestment is the first such disposition.
Comments: This is another step in a strategy by Lion Capital to build a central elastomers and flexible polymers core business. If you recall, Lion Capital was a player in last year’s buyout of Kraton from Ripplewood Holdings to a Group led by Texas Pacific Group. The addition of Poly One’s Elastomers and Performance Additives Business could be construed as a diversification of the base holdings and the start of something bigger. The Poly One business was a jewel in the crown and it will also add luster to Lion Capital’s undoubtedly exciting plans.
Bayer Polymers LLC begins its operations under Bayer MaterialScience LLC’s name
Bayer Polymers LLC began operations in the NAFTA region under its new Bayer MaterialScience LLC name starting July 1, 2004. Bayer MaterialScience LLC is headquartered in Pittsburgh.
The name change is part of a global Bayer Group reorganization announced in November 2003. Bayer announced that its business activities are grouped into three areas: Bayer MaterialScience, Bayer HealthCare, and Bayer CropScience.
Bayer MaterialScience is a global leader in growth markets serving the automotive, comfort, engineering thermoplastics, insulation, coatings, adhesives, and sealants industries. Its key products include polyurethanes, polycarbonates, thermoplastic polyurethanes, and coatings raw materials.
The reorganization combined about one-third of Bayer’s polymers businesses with most of Bayer Chemicals to form a new company called LANXESS Corporation. The polymer businesses going to LANXESS produce rubber products and chemicals, styrenics, and semi-crystalline products.
Bayer AG plans to list LANXESS on the stock market by early 2005 either through a sale of LANXESS shares or the spin-off of LANXESS shares to Bayer AG stockholders. H.C. Starck and Wolff Walsrode, two separate specialty companies formerly with Bayer Chemicals, now fall under the Bayer MaterialScience banner.
Bayer MaterialScience has 10 plants in North America. They are located in Baytown and Channelview, Texas; Berlin, CT; Columbus, GA., Hebron, OH; South Deerfield and Sheffield, MA; Newton, MA (H.C. Starck); New Martinsville and South Charleston, WV; and Santa Clara, Mexico.
Comments: Bayer announced its plans to reorganize its business units in November 2003.
It had made a strategic decision to combine its chemical business with some parts of its polymer business into a separate company, NewCo, which was later, renamed Lanxess. After forming Lanxess, Bayer reorganized its business units into three main areas including (1) Bayer MaterialSciene, (2) Bayer HealthCare, and (3) Bayer CropSciene.
Bayer has successfully implemented its reorganization plan and Bayer Polymers began operations as Bayer MaterialScience. This should enable the company to focus on its core businesses and expand its activities in the core areas.
For more information, please refer to our “Global PO&E – Volume 1, Issue 24”.
Dow joint ventures MEGlobal and Equipolymers begin operations
MEGlobal & Equipolymers both 50/50 joint ventures between Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC) of Kuwait, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, and Dow Chemical received regulatory approval. MEGlobal commenced formal operations in the manufacture and sale of Monoethylene Glycol and Diethylene Glycol, (EG), as a new entity in the global EG market.
Equipolymers commenced formal operations in the manufacture and marketing of polyethylene terephthalate resins (PET) and the manufacture of purified terephthalic acid (PTA), as a new entity. Equipolymers will serve customers globally and will be headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. Production facilities include PET and PTA plants in Ottawa, Italy, and a PET plant in Schkopau, Germany, as well as a second PET plant in Schkopau, which is expected to start up by the end of 2004. After the start of the new PET plant in Schkopau, the JV will have a PET capacity of approximately 434,000 metric tons.
Solvay Advanced Polymers sells its injection molding facility to Parkway Products, Inc
Solvay Advanced Polymers announced its plans to sell the injection molding facility in Atlanta to U.S. firm Parkway Products.
The Atlanta facility produced plastic parts for several industries including military, automotive, and various industrial markets. Parkway intends to maintain the plant’s expertise in part design, prototyping, molding, and tool building.
Comments: Solvay Advanced Polymers (SAP), a subsidiary of Solvay America Inc., was formed in November 2001 by combining Solvay’s existing line of engineering polymers with those acquired from BP Amoco.
Solvay develops their compounds internally at their plant and includes products such as (1) UDEL polysulfone, (2)RADEL A® polyethersulfone, (3) RADEL R® polyphenyl sulfone, (4) ACUDEL® polyphenyl sulfone blends, (6) MINDEL® modified polysulfone resins and other the semi-crystalline materials.
Solvay’s products cater to markets such as aerospace, automotive, electronics, food service, industrial equipment, medical, plumbing, water purification, and others. The sale will enable Solvay to concentrate on its core compounding business.
Parkway Products is an established molding company with eight manufacturing locations in North America, six in the United States, and two in Mexico. They serve in industries such as medical equipment aerospace telecommunications, automotive and industrial. The addition of the facility will strengthen Parkway’s position in the molding industry, especially in the automotive section as the location was a tier 1 supplier.
Teknor Apex develops a new type of TPV elastomer, Uniprene XL
Teknor Apex announced the development of new thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) elastomers based on novel polymer chemistry. The advantages of the new TPV include greater long-term resistance to heat and solvents than conventional TPV compounds, higher tensile strength, and better long-term elastic recovery.
According to Teknor Apex, Uniprene XL compounds are even more rubber-like than conventional TPVs, enabling processors to meet more stringent requirements for dynamic components that undergo repeated flexure or for applications in aggressive end-use environments.
Uniprene XL compounds can be extruded or injection molded and readily colored. Currently, available grades span the Shore A hardness range from 45 to 80. Suggested applications include seals, plugs, grommets, and mechanical components; automotive tubing and bellows; glazing strips, weather seals, and expansion joints; and electrical insulators.
Conventional TPVs, including standard Uniprene grades developed and sold by Teknor Apex, typically consist of EPDM rubber domains dispersed in a polypropylene matrix, with cross-linking of the EPDM providing more rubber-like properties than are available with thermoplastic elastomer blends not subjected to cross-linking. In developing Uniprene XL compounds, Teknor Apex replaced EPDM with a modified hydrogenated styrene block copolymer.
Comments: Teknor Apex was founded in 1924 and presently has 10 locations in the United States and one in Singapore. The company specializes in custom mixing and molding of rubber compounds, specialty custom thermoplastic compounding, toll compounding of plastics compounds, and other areas including color concentrates for plastics, thermoplastic elastomers, and vinyl (custom PVC compounds).
Teknor Apex’s TPV will allow them to compete with thermoset rubbers on a cost and performance basis than the non-crosslinked TPOs. The advantage of TPV is unlike parts made from thermoset rubbers, TPV parts can be recycled. TPVs generally command premium pricing compared to TPOs and have the following advantages (1) high heat resistance, (2) low-temperature properties, (3) UV resistance, (4) low compression set, and (5) high flexural fatigue resistance. TPVs are widely used in under-the-hood applications such as weather seals, radiator/air conditioning hoses, and others.
Bombardier Recreational Products to shift some work to Taiwan
Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. announced its plans to move some of its all-terrain-vehicle production from Valcourt, Canada to Taiwan to save costs. Bombardier Products is one of the largest manufacturers of snowmobiles and personal watercraft. The company’s ATVs rely on structural components made of fiberglass-reinforced plastic.
Valcourt is the most sophisticated of the Bombardier Recreational plants around the world and will retain production of four higher-end ATV models and high-volume snowmobile and watercraft mainstays.
Comments: Bombardier came into the news first time in the late 80s for its innovations in the use of PDCPD (Polydicyclopentadiene) for skidoos.
The movement of Bombardier to China is an ongoing trend in low-technology, labor-oriented applications moving to China.
They have good abrasion resistance, UV stability, and excellent chemical resistance to acids, alkalis, bleaches, and detergents. Polyester fibers are available in several forms which include (1) continuous filament yarns, (2) staple fibers, and (3) blends of polyester staple and cotton.
Trevira was founded in 1956 as a business unit of Hoechst AG. It was spun off in 1998 as Trevira GmbH & Co KG. Trevira is one of the major European manufacturers of polyester fibers and filament yarns. The Reliance Group founded by Dhirubhai H. Ambani is a dominant player in the Indian chemical industry. Reliance is a dominant player in the Asian polyester fiber markets and is also involved in the exploration and production (E&P) of oil and gas, refining and marketing, petrochemicals (polyester, polymers, and intermediates), textiles, financial services, and insurance, power, and telecom.
ExxonMobil to increase plasticizers capacity in Asia
ExxonMobil Chemical has expanded its plasticizer and oxo alcohol plants in the Asia Pacific.
In Panyu, South China, the capacity at the plasticizer plant has been expanded to 90,000 MT/year of diisononyl phthalate (DINP). Capacity at ExxonMobil Chemical’s oxo alcohol plant, located on Jurong Island in Singapore, has increased to 180,000 MT/year of isononyl alcohol.
ExxonMobil has consistently enhanced its manufacturing scale to respond to customers’ needs worldwide. Oxo alcohol is the feedstock for the manufacture of plasticizers, which provide flexibility to many products, such as floor and wall coverings, wire and cable insulation, synthetic leathers, automotive applications, and healthcare products.
Comments: Phthalate-based plasticizers are mainly used in polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The demand for PVC is continuously increasing in Asia Pacific, especially in China.
The major oxo alcohol-based phthalates include (1) dioctyl phthalate, (2) diisononyl phthalate (DINP), (3) diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP), (4) dioctyl phthalate (DIOP), and others. ExxonMobil is the largest producer of DINP & DIDP plasticizers in the world. DINP plasticizers compete with other phthalate-based plasticizers such as DOP & DIOP. The advantages of DINP include lower volatility and acceptable low-temperature properties.
The major applications of PVC where plasticizers are used include (1) wire & cable, (2) flooring, (3) wall coverings, (4) automotive, (5) footwear, (6) sporting goods, (7) adhesive tapes, (8) medical applications, and others.
Contact us at ADI Chemical Market Resources to learn how we can help.