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Chemicals news The latest from the industry
NEWS
Borouge receives Green Material Award
RG468MO, a polypropylene (PP) random copolymer produced by Borouge, was crowned with the Green Material Award for Innovation Application during the 2012 China Plastics Industry Awards ceremony.
This high-flow resin boosts 20% productivity gain for the rigid packaging converting industry and achieves shorter cycle times and higher mechanical performance. Furthermore, clear transparency and pleasing visual aesthetics required in the packaging value chain are further enhanced.
Developed based on the proprietary Borealis Nucleation Technology (BNT), Borouge’s RG468MO provides high flow (MFR 30) for fast moulding of thin wall packaging with very long flow lengths and complex geometries. Unlike conventional nucleating systems, BNT enables consistent dispersion of the nucleating agent and stronger effect, resulting in faster and better crystallisation of PP. The technology leads to increased material stiffness with good balance of impact resistance, and the possibility to downgauge wall thicknesses to achieve both material and weight savings. Moreover, faster crystallisation means a reduction in cycle time by 10–20%. Visit: www.bourouge.com
Solvay to build bio-based Epichlorohydrin plant in China
Solvay’s Thai affiliate Vinythai is to serve the vast and growing Chinese epichlorohydrin market with a new production plant in Taixing, China. The plant with an initial capacity of 100,000 tons epichlorohydrin per year requires an investment of €155 million and should become operational in the second half of 2014.
The Chinese epichlorohydrin market is expected to grow on annual basis by 8% and represent 35% of total world demand in 2016. Epichlorohydrin is an essential feedstock for the production of epoxy resins, increasingly used in applications such as corrosion protection coatings as well in the electronics, automotive, aerospace industry or wind turbine industry.
The new plant located in the Taixing Economic Development Park will be based on Solvay’s proprietary bio-based Epicerol® technology. The plant will use as feedstock natural glycerin obtained as a by-product from the production of biofuels. This cost competitive and eco-efficient process requires less invested capital, has a 60% lower CO2 balance (cradle to gate), while dividing the volume of chlorinated by-products by eight compared to the conventional propylene based process. Visit: www.solvay.com
Borealis and Borouge bring Renault weight-saving benefits
Borealis and Borouge have introduced a new grade of polypropylene (PP) specified for use in lightweight bumper applications for two new Renault automotive platforms.
High flow Borcom™ WH107AE was specified for the recently introduced Dacia Lodgy, a minivan produced at Renault’s new plant in Morocco, and for the Renault Twizy, Renault’s first electric car produced at its plant in Spain. Borcom WH107AE is already in use for new generation bumper applications in other Renault platforms including but not limited to the new Dacia Duster and Sandero in South America and Russia. Borealis and Borouge are amongst the first suppliers of a portfolio of PP materials that are recognised as TogozaÏ materials, i.e. materials that fulfil Renault’s worldwide specifications. In addition to the commercialisation of Borcom WH107AE for exterior parts, Borealis and Borouge have also developed a complete new TogozaÏ portfolio for Renault interior applications. Visit: www.borealisgroup.com
SIBUR and Sinopec sign cooperation agreement
Dmitry Konov, CEO of Russian petrochemical company SIBUR, and Wang Tianpu, president of China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (Sinopec Corp.), have signed a cooperation agreement.
The agreement sets the framework for two cooperation projects to establish a joint venture, manufacturing nitrile rubber (NBR) and isoprene rubber (IR) in the Shanghai area of China. The joint venture will use the patents and technologies of SIBUR. The NBR and IR plants are expected to have an annual capacity of 50,000 mt each, subject to finalisation based on the feasibility study. Visit: www.sibur.com
NEWS
New developments in the Chemicals industry
DuPont celebrates world’s largest solar boat’s successful global journey
The world’s largest solar-powered boat has completed the first trans-world trip with DuPont photovoltaic materials helping make it possible. DuPont is an official supplier to PlanetSolar, a 31 metre-long and 15 metre-wide catamaran covered by 537 square metres of photovoltaic solar panels that power an electric motor. The project was undertaken as a way to demonstrate that renewable energy and technology can be applied right now to achieve sustainable transportation.
The photovoltaic panels used to power the boat were exposed to a harsh marine environment, dayafter-day for 19 months, and needed to be highly durable. DuPont™ Tedlar® polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) film was used as an essential component of the photovoltaic backsheet and was key to protecting the PlanetSolar panels. Visit: http://photovoltaics.dupont.com
New Dow production facility for Schkopau, Germany
The Dow Chemical Company has announced that construction is underway for a new production facility for making ENLIGHT™ Polyolefin Encapsulant Films in Schkopau, Germany. Scheduled for completion in late 2012, the facility will bring about 35 new jobs to Dow and the region.
“The proximity to leading photovoltaic companies and research institutes in Central Germany and the good conditions at the Schkopau site offer excellent opportunities for cooperation,” said Ralf Brinkmann, president of Dow in Germany. “This investment will also strengthen our research and product development in a growing market.” The global market for solar panels expects an annual sales increase by about 25% in the next years. Visit: www.dow.com
Tessenderlo Group inaugurates new CTS plant in China
Tessenderlo Group has officially inaugurated its new CTS production plant in Changsu, China. The new plant will produce high-performance, thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) and slush moulding compounds for automotive applications. CTS occupies a leading position in the automotive market with compounds for airbag covers, glazing seals and dashboard skins. CTS Automotive Compounds (Changsu) Ltd. will produce the Marvyflo® and Tefabloc® brands that have been successfully marketed by CTS in China and Asia for more than 10 years.
Tefabloc® TPEs are used in airbag covers, sealing applications, cables and interior parts. The Tefabloc® TPE has a lower density than traditional rubber solutions like EPDM. In some specific parts, the weight reduction is more than 30 per cent. The MarvyfloÆ free flowing powder compounds are the reference material for slush moulding of dashboards and door panels, as well as other interior surfaces. Visit: www.tessenderlogroup.com
INEOS Olefins & Polymers Europe considers strategic options for its HDPE businesses
INEOS Olefins & Polymers Europe has confirmed that it is considering strategic options for the future of its HDPE businesses at Rosignano and Sarralbe, including a divestment to interested third parties. The decision follows a recent strategy review of INEOS O&P Europe.
Rosignano (Italy) and Sarralbe (France) have been a part of INEOS since December 2005, when the company acquired the Innovene business from BP. Since that time INEOS Olefins & Polymers Europe has significantly improved the performance such that today both sites are highly ‘cycle-resistant’, producing a sophisticated range of differentiated polymers with top quartile SHE, reliability and cost leadership of both sites. Today, both sites are profitable and cash generative.
INEOS Olefins & Polymers Europe plans to focus on the growth of its assets that are highly integrated upstream and downstream. Rosignano and Sarralbe are not integrated with INEOS feedstocks and hence are being considered for divestment; however, both have the potential to grow further in response to the increasing demand from the market for their differentiated products. Visit: www.ineospolyolefins.com
INDUSTRYNEWS
AkzoNobel wins contracts for major Brazilian stadia
AkzoNobel has reached an agreement to supply coatings for the roof of Brazil’s famous Maracanã Stadium – which will host a major soccer final in 2014. The contract was secured via a dedicated team which offers complete coatings solutions for large infrastructure projects around the world.
In addition, AkzoNobel has also secured a contract to paint the mezzanine of the Grêmio Arena located in Porto Alegre.
Jaap de Jong, of AkzoNobel Brazil, said, “Brazil is one of our key high growth markets and has a pivotal role to play in our strategic agenda. AkzoNobel is therefore fully focused on capturing the opportunities offered by Brazil’s prominent place in the sporting spotlight in the years to come.”
The Maracanã Stadium contract involves the supply of Interseal 670HS protective coatings, while both Interseal 670HS and Interfine 979 will be used at the Grêmio Arena. Both are supplied by AkzoNobel’s Marine and Protective Coatings business. Visit: www.akzonobel.com
WACKER develops new VAE dispersion for difficult-to-bond surfaces
WACKER has developed a new dispersion specifically suited for bonding various surfaces in the paper and packaging industry. Vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymers (VAE)-based VINNAPAS® EP 8010 reliably and permanently bonds challenging paper and cardboard surfaces, such as coated or painted paper, and polymeric film. Aside from its excellent adhesive strength, the new product is characterised by outstanding heat resistance, very high setting speed and ease of machine processing. Visit: www.wacker.com
The Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) has shipped its first consignment of ethanolamines and ethoxylates from its manufacturing plant in Jubail, SAUDI KAYAN, making Saudi Arabia the first ever country in the Middle East to produce and market these advanced products.
This marks the beginning of a new era for the Kingdom and the company in the production of speciality chemicals. The first shipment has gone to customers in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region. Ultimately customers across the globe will be served.
“This pioneering effort will strengthen our position in the performance chemicals segment, while establishing a platform for the competitiveness and growth of existing users of these materials in the region as well as entrants to the many new industries that can be established with these value added products and the world class services that SABIC brings,” said Koos Van Haasteren, SABIC executive vice-president, Performance Chemicals. Visit: www.sabic.com
Sachtleben to acquire crenox titanium dioxide production assets
Kemira Oyj’s and Rockwood Holdings Inc.’s titanium dioxide (TiO2) joint venture Sachtleben GmbH has reached an agreement to acquire the TiO2 production assets and inventory of crenox GmbH, based in Krefeld, Germany, from the insolvency administrator.
Sachtleben will acquire the crenox KrefeldUerdingen plant and all inventory of the facility. The acquisition will add over 100,000 metric tons of TiO2 production, increasing total capacity to approximately 340,000 metric tons, further enhancing Sachtleben’s position as a leading global supplier of high quality TiO2 pigments.
The joint venture Sachtleben (Kemira ownership 39% in the joint venture), which was formed in August 2008 by combining Kemira Oyj’s and Rockwood’s TiO2 businesses, is a leading producer of speciality TiO2 pigments for the synthetic fibre, packaging inks, cosmetics, pharmaceutical and food industries. Visit: www.kemira.com
