polymerguru

Evonik  Industries has strengthened its position in  C4-based products  and has successfully, and on time, put into operation new production plants in Antwerp (Belgium). Also in the Marl Chemical Park (Germany), the C4 capacities are being increased. For this, the company has invested a total amount in the three-digit million ranges (Euro) in the two sites.  The new plants result in an expansion of capacities for  butadiene  in Antwerp, for the  plasticizer alcohol Isononano l (Marl) as well as for the antiknock agent  MTBE  (Marl and Antwerp). According to market analyses, the global demand for these products increases by two to five percent per year.  "By expanding our C4 capacities and the necessary and important investments into the supply of raw materials at our sites, we are sustainably strengthening our market positions. At the same time we are supporting our customers’ growth plans in Europe and worldwide," said Klaus Engel, C...

Evonik Industries demonstrated for the first time in a pilot plant that innovative SILP catalyst systems can work reliably for about 2,000 hours. The high service life is important proof that these economically and ecologically interesting catalyst systems can be used on an industrial scale. SILP stands for Supported Ionic Liquid Phase and describes a technology with which homogeneous catalysts can be applied to solid materials, such as silicon oxides or aluminum oxide, with the help of ionic liquids.  Scientists used the new catalyst systems in hydroformylation, an industrially important reaction that is used in the chemical industry to recover aldehydes from olefins and syngas. Among other things, aldehydes are a precursor for plasticizer alcohols; Evonik is one of the largest producers of C9/C10 plasticizer alcohols in Europe. Prof. Robert Franke, who is responsible for Innovation Management Hydroformylation in Evonik's Performance Materials Segment says, "With our researc...

Huntsman Corporation (NYSE: HUN) announced that it has completed the acquisition of Tecnoelastomeri, a manufacturer and marketer of methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) based hot-cast elastomer systems and processing machines, based in Modena, Italy. 2014 sales revenue for Tecnoelastomeri was approximately $12 million. The purchase price was not disclosed.  Hot-cast polyurethanes are used in many downstream applications, including bumper pads, coated conveyor belts, gears, rollers and wheels. These applications are used in the automotive, rail, oil and gas, mining and steel industries among others. Huntsman has supplied MDI for these applications for many years.  Tecnoelastomeri markets its diverse product line globally under a number of well-known trademarks, including Tecnoelastomeri engineering urethane elastomers, Tecnothane polyurethane systems, Rithane specialty polyurethane systems, Castech polyurethane machines and Linthane specialty thermoplastic urethanes (TPUs)....

This uniquely practical and industry’s UN-RIVALED course, to be offered in Atlanta, GA, USA,   SEPT 22 - 24, 2015 , “Polymer Failure & Defects: Problem Solving Case-Histories” has been attended by 500+ participants with representation from premier global companies. A highlight of the course is the presentation of 50+ Case-Histories of $MM business impact via skilled investigation of problems; solutions backed by PATENTS, PUBLICATIONS in prestigious journals & documented COMMERCIAL VALUE. There will be a major presentation on “How to Identify Innovation Opportunities During Routine Technical Operations”.   EXAMPLE #1: During occasional longer breaks, the extruder froze resulting in lengthy tear-downs & cleaning, thus adversely affecting the productivity. "Melt-Polycondensation" was established as the root-cause. Rather than changing the “near Impossible” manufacturing process for the plastic resin, a change in lubricant system with an unexpected catalytic effec...

3D-Additive Manufacturing: Fabricating Materials into Traditional & Complex Objects MARCH 22-24 , Miami Beach 3D Printing is reshaping the manufacturing base and will be the 21st Century’s industrial revolution. Why? In short, it can deliver "Real-Life Objects" faster, cheaper and on-demand . Prototypes can be rapidly fabricated and perfected without tooling limitations or wastage of materials and manpower. All industries have the potential to be impacted by 3D printing including: ·           Defense ·           Medical ·           Aerospace ·           Automotive ·           Consumer Products ·           Architectural ·           Wearables · ...

Verdezyne, Inc., a privately-held industrial biotechnology company focused on producing renewable chemicals, has reached an agreement with Will & Co, a sales and marketing firm for raw materials, semi-finished products, additives, and pigments, for distribution of Verdezyne’s first commercial product. The exclusive agreement is for sales and distribution of BIOLON™ DDDA (biobased dodecanedioic acid or “DC12”) in Europe, one of the world’s largest chemical markets. BIOLON™ DDDA will be produced at Verdezyne’s commercial-scale plant in Malaysia. The agreement secures off-take for over 25% of the expected plant capacity. Verdezyne’s BIOLON™ DDDA is produced more sustainably than traditional petroleum-derived intermediate chemicals and will be used to make engineering polymer resins, automotive parts, toothbrush bristles, cosmetics, fragrances, and more. “This agreement with Will & Co is an important milestone for us because it reflects the strong demand for renewable chemicals a...

Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation announced that MCC and Suzuki Motor Corporation have jointly developed a new grade of bio-based engineering plastic called DURABIO™, which was used (*) in the interior resin color panels of Suzuki’s new Alto Lapin. DURABIO™, developed by MCC, is a bio-based engineering plastic made from plant-derived isosorbide. It features excellent performance as it offers higher resistance to impact, heat, and weather than conventional engineering plastics. Additional benefits include ease of coloring – DURABIO™ can be simply mixed with pigment to create glossy, high reflective surfaces – as well its hardness, enhancing durability and scratch resistance. These advantages eliminate the need for a coating process, thereby reducing emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from paints. DURABIO™ is one of the the world’s first bio-based engineering plastics to offer bacteria-shedding performance. Simply rinsing or wiping the surface with water removes virtually al...