Business Information - March 2011
This month we're looking at the commercial side of polymers.
In the world of polymers there's no doubting the significance of technical information. It is fundamentally important for research to take place and for the findings to be reported in order for developments to continue and build.
However, many people would also find it beneficial to stay up-to-date with the most important economic and commercial developments; this type of information can offer perspective on your work or even encourage some lateral thinking.
Keeping in mind some of the general price trends affecting polymers you use, mergers and takeovers among competitors, suppliers and customers and detail of key new products being launched may mean you see your own work from a new angle.
With this in mind, the Polymer Library team is launching a new Polymer Business Bulletin series. Read more about it below...
Abstracts
Please see below a selection of abstracts highlighted in the March Newsletter. These are records which relate to the economic and commercial aspects of polymers that have been recently added to the Polymer Library.
Click on the 7-digit accession numbers to find out about ordering a copyright-cleared full text copy of the items shown.
1075986 - REPLACE A SEAL, SAVE A 1 MILLION US DOLLARS PROJECT
PVC stabiliser supplier Amfine ran into serious problems with a dryer used to prepare nucleating agents. For this nucleating agent, making the product included drying under vacuum so that no oxygen enters the process during drying. The product must pass two critical quality tests: one measures the level of solvent remaining in the product and the other measures the level of dissolved colour. When Amfine's process engineers originally specified the capabilities of the dryer they needed to its manufacturer, they assumed that if it could hold 100 Torr of vacuum, the process would be successful. The dryer was delivered with some blow/cut seals installed, which were designed to hold the prescribed 100 Torr. After the first batches of product were run in the new dryer, Amfine's experts realised that they needed to achieve a much deeper vacuum, a value of 50 Torr or less, in order to reach the target values for solvent and colour. The level of vacuum achieved with the factory-installed seals was making it impossible to achieve the 50-Torr level. Shaft seal manufacturer Meco's regional distributor, Mid South Mechanical Sealing, helped the maintenance team install a split, elastomer-free ExPac model seal with a mechanical drive mechanism. The dryer is now able to consistently approach zero Torr with the new seal.
Modern Plastics Worldwide, 88, No.1, Jan.2011, p.14-15, ISSN: 0026-8275
Defosse M
1075984 - FLAT, FLEXIBLE ICS BOLDLY GO INSIDE THE BODY
Japanese researchers have developed thin, flat and flexible organic transistors and complementary integrated circuits (ICs). The thin polyimide sheet incorporating the ICs can be wrapped around a catheter, enabling measurement of physical or chemical properties inside the long, narrow tube. The IC sheet can function without degradation even after being folded into a shape with a radius of 100um. The researchers used a 12.5-um-thick polyimide as a base (gate insulator film) and developed technologies to achieve a smooth planar coating at the atomic level and to build a hybrid encapsulation stack, which places the transistors in the neutral strain position. This brings enormous flexibility and bending stability to the IC sheet.
Medical Device and Diagnostic Industry, 33, No.1, Jan.2011, p.22/24, ISSN: 0194-844X
Anzai M
1075981 - POLYOLEFINS IN 2010: GRAND SPLENDOR OF TECHNOLOGY BREAKTHROUGHS
With impacts from the debt crisis in Europe, the concentrated capacity increase in China and the constant impact of imported resources, the polyolefin sector in China recessed in the first half of 2010. However, in the second half of the year, polyolefin prices stopped falling and started to rebound. With the implementation of the zero tariff policy in ASEAN and the ECFA, the export of plastic products from China has gained a new orientation. More gratifying is that there have been frequent reports on technology breakthroughs in the polyolefin sector in 2010. The coal-to-olefin unit in Shenhua Group has completed successful wet commissioning. The large-scale PE complete process has achieved commercialisation. The PP unit using the Spherizone process has started production. The vapour-phase PE pilot unit has been put on stream. All these technologies have bridged a gap in China. PE capacity in China was 10.50 million t/y in 2010. The output was 9.465 million tons from January to November 2010, an increase of 30% over the same period of the previous year. PP capacity was 9.40 million t/y and actual output was 8.323 million tons from January to November 2010, an increase of 14.5% over the same period of the previous year.
China Chemical Reporter, 22, No.2, 21st Jan.2011, p.29-30, ISSN: 1002-1450
Zhenjiang Y; Hongjie L
1075968 - STYRON PREDICTS 10% GROWTH FOR S-SBR (short article)
Styron expects demand for solution-SBR to grow at 10% in the coming years, based on demand from tyre makers, it is briefly reported. Historical growth in this material has been roughly 3%, but demand is now starting to accelerate as tyre makers respond to consumer demand triggered by the advent of tyre labels. Growth, it is claimed, is driven by performance and legislation. Styron has invested Euro95.7m in a new 50 kt/year line in Schkopau, Germany. The new line, due on stream at the end of 2012, will bring capacity at the site to 150 kt/year. According to Styron, global demand for S-SBR today is around 500 kt per year, almost all of which is consumed by the tyre industry. The company's growth projection is based on known figures up to 2015 or so, but does not take account of potential tyre-related legislation in China. If the Chinese adopt low rolling resistance tyres, then demand projections will increase substantially. Currently, Styron ships 30% of the output from Schkopau to the Asia-Pacific region.
European Rubber Journal, 193, No.1, Jan.-Feb.2011, p.17, ISSN: 0266-4151
Shaw D
1075964 - COMMODITY POLYMERS INDUSTRY: DOWNTREND IN MARGINS LIKELY TO DEEPEN IN MEDIUM TERM
The Indian polymers industry is small by international standards, accounting for only around 3.5% of global production. However, the rate of growth of Indian polymer consumption is among the highest in the world due to the low base effect and burgeoning demand from several end-users. The per capita consumption of polymers in India at about 6kg is far below the global average of 29kg. Demand for commodity polymers grew by 19% in 2009-10 over the previous fiscal. This trend continued in the first half of 2010-11, with polyolefins and PVC demand growing by about 10%, as compared to the corresponding period. Consumption of PE, PP and PVC in India is discussed. Notwithstanding the sizeable capacity additions anticipated in India over the next three to four years, the domestic demand-supply balance should remain favourable for PE and PVC resin producers, even if the PP resin market should remain in surplus. However, increasing import competition from West Asian manufacturers is a pressing concern, given that such competition could translate into subdued tolling margins for incumbents and new entrants over the medium term.
Chemical Weekly, 56, No.24, 25th Jan.2011, p.2-3-208, ISSN: 0045-6500
1075954 - LANXESS TO ACQUIRE DSM ELASTOMERS (short article)
Royal DSM has agreed to sell its DSM Elastomers business to Lanxess for Euro310m, it is briefly reported. Lanxess says the acquisition will strengthen its technology base by adding DSM's technology for the production of EPDM. In comparison with conventional processes, this ACE technology is cheaper and more energy-efficient. Lanxess will evaluate the implementation of ACE technology in its existing plants. DSM Elastomers is expected to achieve sales of about Euro380m in 2010. DSM operates an EPDM plant in Sittard-Geleen, The Netherlands, with an annual production capacity of 160 kt. The company's other EPDM plant is based in Triunfo, Brazil, with an annual capacity of 40 kt.
High Performance Plastics, Feb.2011, p.10-11, ISSN: 0264-7753
New - Polymer Business Bulletins
The new Polymer Business Bulletins are now available for just £99 for a year's subscription. Stay up-to-date with the latest key business information in your area.
Topics available:
Polyolefins
High Performance Plastics
Rubber.