| ARTICLES |
Professionals continue to discover advantages of plastic composite building products, including durability, light weight, corrosion resistance, high strength and low maintenance requirements.WPCs are used almost exclusively in outdoors and exposed to sunlight, rain, snow. Because the WPC industry is relatively young, the long-term durability of outdoor products is still being proven in the field. To achieve good WPCs, additives are very critical and indispensible even though they are used at just small percentages. Read in High performance additives-essential for success of wood plastic composites (WPC) |
Plastics materials are used in large volumes in major applications such as buildings, vehicles and electronic appliances. In each of these areas fire safety is critical. Fire is a big menace, causing loss of life, injury, and damage to property. The use of flame retardant plastics can reduce deaths and damage. Flame retardants can act in a variety of ways: they raise ignition temperature, reduce rate of burning, reduce flame spread and smoke generation. Read more in Use of flame retardant polymer grades on the rise in electric/electronic & building industries |
The global market for specialty films is projected to be US$22.18 bln in 2009, forecast to grow by an overall 34.2% to reach US$29.77 bln by 2014. Specialty films are made from newer, relatively small-volume, niche polymers and are more expensive than commodity films. To know about the major resin classes generally used, key trends expected to drive the industry, technologies capable of making polymers more sustainable, compostable, recyclable and re-usable over longer time spans, demand trend and pattern, shift in production sites, etc, read Global specialty films market to reach US$29.77 bln in 2014 |
The European speciality medical packaging market is forecast to continue at 5% pa to 2012. There is an all-round focus on developing thinner, lower-cost, more environmentally-friendly materials without compromising quality and performance. To know about the sectors/applications that have the highest growth potential in the medical packaging market, the governmental regulations and quality standards that influence material choices in this sector, read European specialty medical packaging has better growth prospects |
Additives that enable biodegradation of plastic materials have recently witnessed strong criticisms from few trade associations and recycling bodies alike.
Oxo degradable additives have been blamed of not clearly conveying a sustainable solution to generation of end-of-use plastics waste- an allegation that has been refuted by the manufacturer.
Interestingly, they have found acceptance bynotable retail giants, bottlers and food packaging majors. Read in Degradation additives in plastics evokes a mixed response from industry |
Traditionally, a thin plug and sealant are inserted after cleaning in a root canal procedure, but this procedure can leave voids in the canal and result in subsequent infection. A smartpoint device has been developed, that comprises a radiopaque core with a hydrophilic polymer coating. This demanding high-aspect ratio component for dental surgery is being produced by micro moulding that is very challenging andl normally requires high-flow polymer material grades. Read in A demanding high-aspect ratio component for root canal filling produced by micro moulding |
Multi-wall carbon nanotubes produced by chemical vapour deposition are the most common type of carbon nanotubes. Their micro-structure consists in highly entangled agglomerates of individual cylindrical CNTs. Intense agglomeration is caused by strong Van der Waals interactions, presenting challenges like dispersion, stability and processability. To know about a range of products that solve dispersion issues, demand for carbon nanotubes, the growth sectors and applications, read Multi wall carbon nanotubes modified to resolve dispersion problems |
Before PVC can be processed, it has to be combined with a range of special additives. In fact, 70% of all polymer additives are used only in PVC. The essential additives for all PVC materials are stabilisers and lubricants; in the case of flexible PVC, plasticisers are also incorporated Economics plays a greater role in selection of mixing process and its equipments. Buss kneader technology and Coperion’s co-rotating twin-screw compounder are found to be ideal for the production of highly filled compounds—both flexible and rigid. Read in Kokneader ideal for large throughput of PVC compounds |
PRICE TRENDS for the week
NAPHTHA 
Corresponding with falling crude oil prices, naphtha prices have plunged by almost forty dollars to US$715/MT in Asia in the week....
ETHYLENE 
Prices have steadied at last week’s US$1325/MT in Asia. Market activity has been limited as buyers are wary of buying at elevated prices that offer low production ma...
PROPYLENE
Prices have steadied at US$1215/MT in Asia on lackluster buying in the region. As crude and naphtha outlook appears bearish, buyers ...
Read More in Price trends of oil, polymer feedstock and commodity polymers in Asia for the week ended January 25, 2010 |
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