Foam bead supplier and molder JSP Corp. presenting at IPF show

(Plastics Today) -- Foams made from polystyrene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, and even biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) will play a key role in vehicle lightweighting moving forward according to foam bead supplier and molder JSP Corp. (Tokyo, Japan). The company sees potential for another 10 kg of foam use in addition to the 5-6 kg that is estimates is currently used.

On show at the IPF show in Japan was a concept foam sandwich door, with partially bio-derived unsaturated polyester (UP) resin covering both sides of an expanded PLA foam. While the UP resin is currently glass fiber, theoretically natural fiber could also be used as a reinforcing material according to Hidehiro Sasaki, General Manager of the Development Department at JSP. The door weighs in at 9 kg, including around 1 kg of PLA foam.

Prototype door module comprises unsaturated polyester sandwiching polylactic acid (PLA) foam. Polycarbonate foam (orange tag) may join expanded polypropylene (blue tags) in auto applications.
Rear seat bases represent a substantial potential market for foamed plastics.

Expanded polystyrene finds use as a protective packaging material for automotive components. Fellow IPF exhibitor Sekisui Chemical (Osaka, Japan) pegs foam usage at 10 kg per vehicle for the OEMs that it serves. The company's strategic product is a blend of PS foam and polyethylene foam, Piocelan, that exhibits superior compression strength as compared to EPP foam and can be molded on conventional EPS machines.

MRC

(Plastemart) -- Arab Petroleum Investments Corp., the multilateral development bank of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries, has sold 12.5 percent of its stake in the Bahrain National Gas Co. (Banagas) to Kuwait-based Boubyan Petrochemical Co. "The divestment was approved recently by Apicorp's board of directors," as per the company. The Saudi government owns a 17% stake in Apicorp.

Apicorp CEO Ahmad bin Hamad Al-Nuaimi said since the time it invested in Banagas 33 years ago, the company has evolved into a highly successful leading local, regional and international company. "As a result of its continued success, we feel it is appropriate to monetize our share in Banagas by transferring it to a strategic GCC-based investor so that we can advance our plans to initiate and develop other oil and gas projects," said Al-Nuaimi. Banagas was founded by the Bahraini government (currently represented by the National Oil and Gas Holding Co.), Chevron and Apicorp in 1978 with stakes of 75%, 12.5% and 12.5% respectively.

The company's principal business comprises extracting and marketing propane, butane and naphtha, by processing associated gas from Bahrain's oil field, for the local, regional and international markets. Banagas is estimated to produce 4,720 bpd of naphtha, 1,230 bpd of butane and 1,310 bpd of propane. With more than 400 employees and a large volume of exports, Banagas plays an important role in the Bahrain national economy.

MRC

(Dow) -- Dow AgroSciences successfully produced 2,4-D choline in a commercial scale-up setting. This milestone is an indicator of the company's manufacturing expertise to produce Enlist Duo herbicide, which will be a highly differentiated herbicide solution for its Enlist Weed Control System. Once all regulatory approvals are secured, Enlist will introduce an innovative combination of herbicides and herbicide-tolerant traits in elite germplasm to meet the emerging weed control challenges facing farmers, while sustaining beneficial farming practices.

The new 2,4-D choline is a quaternary ammonium salt, which is different from 2,4-D amine or ester formulations. This technology retains the positive attributes of traditional 2,4-D products, such as the same weed control efficacy and favorable environmental profile, while providing growers new advantages for the management of resistant and hard-to-control weeds.

Colex-D Technology is a technology package featured in Enlist Duo and is comprised of 2,4-D choline, the latest in formulation science and a propriety manufacturing process. Those components taken together will provide growers with new benefits with the herbicide, including ultra-low volatility, minimized potential for drift, decreased odor and improved handling characteristics.

MRC

(ICIS) -- Steam cracker operating rate reductions are starting to affect supplies of butadiene (BD), counteracting weak domestic and export demand and stabilising spot values, market sources said on Friday. ⌠Due to cracker reductions, the supply of crude C4 [feedstock for butadiene] is under pressure, a major producer said. ⌠It is very difficult to find [crude C4] volumes, a second producer said.

European producers have been forced to cut cracker operating rates because of the very poor performance of key ethylene and propylene derivatives polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). Rates are reported around 70-75% on average, although some units are still running closer to 80%, depending largely on location and derivative portfolio.

Currently spot prices are being pegged at around ┬1,600/tonne ($2,222/tonne) FD (free delivered) NWE (northwest Europe) on the domestic market and at $1,600-1,700/tonne FOB (free on board) NWE on the export market. These from a peak in June-July at ┬2,700-3,300/tonne and close to $5,000/tonne respectively.

MRC

(PlastEurope) -- In its last earnings report as a standalone company, French chemicals and plastics producer Rhodia looks back on the third quarter and the first nine months of 2011, when it increased both sales and earnings by double-digit margins. The French company, which will be consolidated by new owner Solvay from Q4 2011 already has adopted its new owner's style of reporting earnings as REBIT (recurring earnings before interest and taxes) or REBITDA (including depreciation). Rhodia focuses on REBITDA as its key earnings indicator.

In the third quarter, REBITDA rose by 16% year-on-year to EUR 273m on sales up 22.8% to EUR 1.67bn. This represents a slackening over the first half, as figures show REBITDA increasing by 25% to EUR 853m and sales advancing by 24% to EUR 4.8 bn. The company said sales volumes in the third quarter picked up by 4%, reflecting ⌠good business dynamics, and results also show a ⌠EUR 47m net positive price impact at EBITDA.

MRC