GM and Teijin Limited to co-develop carbon fiber composite technologies

(PlasticsToday) -- General Motors (Detroit) and carbon fiber and composites company Teijin Limited (Osaka) plan to co-develop advanced carbon fiber composite technologies for potential high-volume use globally in GM cars, trucks and crossovers.

The co-development pact involves use of Teijin's innovative carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) technology, a faster and more efficient way to produce carbon fiber composites. This potentially enables GM to introduce CFRTP components on mainstream vehicles. For Teijin, the arrangement could lead to widening its portfolio beyond specialty and high-end automotive carbon fiber applications.


As carbon fiber is 10 times stronger than regular-grade steel yet only one-quarter of the weight, carbon fiber composites used as automobile components are expected to dramatically reduce vehicle weight. Consumers will benefit from lighter weight vehicles with better fuel economy and all the safety benefits that come with vehicles of greater mass.


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Plastics Color introduced a non-brominated flame retardant system

(PlastEurope) -- Masterbatch manufacturer Plastics Color (PCC, Calumet City, Illinois/USA) has introduced a non-brominated flame retardant system for PP. ⌠FlamaSol FR contains no brominated flame retardants or antimony but is claimed to have improved extinguishing properties compared with the company's previous flame retardant.
The additive was developed in response to a perceived requirement for safer flame resistant plastics for applications in construction materials (electrical conduit, junction boxes, and switch boxes), warehouse products (shelving and pallets), personal electronic equipment (computers, printers and televisions) and other applications where extreme heat may cause ignition.


The material is available in white, black and natural masterbatches and PCC can custom-formulate it for any colour. The company is currently working on a FlamaSol product for PE.


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Victrex Plc posted a higher full-year pretax profit

(Reuters) - British high-tech plastics firm Victrex Plc posted a higher full-year pretax profit as both its business units performed well, and said it expected 2012 earnings in line with market expectations.


Victrex, whose key PEEK polymer product is used in aircraft components, car parts and surgical instruments, said sales volume rose to 2,860 tonnes from 2,535 tonnes a year ago.

Sales from Invibio business, which caters to medical device makers, rose 12 percent to 49.7 million pounds.


For the year ended Sept. 30, pretax profit rose to 94.2 million pounds from 74.9 million pounds last year.


Revenue rose 14 percent to 215.8 million pounds.


The company, which ended the period with 72.3 million pounds in cash, raised final dividend by 32 percent to 24.5 pence per share.


Victrex shares, which have risen about 6 percent since it said in October that it expected full-year profit in line with expectations, closed at 1,192 pence on Monday on the London Stock Exchange.


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Celanese announced an increase of EVA prices

(Celanese) -- Celanese Corporation, a global technology and specialty materials company and a North American leader in Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) polymers, announced today that its subsidiary, Celanese EVA Performance Polymers Inc., will increase the price of all grades of Ateva EVA by USD0,10/pound and all grades of LDPE by USD0,06/pound effective January 1, 2012, or as contracts allow.

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JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corp to conduct planned maintenance on its naphtha cracker

(Reuters) - Japan's top refiner JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corp will conduct planned maintenance on its naphtha cracker at its Kawasaki plant near Tokyo in 2012, industry sources familiar with the matter said.
The company conducts maintenance on the cracker once every four years. A JX spokesman declined comment.


The company last conducted a turnaround at the unit between Aug. 21 and Sept. 30 2008.


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