Lubrizol unveils low density hydrophobic TPU for healthcare applications

(specialchem4adhesives) -- The Lubrizol Corporation announces a new low density hydrophobic thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) technology for medical and healthcare applications. The company launches the product at the 2012 Medical Design & Manufacturing show in Anaheim, CA.

This new hydrophobic Tecothane≥ Soft technology eliminates the need for plasticizers to produce softer grades of material. In addition, these TPUs exhibit relatively low tack with use of significantly reduced amounts of lubricant.

Deb Langer, general manager - life science polymers, explains, "Our unique soft TPU polymer can be utilized in areas where silicones are traditionally required. The Tecothane Soft polymer technology may be extruded or injected molded utilizing traditional processing equipment. Techothane Soft's unique features provide performance for the designer while maintaining comfort for the patient."

The Lubrizol Corporation, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is an innovative specialty chemical company that produces and supplies technologies to customers in the global transportation, industrial and consumer markets. These technologies include lubricant additives for engine oils, other transportation-related fluids and industrial lubricants, as well as fuel additives for gasoline and diesel fuel. In addition, Lubrizol makes ingredients and additives for personal care products and pharmaceuticals; specialty materials, including plastics technology and performance coatings in the form of specialty resins and additives. Lubrizol's industry-leading technologies in additives, ingredients and compounds enhance the quality, performance and value of customers' products, while reducing their environmental impact.

MRC

(process-worldwide) -- Lanxess is expanding cresol production at its Leverkusen site once again. The specialty chemicals company plans to further increase capacity for this high-quality intermediate for the global market by some 20 percent by mid 2013.

⌠This investment of around EUR20 million in extending this facility is another clear statement by Lanxess highlighting the company's commitment to Germany and North Rhine-Westphalia as an industrial location, said Werner Breuers, member of the board of management of Lanxess. ⌠We expect sustainable market growth with cresols and have aligned our long-term planning to this. Among other applications, cresols are widely used in the manufacture of vitamin E, resins and flame retardants and in the agrochemicals sector.

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(plasteurope) -- OKW Enclosures (Bridgeville, Pennsylvania / USA) has extended its product range by offering all standard plastic enclosures for OEM electronics equipment manufacturers in ⌠Biograde C7500 plastic produced by bioplastics compounding specialist FKuR (Willich / Germany). The company, the North American subsidiary of OKW Gehausesysteme (Buchen / Germany), specified the biodegradable material, a polymer blend based on cellulose acetate, as it is obtained from almost 100% renewable raw materials - in this case, cotton or wood.

OKW said that for indoor applications there are no restrictions to the life cycle of the enclosure - heat distortion temperature is up to 123╟C and customer-specific colouring is available through the use of 15 natural dyes.

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(basf) -- BASF announced that it has acquired Ovonic Battery Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Conversion Devices Inc. Based in Rochester Hills, Mich., Ovonic is the global leader in Nickel-Metalhydride (NiMH) battery technology, including the production of cathode active materials (CAMs) for this battery type. The company also has a battery materials research facility in Troy, Mich.


Ovonic is the inventor of the NiMH technology as it is used today, and has a patent portfolio of 97 U.S. and international patents and patent applications in this field. All major producers of NiMH batteries are currently working under license from Ovonic.


As part of BASF, Ovonic will be managed under BASF's new global business unit ⌠Battery Materials, which was launched on Jan. 1, 2012, to integrate the company's current and future battery materials-related activities within a single operating unit managed by its Catalysts division, based in Iselin, N.J. ⌠Our acquisition of Ovonic provides BASF with an immediate leadership position in NiMH battery technology, as well as long-established commercial relationships with the world's major battery manufacturers, said Ralf Meixner, Senior Vice President of BASF's Battery Materials business.

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(specialchem4adhesives) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued strong final standards requiring facilities that produce polyvinyl chloride and copolymers (PVC) to reduce harmful air emissions, which will improve air quality and protect people's health in communities where facilities are located. Exposure to toxic air pollutants, like those emitted from PVC facilities, can cause respiratory problems and other serious health issues, and can increase the risk of developing cancer. In particular, children are known to be more sensitive to the cancer risks posed by inhaling vinyl chloride, one of the known carcinogens emitted from PVC facilities.

The final standards are based on currently available technologies and will reduce emissions of air toxics, such as dioxin and vinyl chloride. Facilities will have the flexibility to choose the most practical and cost-effective control technology or technique to reduce the emissions. Facilities will be required to monitor emissions at certain points in the PVC production process to ensure that the standards are met.

Currently, there are 17 PVC production facilities throughout the United States, with a majority of these facilities located in Louisiana and Texas. All existing and any new PVC production facilities are covered by the final rule.

MRC