Cereplast to present new high melt flow polypropylene (PP) starch compound

(plastemart) -- Cereplast, Inc. has unveiled a new Cereplast Hybrid Resins grade -- Hybrid 106D -- a high starch, high melt flow polypropylene (PP) starch compound. Hybrid 106D is a proprietary formulation of high quality PP and starch blend that offers a unique combination of mechanical properties, ease of processing, and a highly aesthetic surface.

Designed to have an excellent balance between impact strength, rigidity, and processability, Hybrid 106D also provides a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to conventional PP.

Cereplast Hybrid Resins products are proprietary biobased compounds containing a significant amount of renewable, ecologically sound sources such as industrial starches from corn, tapioca and potatoes, which are compounded on state-of-the-art mixing equipment. The reduction in petroleum-based plastic content compared to conventional plastics provides a significant carbon footprint reduction in the final product.

Hybrid 106D can be processed on existing conventional electric and hydraulic reciprocating screw injection molding machines for the manufacture of consumer goods, furniture, toys, fashion accessories, packaging, automotive applications and more.

MRC

(plastemart) -- Old World Industries, LLC has concluded the sale of its Chemical Business, including the Ethylene Oxide/Ethylene Glycol manufacturing facility in Clear Lake, Texas, to Indorama Ventures PCL of Bangkok, Thailand. The deal was first announced publically in February 2012.

"With the close of this deal, Old World will now embark on the next significant phase in our 39-year history," saidTom Hurvis, Old World Industries' chairman and CEO. "We will focus all of our time and resources on expanding the PEAK family of products in the automotive and heavy duty marketplaces worldwide." PEAK products are marketed in more than 30 countries around the world utilizing NASCAR driver Danica Patrickas their long-term spokesperson.

In addition, Old World recently launched an eco-friendly diesel emissions exhaust treatment fluid under the BlueDEF brand name. Diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) is the fastest growing functional fluid in the North American heavy duty marketplace and is expected to reach more than one billion gallons of yearly consumer demand. Old World is investing heavily in the infrastructure necessary to capture the leading position in this growing market.
MRC

(polyestertime) -- As expected, the prices for post-consumer PET bottles from deposit systems increased substantially in Germany during March.

Many market observers say the development is ⌠unhealthy, considering that prices for primary PET are no longer climbing, and might even fall in April.

Increasingly, the gap between recycled and primary PET prices was narrowing, insiders said. Regranulate would soon have to cost more than primary material due to the high bottle bale prices, and things would also get difficult for the production of flakes, market observers commented.

But flakes buyers had already signalled to recyclers that they would not accept anything more than a price roll-over in April. PET processors were now being cautious in their buying and covering only their absolute minimum requirements.
MRC

(polyestertime) -- Indorama Industries, which claims to be the largest producer of polyester in the world, on
Tuesday said that it is investing Rs.1,000 crore at its new plant in Himachal Pradesh's industrial town of Baddi.


Indorama business head R.D. Gupta told reporters here that the company had already set up a Spandex manufacturing plant of 5,000 MT (metric tonnes) per annum capacity for the first time in the country with an initial investment of Rs.400 crore.
MRC

(chemmonitor) -- The Asia market for propylene witnesses an uptrend of spot prices almost during the entire last week. The price upswing is explained to the lower availability of the material.

The supply shortfall resulted from a range of unplanned closures of cracker plants situated in the region. Capacity cuts implemented by Japanese and South Korean manufacturers also affected the market balance.

European market for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) has initiated to show certain signs of improvement following a protracted stagnation period.

Last year market size remained at the level observed in 2010 due to the poor demand from the construction sector during last few years. Some participants were even confident in its reduction.
MRC