Kraton Polymers presents new SIS grade

(PlastEurope) -- Kraton Performance Polymers has added a new SIS grade to its line of polymers for use in applications requiring softness, ease-in-processing, and high temperature resistance. The company said "Kraton D1183 BT" is suitable for use in adhesive applications such as thermal printing labels, high temperature resistant labels, elastic labels and diaper tabs.

Mark Siebert, vice president for adhesives, sealants and coatings, said the new product's shear strength is particularly good at 37 ╟C, making it suitable for adhesives in hygiene applications.

MRC

(prw) -- An unnamed company is reported to be negotiating a deal to acquire the Ukrainian expanded polystyrene and polypropylene film manufacturer JSC Concern Stirol of Gorlovka.

The mystery would-be investor in the state run industrial group, which also produces foam rubber, pharmaceuticals and fertilisers, is said to be in a position to offer Stirol ample supplies of natural gas, according to Ukrainian Donetsk state authorities.

Donetsk governor Anatol Blyznjuk was quoted by regional news sources as confirming in late August that talks on a deal were ongoing and indicated the bidder could guarantee continuous supplies of gas. The governor said that he could not disclose the name of the potential buyer nor indicate its origin.

MRC

(prw) -- Spanish automotive components manufacturer Grupo Antolin aims to open a new parts production and warehouse facility in St Petersburg, Russia by the end of this year.

The interior vehicle components and seating maker signed a 10 year leasing agreement earlier this year for an industrial and storage unit of more than 10,000 square metres in the Russian city's Multinational Logistics Partnership (MLP) complex in Utkina Zavod.

This new unit is intended to replace an existing Russian warehousing space which Antolin, based in Burgos, Spain, found inadequate for it to serve its growing number of automotive customers in the country. The complex allows not only warehousing but also component production.

MRC

(prw) -- French chemical company Rhodia has signed a green' chemistry collaboration agreement with the East China Normal University in Shanghai, the Ecole Normale Superieure in Lyons (France), and the French National Center for Scientific Research.

Rhodia says that the establishments will work on renewable raw materials, including developing new polymers and surfactants.

Rhodia says the deal will also strengthen its presence in China, where it has five major research centres.

MRC

LEVERKUSEN (LANXESS) -- Specialty chemicals group LANXESS offers a range of products enabling interested users of phthalate-based additives to switch to alternative safer products.

Phthalate-free Mesamoll TP LXS 51067 is a fast-solvating product for PVC manufacture - particularly for the production of floor coverings and wall coatings. This additive will help, among other things, to replace the plasticizers dibutyl phthalate and benzyl butyl phthalate. Both of these are regarded as toxic for reproduction and are subject to considerable limitations on use. "To make Mesamoll TP LXS 51067 a good alternative, we combined our active Mesamoll ingredient - alkane sulfonic acid ester of phenol - with another plasticizer," says Karsten Job, Director Marketing Polymer Additives in the Functional Chemicals business unit. "This component is also phthalate-free and has even been approved for food contact applications."

Phthalate alternatives are also in demand in the field of PVC bonding agents. To date, isocyanates dissolved in phthalates have frequently been used to ensure optimal bonding of PVC plastisols to technical fabrics made, for example, from polyester fibers. DBP has mostly been used for this. "In the course of discussions on phthalates, we also saw a need for action here," explains Job. "Our new TP LXS 51099 bonding agent uses the same isocyanate that was previously deployed in our tried-and-tested 2001 bonding agent. However, this is dissolved in a phthalate-free plasticizer in our new product. As far as we know, this makes us the only major, globally active supplier to offer phthalate-free bonding agents on a commercial basis."

MRC