Capacity utilisation at PET plants in Russia doubled in October

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Russian producers increased their capacity utilisation to 76% in October, up by 38% from September, according to MRC ScanPlast.

The growth of the overall capacity utilisation in the sector was achieved by resuption of production at Senezh and Polief after the September maintenance in September and the increased production at the Kaliningrad plant Alco-Naphtha.

As reported previously, the September capacity utilisation at all polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plants in Russia was reduced to 38% because of the maintenance works at Russian plants.


Russia produced 38,600 tonnes of PET in October versus 19,300 tons in September. At the same time, the country's overall production in totalled 355,000 tonnes from January to October 2014, which is almost equal to the figure over the same period a year earlier. Production volumes remained stable, despite the overall increase in PET chips production capacity in the country due to the launch of the second line at Polief.

For more detailed statistics on production by plants, as well as on the overall balance of the PET market Russia can be found in MRC ScanPlast report.

MRC

Bayer MaterialScience improved performance of Bayblend

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Bayer MaterialScience (BMS, Leverkusen / Germany) has extended the application and performance opportunities for flame-retardant blends made from PC and ABS through the introduction of Bayblend FR4000, said Plasteurope.

The new materials are based on a flame retardance package employing environmentally friendly technology and have been developed for applications including thin-walled components in the electrical and electronics industries.

Mathieu Jung, a materials expert at BMS, said the material targets applications where high thermal stability and resistance to weathering are important. "In terms of fire resistance, these products are superior to conventional polycarbonate/ABS blends and in many cases provide a particularly environmentally friendly alternative," he added.

The materials display improved resistance to hydrolytic degradation and chemicals including fatty acids and hydrocarbons, along with good heat resistance and UV stability. In terms of fire resistance, the company said that grades of Bayblend FR4000 meet the requirements at the maximum glow wire temperature of 960°C and burn only briefly. They can be produced with a range of customised properties and in fibre-reinforced variants.

As MRC wrote before, Bayer MaterialScience expands technology and production by investing in a new ultra-modern technical centre for polyurethane foams and new production plant for coating raw materials. The total investment in both is more than EUR 45 million.

With 2013 sales of EUR 11.2 billion, Bayer MaterialScience is among the world’s largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction and the sports and leisure industries. At the end of 2013, Bayer MaterialScience had 30 production sites and employed approximately 14,300 people around the globe. Bayer MaterialScience is a Bayer Group company.
MRC

BASF plans major investment in pioneering superabsorbent technology

MOSCOW (MRC) -- BASF, the world's petrochemical major, has announced plans for a major investment in a pioneering superabsorbent technology platform of its hygiene business, reported the company on its site.

BASF will invest up to EUR500 million (USD625 million) over the next 2 to 3 years to establish droplet polymerization capacities worldwide by revamping existing plants. The rollout of the new technology underlines BASF’s technology leadership and leading position in the market for superabsorbent polymers.

Superabsorbent polymers are polymers that can absorb and retain extremely large amounts of liquid relative to their own mass. They are used as a main component in baby diapers, incontinence products and feminine hygiene products. BASF researchers have worked intensively in the last decade to develop a new technology and optimize the corresponding production processes. BASF will launch a new generation of highly innovative superabsorbent polymers under the trademark SAVIVATM. The launch is scheduled sequentially, starting end of 2016.

Based on its round-shaped particles with micro-pores, SAVIVATM has an innovative liquid distribution mechanism, making it a highly efficient superabsorbent polymer in a diaper core. It has been tested comprehensively in laboratories, in diaper prototypes and with end consumers in home-use tests, confirming its outstanding properties and its performance in diapers. Selected customers have already given positive feedback.

"To launch this breakthrough innovation in a fast and efficient way, BASF has developed a revamp strategy. In order to keep time-to-market as short as possible, BASF will extend and modify already existing production sites," said Michael Heinz, Member of the Board of Executive Directors, BASF SE. Existing facilities will in future be able to produce both SAVIVATM and the current product HySorb a.

The first wave of revamping existing plants will be kicked off in Europe, closely followed by plants in Asia and the Americas. This underlines the business approach BASF is taking, investing close to its customers and providing a global footprint for a reliable, global supply.

As MRC informed before, in September 2014, BASF announced the start-up of a new butadiene extraction plant at its Verbund site in Antwerp, Belgium. The plant has an annual production capacity of 155,000 metric tons. The plant in Antwerp is BASF’s second butadiene extraction plant in Europe. BASF already operates a butadiene extraction plant at its Verbund site in Ludwigshafen, Germany, with an annual production capacity of 105,000 metric tons. With the plant in Antwerp, BASF is more than doubling its production capacity for butadiene in Europe.

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. BASF had sales of about EUR74 billion in 2013 and over 112,000 employees as of the end of the year.
MRC

Celanese introduces medical grades of tribological polymer

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Celanese Corporation, a global technology and specialty materials company, has announced the introduction of Hostaform MT SlideX POM, a family of tribologically modified, medically compliant engineered materials, as per the company's press release.

These new thermoplastic polymers enable the production of medical devices with a very low coefficient of friction and wear, low noise (squeaking) and eliminate the need for external lubrication. Medical devices manufactured with these new materials operate smoothly with a high degree of patient comfort and consistency from the very first use.

Hostaform MT SlideX POM is a competitive alternative to various kinds of high-performance, tribologically modified compounds. When compared to alternative materials, Hostaform MT SlideX POM offers a significantly lower coefficient of friction in medical devices combined with the Celanese medical technology (MT) service package. This results in the potential to reduce costs by removing design constraints and simplifying material combinations in complex devices while avoiding external lubrication in manufacturing processes.

The MT service package addresses quality, change control and regulatory compliance in accordance with pharmaceutical and medical industry expectations, based on Celanese's extensive experience with material supply to the medical market.

"The use of medically compliant polymers from Celanese is helping the medical industry to design and manufacture medical devices which can significantly increase patient comfort by reducing friction and noise," said Andrew Brown, director of Celanese's global medical industry platform. "These new materials can improve design and processing capability and increase performance levels of key medical components. The introduction of these new low-tribological polymer grades from Celanese underscores our commitment to medical industry innovation which benefits patients who seek greater comfort and ease of use in their medical devices."

As MRC reported earlier, Celanese Corporation increased the November price of vinyl acetate-based emulsions sold in the Americas. Thus, PVAc homopolymer, vinyl acetate ethylene (VAE) and vinyl acrylic emulsions rose by up to USD0.05/wet pound effective November 1, 2014, or as contracts allowed. This price increase affected all applications including, but not limited to, adhesives, paints and coatings, building products, nonwovens, glass fiber, carpet, paper and textiles.

Celanese Corporation is a global technology leader in the production of differentiated chemistry solutions and specialty materials used in most major industries and consumer applications. Based in Dallas, Texas, Celanese employs approximately 7,400 employees worldwide and had 2013 net sales of USD6.5 billion.
MRC

Ineos declares force majeure on LLDPE

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Ineos has declared force majeure on linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) from its Grangemouth, UK, site, reported Plastemart.

The 320,000 tpa LLDPE plant is expected to be down for three weeks, alongside Ineos’ KG cracker that is being brought down this week because of a defect in its steam system.

As MRC wrote before, in October 2013, Ineos Industries Holdings agreed to acquire the Combined Heat and Power Plant (CHP) from Fortum, that serves the Grangemouth site, for GBP54 million. Grangemouth CHP, currently owned and operated by Fortum, is a natural gas-fired combined heat and power (CHP) plant located at the Grangemouth petrochemical site and refinery in Scotland.

Ineos Group Limited is a privately owned multinational chemicals company consisting of 15 standalone business units, headquartered in Rolle, Switzerland and with its registered office in Lyndhurst, United Kingdom. It is the fourth largest chemicals company in the world measured by revenues (after BASF, Dow Chemical and LyondellBasell) and the largest privately owned company in the United Kingdom.
MRC