BASF presents broad portfolio of surfactants

MOSCOW (MRC) -- BASF, the world's petrochemical major, has presented new possibilities with surfactants for cleaning applications, reported the company on its site.

For Home Care applications, there is a growing demand for detergents and cleaners that clean quickly and efficiently, provide care, are safe and easy to use, and that save resources. Thus, BASF showcases new global possibilities to meet these requirements.

For more sustainable dishwashing, BASF is presenting combinations of Dehypon surfactants, Sokalan PA polymers, and the high-performance, readily biodegradable chelating agent Trilon M. These combinations offer an environmentally-friendly alternative to phosphates in dishwashing tablets without compromising on performance. The Dehypon surfactants show a high rinse performance and enable a superior drying of dishes - even of plastics. They are also suitable for Ecolabel certification.

In industrial and institutional cleaning, the focus is on the convenient and safe use of cleaners that efficiently achieve their cleaning results while saving resources. BASF presents a new solution for the cleaning of membranes which are used in various applications in the dairy and beverage production. The BASF innovation consists of the use of readily biodegradable, nonionic surfactants that offer advantages in terms of cleaning performance as well as in application.

Besides, BASF actively supports the use of palm oil and palm kernel oil from sustainable, certified sources. The company offers a diverse portfolio of surfactants from certified sustainable palm oil and palm kernel oil for the European home care and personal care industry.

Jan-Peter Sander, Senior Vice President Personal Care Europe of BASF explained: "We help our customers to develop value-added formulations that meet the strongly increasing demand for certified, sustainable raw materials. Depending on their individual requirements, they can choose between two certified supply chain models to drive their own sustainable development forward." The offer includes primary surfactants for cosmetic formulations or household cleaners.

The demand is growing - the same is true for shampoos, shower gels, liquid soaps, and bath products made from surfactants that are certified with the Ecolabel. BASF's Texapon Easy offers a suitable solution: the blend of coco sulfates and lauryl glucosides contains no preservatives, is well mucous membrane compatible, and its active ingredient content of 60% ensures excellent foaming properties.

Surfactant compositions such as Texapon MC120 make it possible to manufacture Personal Care products in an energy-efficient way that conserves resources.

BASF also presents Agnique TXI for agrochemical formulations. This nonionic surfactant increases the effectiveness of crop protection products by increasing retention and spreading properties of spray solutions on the treated leaves.

As MRC informed previously, last year, BASF showcased its range of innovative chemical solutions as well as sustainable solutions for the upstream oil and gas industry market. These solutions allow companies to maximize their operations throughout the different phases of petroleum production including drilling, cementing, stimulation, production and enhanced oil recovery.

BASF is the largest diversified chemical company in the world and is headquartered in Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF produces a wide range of chemicals, for example solvents, amines, resins, glues, electronic-grade chemicals, industrial gases, basic petrochemicals and inorganic chemicals. The most important customers for this segment are the pharmaceutical, construction, textile and automotive industries. BASF had sales of over EUR74 billion in 2014 and over 113,000 employees as of the end of the year.
mrcpast.com

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The polymer nanocomposites market size in terms of value is projected to grow at a CAGR of 21-23% between 2015 and 2020 to reach USD5100 mln by 2020, as per Plastemart with reference to ReportLinker.

Asia-Pacific held the largest share in nanocomposites market in 2014. Major growth in the Asia-Pacific region is expected from the growing packaging, automotive and electronics & semiconductor application. The polymer nanocomposites market in Asia-Pacific region is growing fast as the application industries such as packaging, automotive, electronics & semiconductor, aerospace & defense and coatings are expected to register a significant growth rate in next five years.

Presence of emerging economies such as India and China are helping the nanocomposites market to grow in the region. The growing packaging, automotive, and electronics and semiconductor in these emerging countries helped the nanocomposites market to grow at a higher rate.

Agreement for technology use and new product launch were the key strategies adopted by industry players in order to maintain growth in the nanocomposites market. The nanocomposites has wide industrial applications and new product launches are paving the way for fulfilling the ever changing demand for new applications with better physical and mechanical properties. As a result of this, a diverse application base is developing for nanocomposites. Market players are focusing on signing new agreements with researchers, institutes & universities and launching new and innovative materials in both existing and emerging markets that can meet the growing demand from application industries.

The major players in the nanocomposites market are BYK Additives (Germany), 3D System (US), Foster Corporation (US), Industrial Nanotech (US), Hybrid Plastics Inc. (US), Inframat Corporation (UK), InMat Inc. (US), Nanocor Incorporated (US) and others.

As MRC wrote before, thermoplastic elastomer (TPO) nanocomposites developed by Korea's Honam Petrochemical Corp. (Seoul) have delivered a 25% weight saving versus 40% talc-filled polypropylene through thinwalling and lower density in a side sill molding used in a Hyundai vehicle.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Growing demand from automotive and electronics is expected to boost growth in the global plastics market, as per Plastemart with reference to Transparency Market Research.

The factors shaping the growth of the multi-billion-dollar molded plastics industry are:
- rising consumption of plastics in automotives: demand is expected to rise exponentially in Latin America, due to this region’s flourishing automobile industry. Moreover, the demand for molded plastics is currently high in Asia Pacific, which is one of leading regions for automotive manufacturing at present, with a 35% share in 2012;
- increasing demand for plastic components in mobile phones: the elevated demand from the electronic goods industry for molded plastics, especially for televisions, mobile phones, and laptops will propel the global molded plastics market. The growing use of these plastics in several internal and external parts of electronic goods will also support market growth. Demand is anticipated to grow at a 4.9% CAGR during the forecasting horizon;
- increasing demand for plastics in packaging industry: the consumables and electronics segments together held a dominant share in the global molded plastics market, recorded at 30% in 2012. The rising demand of molded plastics from the food and beverages industry will also significantly contribute to the growth of the overall market. Molded polyethylene, the leading sector in 2012 with a 25% market share, is expected to grow at the highest CAGR due to the flourishing packaging industry. Moreover, the molded polyethylene sector has high growth potential during the forecast period, especially in China, India, and Brazil.

However, fluctuating raw material prices and surging environmental concerns will restrain growth. Rising concerns related to the harmful effects of the manufacturing process of molded plastics on the environment will also suppress the global molded plastics market. In accordance with this, the nonbiodegradable nature of molded plastics will also suppress this market.

The growing practice of using plastic pipes in the construction of new oil and gas transmission lines is creating good growth opportunities for the market. Plastic pipes corrode much slower than cast-iron, since they are drastically less reactive than metal pipes, and are less brittle.

We remind that, as MRC wrote before, the bio-based polyethylene market is estimated to grow to USD751.9 mln by 2019 at a CAGR 12.3%.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Mitsubishi Chemical Corp.'s (MCC) MCPP Germany GmbH subsidiary has established a new performance polymer business network in Turkey to market thermoplastic elastomers and polyvinyl chloride compounds, as per GV.

The new MCPP Turkey Liaison Office, taking advantage of its geographical location linking the major markets of Europe and the Middle East, will develop marketing activities to expand sales in fast-growing markets, MCC said.

The office will also handle marketing activities in West Asia and other neighboring areas and serve existing customers in Turkey.

As MRC informed previously, in October 2013, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation established Mitsubishi Chemical Performance Polymers Europe B.V. and started its operation as a regional headquarters for the performance polymers business in Europe.

This company will integrally hold all European performance polymers business including CTS Group companies acquired from Tessenderlo Group on June 18, 2013. Together with the new management structure, all European performance polymers companies started operation with new corporate names as of October 1, 2013.

Mitsubishi Chemical with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, is a diversified chemical company involved in petrochemicals, polymers, agrochemicals, speciality chemicals and pharmaceuticals. The company's main focus is on three business pillars: petrochemicals, performance and functional products, and health care.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Petrochemical giant PT Chandra Asri Petrochemical (CAP), Indonesian largest petrochemical producer, is targeting a revenue increase of at least 30% next year as it expects a production boost after overhauling and expanding its naphtha cracker, as per GV.

The publicly listed company would spend USD 380 million for the maintenance and expansion of its naphtha cracker to increase production capacity by around 43%, said CAP director and corporate secretary Suryandi. "We will start the overhaul in late August to late October this year. We will also integrate new facilities (of naphtha cracker) with our existing facilities," he told The Jakarta Post.

The overhaul would decrease the firm’s production capacity by between 20% and 25% this year, but that would soon be compensated with higher capacity next year onward, he said.

Suryandi refused to disclose his firm’s sales target for this year, but said that CAP would continue to maintain its 4.7% profit margin recorded in the first quarter of this year to the end of the year. "We expect to maintain our profit margin throughout the quarters of this year amid the continuing oil price drop," he said.

Once the overhaul is complete, its annual production of ethylene and propylene is expected to increase by up to 860,000 tons and 470,000 tons, respectively, from 600,000 tons and 320,000 at present.

With the higher production capacity, CAP will be able to help reduce the country’s importation of petrochemical products.

Suryandi said that his firm’s polyethylene and polypropylene - which were fully marketed for the domestic market - could not yet meet growing local demand, which currently stood at around 3 million tons a year. "Demand for petrochemical products (including polyethylene and polypropylene) usually increases by between 6% and 7% a year," he said.

As MRC informed previously, in March 2014, Moody's Investors Service, changed the outlook of Chandra Asri Petrochemical Tbk (CAP), to stable from negative.

Chandra Asri Petrochemical (CAP) is the largest vertically integrated petrochemical company in Indonesia with facilities located in Ciwandan, Cilegon and Puloampel, Serang in Banten Province. CAP is Indonesia's premier petrochemical plant incorporating world-class, state-of-the-art technology and supporting facilities. At the heart of CAP lies the Lummus Naphtha Cracker producing high quality Ethylene, Propylene, Mixed C4, and Pyrolysis Gasoline (Py-Gas) for the Indonesian as well as regional export markets.

Besides the Naphtha Cracker plant, CAP has integrated Polyethylene and Polypropylene production facilities incorporating two world-class technologies. Four Unipol reactors are designed by Union Carbide: one reactor is capable of producing both Linear Low and High Density Polyethylene resins; the other three reactors are capable of producing a variety of Polypropylene resins. The fifth reactor uses Showa Denko KK of Japan's revolutionary Bimodal High Density Polyethylene technology. These two world-class technologies combine to produce a range of Polyethylene resin grades to meet the majority of Polyethylene demand in Indonesia.
MRC