ELIX Polymers offers leading range of specialty ABS materials for the global healthcare sector

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Leading specialty acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) producer ELIX Polymers has developed global grades for healthcare applications, as per the company's press release.

"ELIX medical ABS grades meet the stringent requirements of the medical device industry," says Aurelie Mannella, Industry Manager Healthcare. "Our range includes two USP Class VI and ISO 19993 biocompatibility grades, which have registered device and drug master file approvals for use in medical and food-contact applications in Europe and the USA. We supply leading medical injection moulders and global pharmaceutical companies on both continents."

Applications already benefitting from ELIX medical ABS grades include infusion systems, respiratory devices, auto-injector devices, and housings for various products. The grades offer a very well balanced property profile, with a very good flow behaviour and excellent chemical resistance.

ELIX currently has a portfolio of more than 130 colours approved for use in medical device applications. It also has a strong capability to develop and produce new colours, taking responsibility for pigment compliance. "We have implemented various actions that assure the colours we use have no impact on extractables and leachables," says Mannella. "Colorants and dyes, as well as dispersants and process aids, can only be used in our recipes if they are approved in the base material; only FDA/EU pigments are used."

The company recently expanded its Healthcare portfolio with ELIX M545TF, a grade for use in products that come into contact with food and which also require extra toughness and resistance to high temperatures. It has been migration tested with different food simulants, enabling ELIX Polymers to advise its customers about migration issues and regulatory compliance during the product design phase.

In addition to injection moulding medical grades of ABS, ELIX Polymers now also offers ELIX ABS-3D FC filament for 3D printing using FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication) technology, often referred to as FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling). This grade, which is also available in numerous colours, is biocompatible according to USP Class VI. This means that it can also be used in food contact applications.

ELIX ABS-3D FC is easy to print, provides very good inter-layer adhesion, and enables production of high resolution, low-warpage parts. Compatible with most FFF 3D printers, it is part of a growing range of grades available from ELIX Polymers for the 3D printing community.

As MRC informed before, in February 2016, ELIX Polymers unveiled an upgraded version of P2MC as well as new ABS grades to complete the plating portfolio. Target applications for these electroplating grades include radiator grilles, logos, profiles, tailgate handles, and decorative interior parts.

ELIX Polymers is one of the most important manufacturers of ABS resins and derivatives in Europe, with 40 years of experience in engineering plastics and an installed capacity of 180,000/year from their plant in Tarragona (Spain) to the world. The operation starts in 1975, when the Tarragona ABS and SAN production plant was inaugurated.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- JXTG Nippon Oil & Energy Corp. said it would close its Muroran petrochemical facility in Japan because of fal-ling demand for gasoline in the country, reported Apic-online.

The Muroran facility, which mainly produces feedstock for paraxylene, cumene and gasoline by-product, will discontinue production in March 2019 and will be converted to a terminal for storing and shipping oil products.

Muroran previously included a 180,000-b/d refinery, but was changed to a petrochemicals facility in 2014. The refinery was owned by JX Holdings, which recently merged with TonenGeneral Sekiyu to create JXTG.

Muroran produced 430,000 t/y of the paraxylene feedstock in the year through March 2017, and 160,000 t/y of cumene. The petrochemical products are ex-ported to Ulsan Aromatics in South Korea and JXTG said it will continue to supply Ulsan Aromatics from its other facilities in Japan.

As MRC wrote before, in June 2016, Petronas and JX Nippon Oil & Energy signed an agreement for the sale and purchase of equity in Petronas LNG 9 Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Petronas. Under the agreement, JX NOE will acquire a 10% in-terest in PL9SB, which owns the ninth liquefied natural gas (LNG) liquefaction train within the Petronas LNG complex in Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia. The 3.6-million-t/y state-of-the-art train, expected to begin commercial operations in the first quarter of 2017, will increase capacity at the Petronas LNG complex to 30-million t/y.

The Nippon Oil Corporation, or NOC or Shin-Nisseki is a Japanese petroleum company. Its businesses include the exploration, importation, and refining of crude oil; the manufacture and sale of petroleum products, including olefines (ethylene, propylene) and aromatics.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) — CB&I announced it has been awarded a contract for more than USD95 MM by Saudi Aramco Shell Refinery (SASREF), as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The scope of work includes the engineering, procurement and construction management for SASREF's modernization and expansion of its existing refinery in Al-Jubail city, Saudi Arabia.

CB&I has completed the conceptual design and FEED phases of the project, while working with SASREF to optimize investment on the new refinery configuration.

CB&I's integrated solutions will give SASREF the operating flexibility needed to generate maximum returns through sustainable fuels production, which meets Euro V regulations for cleaner emissions.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- PolyOne, a premier global provider of specialized polymer materials, services and solutions, has recently presented its aquired Comptek high temperature polymer formulations and concentrates portfolio for the first time in Europe, as per GV.

In addition, the company was highlighting creative applications its customers have developed with its speciality polymer formulations and services. Recently completed applications on display include a paint replacement project for one of the world’s largest manufacturers of appliances, and a consumer product for a leading global supermarket chain.

Proven solutions on display at PolyOne include:

- OnFlex LO low VOC thermoplastic elastomers: Easily processed TPEs that help manufacturers meet strict vehicle interior air quality (VIAQ) standards;
- Therma-Tech thermally conductive materials: Engineered materials that are lighter than metal and are easier to form, but do not compromise conductivity;
- Gravi-Tech density modified polymers: Composite materials that provide the look, feel and sound of metal, but deliver the design freedom of a polymer;
- LubriOne wear resistant solutions: Inherently lubricated polymers that eliminate the need for added oils and greases between moving components.

As MRC reported earlier, in January 2016, PolyOne Corporation announced the acquisition of Magenta Master Fibers (Magenta), an innovative developer of specialty solid color concentrates for the global fiber industry. PolyOne purchased Magenta from BASF for USD22 million, which represents a multiple of 6.8x EBITDA.

PolyOne Corporation is a global provider of specialized polymer materials, services, and solutions with operations in specialty polymer formulations, color and additive systems, polymer distribution and specialty vinyl resins.
MRC

According to the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus, the local LDPE roducer - Polymir - reduced slightly its capacity utilisation in November. November polyethylene (PE) output was 5,500 tonnes, compared to 5,700 tonnes a month earlier. Thus, Polymir's overall LDPE production was 56,400 tonnes in January-November 2017 versus 92,400 tonnes a year earlier.

The fire at one of the ethylene units in late June 2016, which led to a two-fold reduction in the olefin production, was the main reason for such a major fall in the output.

As reported earlier, Polymir had completed maintenance works at some production capacities, the outage of the line lasted for about a month.

Polymir (part of Naftan) is Belarus' largest petrochemical company, producing a wide range of chemical products, such as low density polyethylene (LDPE), acrylic fibers, products of organic synthesis, hydrocarbon fractions, etc. Polymir was founded in 1968. The producer uses technologies of the largest foreign companies from Great Britain, Japan, Germany, Italy (Courtaulds, Asahi Chemical Co. Ltd, Kanematsu Gosho, SNIA BPD, etc.), as well as the developments of scientific research institutes and design institutes of the CIS countries. The plant's annual production capacity is 130,000 tonnes.

MRC