Lotte Versalis Elastomers opens synthetic rubber complex in South Korea

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Lotte Versalis Elastomers has recently inaugurated a new integrated industrial complex for the production of elastomers in Yeosu, South Korea, according to GV.

The launch was attended by the local authorities, the Ambassador of Italy to Korea and major customers.

The new plants of Lotte Versalis Elastomers, a 50:50 joint venture between Versalis (Eni) and petrochemical company Lotte Chemical, have been built in a record time of 26 months and in conformity with sustainability principles. According to Eni, this achievement is part of the company's strategy to transform its chemical business also through international development.

The joint venture, established in 2013 with the aim of targeting growth in the Asian elastomers market, uses Versalis’ technology, industrial expertise and commercial network, as well as Lotte Chemical’s site integration, which ensures the availability of feedstocks and industrial facilities. The industrial complex has a nameplate capacity of 200,000 t/y of elastomers (EPDM, S-SBR, BR). The production streams are targeted to premium application segments, mainly tyre and automotive industries, styrenics modification and technical goods, said the company.

"The construction of the first industrial complex in Asia is an important milestone in Versalis’ international development strategy, which leverages valuable proprietary technologies. It also strengthens our leading position in the global elastomers market and other prospects for growth. We are excited to be working on this project with an established partner such as Lotte Chemical. By joining forces, both Versalis and Lotte Chemical are benefitting from important synergies." said Versalis’ CEO, Daniele Ferrari.

Versalis is present in the Asia-Pacific region through its commercial units in Shanghai, Qingdao, Mumbai and Singapore.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Kraiburg TPE has presented a new series of thermoplastic elastomers from its Thermolast K family that was specially developed for excellent adhesion and UV resistance in two-component applications with ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), as per GV.

The new compounds are intended for automotive applications such as EPDM window trim and sealing profiles with moulded TPE corner joints and end elements.

Up to now, styrene-butadiene compounds (SBC) and crosslinked thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPV) rubber have been used in this area. According to Kraiburg TPE, the cost-effectiveness of TPV is limited, however, due to diverse factors in the manufacturing process, in particular the window trim. The EPDM adhesion series offers a good alternative with added value, said the company.

"The production of diverse sealing frames and window trims of EPDM profiles with molded corner and end elements requires new material solutions," said Michael Pollmann of Kraiburg TPE. "The versatility of our TPE technology has made it possible for us to develop a competitive material that solves the phase separation problems of the systems that are currently used. In addition, we have the market expertise and customer orientation for fast implementation of such innovative two-component applications."

The core requirements for corner joints and end elements of window trim profiles include high adhesion and weathering resistance, which are ensured by the long-term process stability of TPE/rubber connection. Furthermore, it is also important to minimise the injection temperature of the TPE solutions and thus reduce the cooling and cycle times of the two-component elements.

According to the company, the AD/EPDM/UV series fulfils all of these requirements by combining adhesion properties with long-term resistance to UV radiation and thermal effects with a hardness of 70 Shore A. Compared to competitive materials, these special TPE products have a high degree of stability. The EPDM profile is neither compressed nor destroyed or deformed. The compounds feature uniform colour fastness of EPDM and TPE and there is no tendency of stickiness or phase separation, said Kraiburg TPE.

The company has examined the suitability of the new materials in comprehensive adhesion, weathering and thermal ageing tests. The tests showed that the cleanliness of the EPDM contact surfaces to the TPE are crucial in these two-component elements and that freshly cut seal profiles result in optimal adhesion, the company said. The processing properties and stability have been optimized in close cooperation with machine and mould manufacturers. The AD/EPDM/UV technology is already being tested by several customers in the automotive industry, said Kraiburg TPE.

As MRC informed previously, in March 2015, for automotive exterior applications with wide flow paths and exceptionally challenging weathering requirements, Kraiburg TPE (Waldkraiburg/Germany) developed a new class of compounds within the Thermolast K family: High-flow compounds.

Kraiburg Rubber (Suzhou) Co. Ltd. was established in 2005 and is part of the Waldkraiburg-based German company Kraiburg Holding GmbH & Co. KG. The company produces a wide range of standard rubber compounds (based on NR, EPDM, CR, AEM, SBR, FKM, etc.) for automotive, building and construction applications, and other industrial markets as well as highly customised products for all kinds of industries at its Suzhou site. The compounds are produced on highly automated and fully process-controlled mixing lines, based on state-of-the-art technology. The company has 130 employees.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) — Brazil’s state-run oil company Petroleo Brasileiro said on Tuesday it has begun the binding phase for the sale of two fertilizer units, Araucaria Nitrogenados SA and Unidade de Fertilizantes Nitrogenados III, as per Reuters.

Interested buyers who were authorized in the prior phase will receive instructions on the divestment process, according to a statement from Petrobras, which is seeking to offload USD21 B in assets through 2018.

As MRC informed earlier, Petrobras’s (Rio de Janeiro) minority stakes in Braskem and Deten Quimica have been excluded from Petrobras’s divestment program.

MRC

According to the statistical committee of the Republic of Belarus, local converters further reduced their purchasing of PVC in October, total imports were about 3,000 tonnes, compared to 3,200 tonnes a month earlier. Thus, PVC imports rose in the first ten months of 2017 to 28,500 tonnes from 20,800 tonnes in January-October 2016, with local windows producers accounting for the main increase in demand.

Russian producers were the key suppliers of resin to Belarus. They accounted for about 83% of the Belarusian market in January-October 2017. Producers from Germany with the share of about 13% were the second largest suppliers.

MRC

November HDPE production in Russia grew to 63,700 tonnes, whereas this figure did not exceed 46,400 tonnes a month earlier. Kazanorgsintez and Stavrolen increased their capacity utilisation after scheduled shutdowns for maintenance. Overall HDPE output reached 824,300 tonnes in January-November 2017, compared to 906,800 tonnes a year earlier. Only Kazanorgsintez increased its production, whereas other producers reduced their output because of different reasons.

The structure of HDPE production by plants looked the following way over the stated period.

Kazanorgsintez's total HDPE output grew to 46,500 tonnes in November from 16,800 tonnes a month earlier, the Kazan plant shut down its production capacities for a turnaround from 12 September to 19 October. The Kazan plant's overall HDPE production was 460,200 tonnes in January-November 2017, up by 5% year on year.

Stavrolen took off-stream its HDPE production for a two-month maintenance with modernization of some of its facilities since mid-September, the resumption of HDPE production began only on 15 November. The plant's HDPE output reached 214,900 tonnes in the first eleven months of 2017, down by 14% year on year.

Gazprom neftekhim Salavat reduced its capacity utilisation in November, the plant shut down its production for a several-day turnaround at the beginning of the month. Last month's HDPE output was 7,700 tonnes, compared to 11,800 tonnes in October. Overall HDPE production at the Bashkir plant reached 83,700 tonnes in January-Novemer 2017, down by 16% year on year. This year's low production was caused by a long shutdown for maintenance in July-August.

Nizhnekamskneftekhim virtually completely focused on linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) production last month, whereas the plant's HDPE output was 17,800 tonnes in October. The plant's overall HDPE production was only 65,600 tonnes in January-November 2017, compared to 117,900 tonnes a year earlier. Such a noticeable reduction in the output was caused by an increase in the share of LLDPE in the total production.

MRC