Westlake Chemical will increase ethylene capacity at its facility in Lake Charles

(ICIS) -- Westlake Chemical will increase ethane-based ethylene capacity at its facility in Lake Charles, Louisiana, in the US as part of a strategy to capitalise on new low-cost ethane and other "light" feedstocks being developed in North America, it said on Tuesday.


Each of Westlake's two light feedstock ethylene crackers in Lake Charles will be expanded in order to provide ethylene for existing internal derivatives units and the merchant market, the US polyethylene (PE) and vinyls producer said in a statement.


The first cracker expansion will increase capacity by approximately 230m-240m lbs/year (104 -109 KTa), while also increasing feedstock flexibility, Westlake said.


Current capacity of the crackers are 590 KTa and 544 KTa, according to ICIS. Westlake did not specify which cracker will be expanded first.


The first project is expected to be completed by late 2012 and the second expansion concluded by the end of 2014. No further capacity details were disclosed.


MRC

BASF supports new polymeric flame retardant

(BASF) -- BASF supports the announcement that Dow Chemical has signed a license agreement with Chemtura Corporation for the production of a new brominated polymeric flame retardant and that Chemtura plans to build a production facility for this substance. Dow aims to finalize agreements with other licensees by the end of 2011 to ensure sufficient volumes for the global market. Like other companies, BASF has also been investigating the use of this polymer, which Dow developed as a replacement for HBCD (hexabromocyclododecane).


HBCD is used as a flame retardant to ensure that expandable and extruded polystyrene foam insulation (EPS and XPS) meets high fire safety standards. Although HBCD plays an important role in protecting human lives and property from fire, the substance is listed as subject to authorization under the European Union's REACH legislation. Unless it is expressly authorized as a flame retardant its use will be restricted as of 2015 due to environmental concerns. Dow's new polymer ensures the same flame retardancy as HBCD while offering a superior environmental profile.


MRC

Chicken feathers can be turned into biodegradable thermoplastics

(Plastemart) -- A technique whereby chicken feathers can be turned into biodegradable thermoplastics has been developed by researchers at the Institute of Agriculture & Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. The new research purports to have found a way to create durable thermoplastics from chicken feathers. The new technique is an advancement over previous efforts in that it performs well when wet. ⌠Using this technique, we believe we're the first to demonstrate that we can make chicken-feather-based thermoplastics stable in water while still maintaining mechanical properties. says Yiqi Yang, Ph.D., the study's leader.


Chicken feathers are an excellent prospect because they are inexpensive and abundant. Few shoppers think about it, but every shrink-wrapped broiler in the supermarket cooler leaves behind a few ounces of feathers. Annually there are more than 3 bln lbs of waste chicken feathers in the United States alone.


The team has tried to turn the feathers into thermoplastic, so it can also be used as the matrix material for composites, instead of using polyethylene or polypropylene. A chemical called methyl acrylate is added to the keratin, making it undergo polymerisation, the process which makes molecules link into long chains. This creates a film, which Dr Yang's group calls 'feather-g-poly(methyl acrylate)' plastic.


MRC

BASF new tool for automotive designers

(BASF) -- BASF's designfabrik is offering a new tool to designers and development engineers working in automotive design. The ⌠Material Kit is an attractively designed sample case that displays a large proportion of BASF's know-how in materials: Organized on the basis of feel, appearance and function, the Material Kit presents more than 30 different BASF products in the form of 4 x 6 cm samples that can be touched and felt.


As a result, designers can get a real feel for the BASF products they are considering for their automobile interior design concepts. In addition, text cards provide brief yet precise information on the materials' properties and specific uses. The materials can be examined, touched and compared, be they satin- or leather-like finishes, rigid or flexible polyurethane surfaces, foams, coatings, pigments, ceramic powders for injection molding or high-performance thermoplastic resins. As an application-oriented instrument, the Material Kit gives designers a feeling for the material from the very beginning of the creative development process.


BASF introduced the Material Kit to initial customers at the end of 2009. In October 2010, the innovative kit was honored by the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE Europe, 10th Automotive Award) with its ⌠Grand Innovation Award in the Image / Product Brochure category for its novel approach and high-quality execution.


MRC

Czech producer Unipetrol is set to record a strong petrochemical performance

(ICIS) -- Czech producer Unipetrol is set to record a strong petrochemical performance for the first quarter after margins returned to growth, investment bank Wood & Company said on Tuesday. After suffering a dip last December on sharply rising feedstock costs, Unipetrol's integrated petrochemical margin rose in each of the following three months, delivering an average of EUR 626/t (USD 894/t) for the first quarter of 2011, according to the bank. This was up 17% on both the previous quarter and the first quarter of 2010, Prague-based Wood & Company added.


For the first quarter of 2011, Unipetrol's model monomer margin rose to EUR 345/t from EUR 255/t in the fourth quarter of 2010 and EUR 278/t in the first quarter of 2010, the bank said.


The company's model polymer margin for the first quarter of this year edged up to EUR 281/t from EUR 278/t in the previous quarter and EUR 257/t in the first quarter of 2010.


MRC