Samsung Total to shut down BD unit for maintenance

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Samsung Total is in plans to shut its butadiene (BD) unit for maintenance turnaround, according to Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in South Korea informed that the unit is likely to be shut in mid-April 2015. It is likely to remain off-stream for around one month.

Located at Daesan in South Korea, the plant has a production capacity of 120,000 mt/year.

As MRC reported previously, the board of directors of Samsung Total Petrochemicals approved an investment outlay of Won 1.66 trillion (USD1.44 bln) to build a new 1 mln tpa paraxylene plant at its Daesan complex.The company’s paraxylene capacity will increase to 1.6 mln tpa when the new plant comes on line.

Samsung Total is a 50-50 joint venture between South Korea's Samsung Group and the French chemical group Total.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) - Russia's unmixed polyvinyl chloride (PVC) production increased to 652,100 tonnes in 2014, up 6% year on year. At the same time the year was not without loss - Khimprom (Volgograd) stopped production, according to MRC ScanPlast.

December production of unmixed PVC in Russia decreased to 63,100 tonnes, compared with 70,000 tonnes in November on the back of lower production rates at RusVinyl in November. Total PVC production in Russia increased to 652,100 tonnes in 2014 , compared with 617,200 tonnes year on year.

RusVinyl, based in the Nizhny Novgorod, launched PVC production in April 2014, but the Khimprom, Volgograd completely stopped its emulsion polyvinyl chloride (EPVC) production. Structure of PVC production over the reported period looked as follows.

SayanskKhimPlast kept its capacity utilisation in December actually at the November level, having produced 24,900 tonnes of SPVC. The producer's total SPVC production decreased to 283,000 tonnes in 2014, down 1% year on year.

Bashkir Soda Company (BSC) in December significantly increased its capacity utilisation, having produced 20,900 tonnes (19,700 tonnes in November). The producer increased its PVC production to 221,700 tonnes in 2014 (213,100 tonnes in 2013) on the back of the expanded production capacities to 230,000 tonnes/year. The producer plans to increase its PVC capacities to 240,000 tonnes/year this year.

Kaustik (Volgograd) produced 8,200 tonnes of SPVC in December, compared with 7,800 tonnes in November. Producer's production of SPVC totalled 91,100 tonnes in 2014, up 2% year on year.

Khimprom (Volgograd) completely stopped its EPVC production in early November because of the economic inefficiency. The producer's EPVC output in the incomplete year totalled 15,300 tonnes.

RusVinyl (JV SIBUR and SolVin) launched the production of PVC in the test mode in August, and then began to gradually increase capacity utilisation. The producer's resin production in December was 9,100 tonnes in December, compared with 17,500 tonnes in November. Total SPVC production at the plant was about 41,000 tonnes in September-December 2014. According to unofficial information, RusVinyl plans to start commercial production of emulsion PVC in the second half of February.


MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- At the European Coatings Show (ECS) in Nuremberg, Germany, from April 21 to 23, 2015, the Munich-based Wacker Group will be exhibiting a new polymeric binder for modifying gypsum drywall products, reported the company on its site.

VINNAPAS 4800 G is a new polymer powder ideal for enhancing ecologically sound, gypsum-based joint fillers and jointing compounds for drywall applications. Gypsum mortars containing the powder yield smooth, crack-free surfaces, are easy to apply and offer excellent adhesion.

VINNAPAS 4800 G dispersible polymer powder is based on vinyl acetate and ethylene and was specially developed for enhancing gypsum-based joint-filler compounds. The new powder boosts the adhesion of grout mortars to both reinforcement strips and plasterboard. The reinforcement strips, which may be made of paper, glass fiber, or specialty nonwovens, are placed in the joints and plastered over to make the joint more stable and to prevent cracks.

Thus, VINNAPAS 4800 G gives gypsum-based joint fillers outstanding tensile adhesive strength on gypsum plasterboard and jointing tapes. Joint fillers finished with this new dispersible polymer powder also show excellent workability to yield particularly smooth surfaces. Furthermore, the powder’s low emissions make it ideal for joint fillers and jointing compounds used indoors.

Plus, Wacker will be presenting SILRES BS POWDER S, an additive for waterproofing gypsum-based dry-mix mortars. This highly efficient powder is low in volatile organic compounds and can be quickly mixed with water without raising dust.

SILRES BS POWDER S consists of a methyl siliconate which is produced as a colorless, free-flowing powder by a special process. The active ingredient is inherently soluble in water, a property which confers excellent mixing properties when the mortar is being prepared. Nonetheless, the gypsum mortar is water-repellent as soon as it sets.

SILRES BS POWDER S can be used with all types of gypsum dry mix mortars, irrespective of the pH. It eliminates the prereaction times which are often needed by conventional powder-form water-repellent agents. The additive even supports the formulation of Type H1 gypsum jointing compounds that meet the highest requirements for reduced water absorption. According to Standard EN 13963:2014, which was revised last year, Type H1 joint fillers must absorb no more than 5 weight percent water after setting.

As MRC wrote before, in November 2014, Wacker developed a thermally conductive adhesive for electronics applications. The new silicone rubber with the trade name SEMICOSIL 975 TC is characterized by high thermal conductivity and good flow and processing properties. Even light pressure is enough to form an ultrathin adhesive layer between the contact surfaces. This ensures not only good bonding, but also optimum heat dissipation by the heat sink. SEMICOSIL 975 TC is an ideal interface material for forming thermal and mechanical connections in power electronics components or packages.

Wacker Chemie AG is a worldwide operating company in the chemical business, founded 1914. The company is controlled by the Wacker-family holding more than 50% of the shares. The corporation is operating more than 25 production sites in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The product range includes silicone rubbers, polymer products like ethylene vinyl acetate redispersible polymer powder, chemical materials, polysilicon and wafers for semiconductor industry.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The Board of Directors of Westlake Chemical Partners, the general partner of Westlake Chemical Partners LP, a Westlake company has declared a distribution of USD0.2750 per unit, as per the company's statement.

This is the second distribution announced by the Partnership since its successful IPO closing on August 4, 2014. The distribution will be payable on February 24, 2015, to unit holders of record on February 9, 2015.

This release is intended to be a qualified notice under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446-4(b). Brokers and nominees should treat one hundred percent (100.0%) of the Partnership's distributions to non-U.S. investors as being attributable to income that is effectively connected with a United States trade or business. Accordingly, the Partnership's distributions to non-U.S. investors are subject to federal income tax withholding at the highest applicable effective tax rate.

As MRC reported earlier, in late November 2014, the board of directors of Westlake Chemical Corporation authorized the company to repurchase up to USD250 million in shares of its common stock under a new share repurchase program. Repurchases under this program should be made through the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. These repurchases may be begun or suspended from time to time without prior notice.

Westlake Chemical Corporation is a manufacturer and supplier of petrochemicals, polymers and building products with headquarters in Houston, Texas. The company's range of products includes: ethylene, polyethylene, styrene, propylene, caustic, VCM, PVC resin and PVC building products including pipe and specialty components, windows and fence.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- PPG Industries has announced that it has submitted an offer to acquire a majority interest in the aerospace and automotive sealants businesses of Le Joint Francais (LJF), according to StreetInsider.

LJF is a supplier of sealants and adhesives products for the aerospace and automotive industries and has been a long-term licensee of PPG’s aerospace sealant technology.

LJF’s aerospace and automotive sealants businesses would be spun-off to form a new, separate entity, of which PPG would be the majority owner.

PPG anticipates closing the transaction in the second half of 2015, following completion of the French works council consultation process, receipt of regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. Financial terms were not disclosed.

This venture is a natural progression for the two companies, as LJF has been a licensee of PPG technology for more than 60 years. This would allow us to serve our aerospace and automotive customers with greater geographic reach and with a wider array of automotive products," said Michael McGarry, PPG chief operating officer.

As MRC wrote previously, in 2013 PPG Industries announced the successful closing of the previously announced separation of its commodity chemicals business and merger of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Eagle Spinco Inc., with a subsidiary of Georgia Gulf Corporation. Initially, Georgia Gulf and PPG Industries announced the merger between commodity chemicals business in July, 2012. The combined company was named Axiall Corporation.

LJF is headquartered in France and is part of the Hutchinson Group, a world leader in sealing systems, vibration, acoustic and thermal insulation, fluid transfer systems, transmission and mobility. LJF’s aerospace and automotive sealants businesses employ more than 200 people, and the new entity would continue operations in Bezons, France, at the facility where these businesses are currently based.

PPG Industries Inc. is an Americain international company that produces paints, chemicals, optical components, specialty materials, glass and fiber glass. The company consists of more than 150 production units and offices in more than 60 countries. PPG industries is in the list of the top 500 U.S. corporations in terms of sales of. As MRC reported previously, PPG Industries plans to open its first factory in Russia near Tver. As of today, PPG Industries has no production facilities in Russia.
MRC