Plastics & Additives

A joint venture of Arabian Chevron Phillips Petrochemical Co. and The Saudi Industrial Investment Group is on track to start up the Middle East's first nylon 66 plant in late 2013. Petrochemical Conversion Company Ltd. (PCC) recently announced the successful transport of four process modules to the Port of Jubail in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the company's new 50,000-tonnes/year plant under construction in Jubail II Industrial City.

The Anti-Bottle is a foldable, rollable, reusable plastic water bottle intended to address the concerns raised by traditional plastic bottles.

An inner layer of polyethylene is bonded to two nylon layers to create a container that stands when full, can be tucked away when empty, and run through the dishwasher when needed. Besides being reusable, the Anti-Bottle is BPA- and phthalate-free, and said to be environmentally conscious by using less energy to manufacture and transport due to its reduced bulk.

Technology to significantly enhance the heat and impact resistance of a high-performance bio-polycarbonate resin has been developed by its Japanese supplier. Teijin Limited (Tokyo) has modified the molecular design of its Planext polymer to achieve greatly improved heat resistance with a glass-transition temperature of 120°C, as well as superior resistance to impact.

Parker Hannifin Corp., a major consumer of plastics for its motion and control businesses, is launching a major bid to become a player in specialized medical plastics.

It has created a medical grade polyurethane that demonstrates polycarbonate resistance to oxidation and alcohol swelling, and is also said to possess improved resistance to environmental stress cracking. The material is polymerized by the Parker Engineered Polymer Systems (EPS) Division in Salt Lake City, UT.

A sophisticated medical plastics compound that is sensitive to light is being developed by Italian researchers as a potential treatment for diseases of the retina such as macular degeneration and Retinitis Pigmentosa.

International Automotive Components (IAC, Luxembourg) has debuted its proprietary FastKast A-surface material manufacturing process for automotive skins in Asia. The new facility in Chongqing, China, supplies both the Ford Kuga and Ford Mondeo door panel and floor console assemblies, along with instrument panels, cockpits modules, finish trim panels and ducts for the Ford Mondeo.

Cologne, Germany—What happens when a group of around 175 experts in bioplastics and industrial biotechnology from around the world gather together in a hotel for a three-day conference focused on the biobased economy in Germany and the U.S.?

Lanxess (Leverkusen, Germany) has opened an Asia-Pacific Application Development Center for its high-tech plastics in the Hong Kong Science & Technology Park. Run by the High Performance Materials (HPM) business unit, it will provide comprehensive and high-value services ranging from concept development support, computer-aided design, computer-aided engineering and mold-design assistance to part test applications for the automotive industry and other segments.

Global assembly of light vehicles is forecast to reach 82.1 million units this year, representing 4% year-on-year growth. The fortunes of the global industry are split, however, along geographical lines according to the consulting company making the forecast.

An insert molding process employing a co-polyamide adhesion promoter to bond aluminum tubing with fiberglass-reinforced polyamide 6 is being used by Mercedes Benz in several of its vehicles to derive weight savings.

The aluminum tubing employed in the vehicles connects both A-pillars together and supports the entire dashboard—from the steering wheel to the glove compartment. These elements used to be welded or screwed together with metal connecting plates, a stable solution, but one that involves more weight.