Styron introduces resins for medical equipment

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Styron, the global materials company and manufacturer of plastics, latex and rubber, has introduced several new resins for medical equipment enclosures, according to the company's press release.

These materials complement Styron’s portfolio for enclosures providing resins that result in an economical system cost.

The new advanced resins are EMERGE PC/ABS 7700 blend, which provide a well-balanced, cost-effective solution for powered medical devices offering ignition resistance and color stability over time, and MAGNUM 2642 MED and MAGNUM 8391 MED ABS resins, which are manufactured in a continuous mass production process that offers superior lot-to-lot consistency, exceptional natural resin whiteness, and excellent processing characteristics.

Styron has also introduced a broad range of ISO 10993-tested colorants for its CALIBRE polycarbonate resins, CALIBRE MEGARAD polycarbonate resins, and MAGNUM ABS Resins portfolio.

As the demand for attractive medical equipment grows, manufacturers and molders need materials that provide pleasing aesthetics and advanced performance. Recognized as superior, Styron’s MAGNUM ABS Resins have been relied on for decades.

Both MAGNUM 2642 MED and MAGNUM 8391 MED ABS resins offer exceptional appearance due to mass production. MAGNUM 8391 MED ABS resins target premium applications with improved processability and toughness such as higher melt flow, higher impact strength and higher gloss. MAGNUM 2642 MED ABS resins are considered general purpose. Both have been tested for biocompatiblity.

Styron resins are available directly through the company or through distribution partners PolyOne Distribution, Entec, and Channel Prime Alliance.

As MRC informed earlier, Styron Europe and its affiliate companies in Europe had announced price increases for all CALIBRE polycarbonate (PC) and EMERGE polycarbonate and blends products. Effective as of March 7, or as contract terms allow, the prices for these products will rise by EUR270/tonne.

Styron is a leading global materials company and manufacturer of plastics, latex and rubber. Styron's technology solutions are used by customers in industries such as home appliances, automotive, building & construction, carpet, commercial transportation, consumer electronics, consumer goods, electrical & lighting, medical, packaging, paper & paperboard, rubber goods and tires.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Effective April 1, 2013, Evonik Industries AG will increase the prices for all molding compounds sold under the PLEXIGLAS and PLEXIMID trademarks, reported the company on its site.

As far as permissible under existing agreements the increase will amount to 0.14 EUR per kilogram.

The reason for this step is the continued escalation of raw material cost.

We remind that, as MRC informed earlier, last summer Evonik Industries developed and launched on the market a novel combination of bio-based high-performance polyamides and bio-based high-performance fibers. Reinforcing fibers are often mixed into a plastic to improve its mechanical properties. Polyamide grades of VESTAMID Terra with rayon fibers retain the high bio-content along with excellent reinforcing potential. The combination of viscose fibers and polymer matrix offers a significantly improved carbon balance.

Evonik, the industrial group from Germany, is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. Its activities focus on the key megatrends health, nutrition, resource efficiency and globalization.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- China Petrochemical Corp.(Sinopec) has closed a USD1.02 billion deal with Chesapeake Energy Corp, according to Plastermart.

With this, the second largest Chinese energy producer has acquired a stake in a shale oilfield for less than one-third of its estimated value.

Sinopec will take a 50% interest in 850,000 acres Chesapeake controls in the Mississippi Lime formation. The price equates to USD2,400 an acre, less than the USD7,000-8,000 at which Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake valued the asset in a July presentation.

The deal involves drilling rights across an area twice the size of New York City with wells that Chesapeake said were pumping the equivalent of 34,000 barrels of crude a day in the final three months of 2012. Sinopec will exercise more control over drilling decisions and costs than Chesapeake partners have on similar ventures because the Chinese company isn't handing over a lump sum to cover future drilling costs.

As MRC wrote previously, ConocoPhillips had joined up with Sinopec to explore for shale gas in China as the country grapples with the best way to exploit its potentially significant unconventional resources. This marks the official entrance of a third major international oil company into China's shale gas industry. Shell signed a similar agreement in 2009 with PetroChina before it green-lighted a more formal production sharing contract in March. Chevron signed a joint study agreement with Sinopec in April 2011 and began initial drilling in the first quarter. Other international oil majors such as BP and Total have said they are studying similar agreements, but have yet to announce any partnerships.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- SABIC, Saudi Arabia's petrochemical major, has been preparing facilities at its plant in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, for the launch of commercial production of bimodal high density polyethylene (HDPE), reported the company in its press release.

The start of the production of the new grades for blow moulded bottles for household, industrial chemicals and personal care is scheduled for the second quarter of the current year, with grades suitable for containers up to 5L. The same grades, as well as grades intended for jerry cans, drums and other large containers, will also be produced at one of the company’s plants in Saudi Arabia; production there will start in the third quarter of 2013.

SABIC has been accelerating grade development in recent months, and will be fine-tuning the new grades during the first quarter prior to their formal launch. It is already talking with potential customers to ensure that the new grades fulfill their requirements.

Initially, the Gelsenkirchen plant will supply two grades. Bimodal HDPE (which exhibits two peaks in its molecular weight distribution) has an excellent environmental stress crack resistance (ESCR) and has low die swell. In some cases the new grades can also provide customers productivity advantage such as a faster cycle time or weight-out.

As MRC informed earlier, last September SABIC developed a new grade of high density polyethylene (HDPE) - SABIC HDPE PCG4906 - for large containers used in healthcare applications in close cooperation with Mauser, a well-known supplier of blow moulded industrial packaging solutions.

Sabic is a diversified manufacturing company, active in chemicals and intermediates, industrial polymers, fertilizers and metals. It is the largest public company in Saudi Arabia. Sabic is currently the second largest global ethylene glycol producer, the third largest polyethylene manufacturer, the fourth largest polyolefins manufacturer and the fourth largest polypropylene manufacturer. According to MRC data, Sabic is the second largerst importer of HDPE to Russia. In 2012, the company accounts for 14% of the total imports. Since 2009, Sabic's share in the total HDPE imports increased by 13 times. Main PE grades marketed in Russia are pipe HDPE P6006 and Vestolen A6060R, as well as film grade HDPE FI1157.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- In January 2013, imports of titanium dioxide to the Russian domestic market increased by 1,800 tonnes, which is equivalent to 44% increase from January 2012, according to MRC DataScope.

This January, imports of titanium dioxide made about 5,700 tonnes. With the general increase in imports, import volumes of Ukrainian titanium dioxide remained at the level of January, 2012, and made 1,600 tonnes.

The increase in purchases of TiO2 by Russian consumers accounted for American, Chinese, and German grades. The growth of purchases of the material from these countries made 74%, 43% and 116%, respectively, year-on-year.

As it was reported previously, in 2012, imports of titanium dioxide to Russia amounted to 66,000 tonnes, down 15,000 tonnes compared to 2011. According to market players, over stocks of the material from the previous year caused the fall of imports, which affected the poor performance of deliveries in the first two quarters, as well as the general decline in demand from the key consumers of the material in Russia.

MRC