BASF presents innovative solutions for the cosmetics industry

MOSCOW (MRC) -- BASF, the world's largest petrochemical major, has developed new ingredients and innovative concepts for the personal care market, as per the company's press release.

Driving forward the development of the brand Care CreationsTM, the company is taking a more and more science based approach to explore consumer needs: the focus is on a validated typology system with which users can define different consumer personalities.

Based on the results of one study carried out for conditioning hair care products, BASF is presenting a new formulation concept that picks up the personality traits and emotional needs of the different consumer archetypes and translates these requirements into exceptional conditioning products. Furthermore, the company has developed new ingredients for personal care products. Some of them are already tailored to the needs of the archetypes.

Thus, the new Ultrahold Power styling polymer targets the "Energetic" archetype with its dynamic consistency for sensational looks. It provides better hold in applications such as hair spray, gel and cream, it is easy to use and provides a high level of formulation flexibility.

The demand for better hold in styling gels continues. The rheology modifier Luvigel Fit UP increases the performance and styling power of formulations. The polymer reduces the risk of flaking from extreme styling formulations and broadens the spectrum for bold and dynamic hairstyles that are preferred by the "Energetic" archetype.

This new hair dye is characterized by its great color intensity and excellent color stability when shampooing, even at low dosage. Easy to formulate, Vibracolor Moonlight Blue introduces a wide range of fashion shades - from very light to intensely dark blue, as well as brown and other dark shades. It thus appeals to the desires of individualistic and creative consumers in particular.

Cetiol Ultimate answers to the rising market demand for new formulation textures and appealing skin sensations in cosmetics industry. With this ultrafast-spreading emollient, BASF meets a wide range of claims from ultra-thin oil-in-water formulations to smooth dry body oils and very light facial foundations that ensure a good coverage. Thanks to its volatile properties, skin care products with Cetiol Ultimate are easy to apply, absorb quickly and leave a smooth, fresh skin feeling. The natural-based, volatile hydrocarbon is readily biodegradable and approved by Ecocert and COSMOS.

PerlauraTM, a water extract from the roots of meadow bistort (polygonum bistorta) participates in the maintenance of the dermo-epidermal junction and dermal capillaries cohesion for a combined optical and biological radiance. The new anti-aging active contributes to restore skin’s homeostasis and integrity. Within four weeks, the skin appears visibly brighter with a smoother, more even surface.

RadianskinTM is a pure molecule that erases dark spots from the face and hands. RadianskinTM reduces melanogenesis through an innovative mechanism blocking the melanin release by the melanocytes, an alternative to the broadly known inhibition of tyrosinase. Besides unifying the complexion, the active also helps slow down premature photo-aging of the skin by preventing cell damage caused by UVB radiation and reducing the release of inflammatory cytokines. The skin is safely evened and protected from pigmentary disorders within 14 days.

The red algae hydrolysate with proven efficacy on both face and body reshaping, was inspired by studies conducted in the field of obesity. Two compounds that are found in abnormally high concentrations in obese subjects have been targeted: spermine and spermidine. These two compounds take part in many mechanisms in fat metabolism: activation of lipogenesis, inhibition of lipolysis and activation of preadipocyte differentiation. Slim-Excess acts like a molecular trap, blocks these two polyamines and redesigns the face contours within four weeks.

As MRC wrote before, BASF has recently been awarded the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification for cosmetic ingredients according to the European Federation for Cosmetic Ingredients (EFfCI).

BASF Care Chemicals division offers a broad range of ingredients for hygiene, personal care, home care, industrial & institutional cleaning, and technical applications.

BASF is the leading chemical company. It produces a wide range of chemicals, for example solvents, amines, resins, glues, electronic-grade chemicals, industrial gases, basic petrochemicals and inorganic chemicals. The most important customers for this segment are the pharmaceutical, construction, textile and automotive industries.
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MOSCOW (MRC) -- Shenhua Baotou Coal Chemical is in plans to take off-stream a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE)/high density polyethylene (HDPE) swing plant for maintenance trunaround, reported Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in China informed that the plant is likely to be shut in July 2014. It is expected to remain shut for around one month.

Located in Shenhua, China, the plant has a production capacity of 300,000 mt/year.

As MRC informed previously, Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical shut its HDPE plant on March 26, 2014 owing to feedstock issues. A restart date for the plant could not be ascertained. Located in Shanghai, China, the plant has a production capacity of 250,000 mt/year.

Besides, top Asian refiner Sinopec Corp won initial approval in October 2013 from China's top economic planner for a plan to build a USD10-billion refinery and petrochemical complex in Shanghai. Sinopec had started formal planning for the 400,000 barrels-per-day refinery and a 1 million tonnes-per-year ethylene project in a plan to curb pollution by shifting an old plant to Shanghai's southern edge.

Sinopec Corp. is one of the largest scale integrated energy and chemical companies with upstream, midstream and downstream operations. Its refining and ethylene capacity ranks No.2 and No.4 globally. The Company has 30,000 sales and distribution networks of oil products and chemical products, its service stations are now ranked third largest in the world.
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MOSCOW (MRC) -- KraussMaffei Berstorff (Munich, Germany) presented its innovative concept for producing weatherproof sheets based on renewable raw materials to a 60 customers during a live demonstration in Munich on March 12, 2014, said the producer in its press-release.

The customers were able to watch the production of so-called "Resysta" sheets at the company's TechCenter, which is equipped with a twin-screw extruder in the 32D series. Due to their outstanding properties and their deceptively realistic fine wood design, these sheets are primarily used for outdoor applications such as facades.

"Our customers showed an unexpectedly high level of interest in this innovative product," emphasized Andreas Kessler, general sales manager at KraussMaffei Berstorff in Munich. “We welcomed more than 60 international visitors who provided us with positive feedback on both the production facility and the end product," said Kessler.

The sheet production line, equipped with the KMD 90-32/WPC twin-screw extruder and a vertical three-roll polishing stack as the key components, produced 4-mm-thick, 1000-mm-wide Resysta sheets with a guaranteed output of 300 kg/h. During a series of talks focusing primarily on this topic, the customers were also able to obtain more detailed information on the material composition, the production requirements and the end product. Kessler is anticipating a promising future: "Since we are now also seeing greater use of renewable raw materials in sheet extrusion due to growing worldwide demands for sustainable production, we will be able to serve a new market segment with this product in the long term."

Processing of natural fiber-reinforced plastics calls for special machine technology, a high degree of process engineering know-how and active wear resistance of the processing unit.

Resysta International GmbH, a company based in Taufkirchen near Munich, distributes its patented compound Resysta ARF (Active Resysta Filler) all over the world. Extracted from rice husks, an agricultural raw material which has barely been used to date, the material is extremely resistant, has an excellent ecological balance sheet and therefore sets new standards in sustainable production.

The material can barely be distinguished from real wood. It is therefore mainly used whenever both weather resistance and a wood look are required, for example in outdoor furniture, floor coverings in a wet cell or outside, ships' decks or house facades.

As MRC wrote earlier, two leading pipe manufacturers from Russia have recently chosen KraussMaffei Berstorff as a systems supplier for premium-quality technology and invested in PO pipe extrusion systems.

The KraussMaffei Group is a global leader in the plastics and rubber processing industries. The company covers all areas of injection molding machinery, extrusion technology and reaction process machinery, which gives it a unique selling point in the industry.
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MOSCOW (MRC) -- Saudi Aramco Products Trading Co., the fuel marketing unit of Saudi Arabia’s state oil producer, started selling products of an affiliated petrochemicals maker, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Aramco Trading will sell products including polypropylene and polyethylene made by Rabigh Refining & Petrochemicals Co., according to a statement on the state oil company’s website. The company began physical deliveries of the first chemical products today, it said.

Saudi Arabian Oil Co., the world’s largest oil exporter, owns all of the marketing unit and 37.5% of the refinery, known as Petro Rabigh. Sumitomo Chemical holds an equal share in Petro Rabigh, with the remainder traded on the stock market.

The partners will sell equal amounts of Petro Rabigh’s products, according to a Petro Rabigh statement.

Persian Gulf oil producers such as Saudi Arabia are boosting chemical output to diversify their economies away from reliance on crude sales for revenue by selling finished products like transport fuels and plastics.

As MRC reported previously, Petro Rabigh had signed an agreement with Tasnee and Saudi Advanced Industries (SAIC) for the supply of propylene oxide to the joint venture for the production of polyether polyol. The plant is located in Rabiga, in the west of Saudi Arabia on the Red Sea.

Aramco and Sumitomo plan to expand the Petro Rabigh plant, and Aramco is building additional chemical capacity at Jubail on the Gulf. PetroRabigh, a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and Japan's Sumitomo Chemical, has an annual output capacity of 18 million tonsne of refined products and 2.4 million tonnes of petrochemicals.
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MOSCOW (MRC) -- Dow Chemical announced that its joint venture membrane chlor-alkali facility with Tokyo, Japan-based Mitsui & Co. has successfully initiated full-scale, commercial production in Freeport, Texas, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Dow’s share of the chlorine produced at the Freeport facility will serve the growing feedstock needs of its performance- and market-driven businesses. In addition, Dow will market the caustic soda on behalf of the joint venture.

"This world-class facility allows us to capitalize on our modern and efficient membrane chlor-alkali technology and serves as a real-life proof point of how new, competitive energy resources in the U.S. are re-shaping the landscape of US Gulf Coast manufacturing," said James (Jim) R. Fitterling, Dow executive vice president.

"This joint venture bolsters the integration strength of the chlorine value chain at the Freeport site in a capital efficient model that allows Dow to invest in more downstream technology and customer-driven businesses with higher and more consistent earnings."

The new facility has a name plate capacity of approximately 800,000 tpy of chlorine. As previously announced in December 2013, this new world-scale facility will replace 800,000 tpy of older capacity on the site, according to company officials.

As MRC wrote before, Dow Chemical plans to separate chlorine-related assets including its epoxy business as the company focuses on higher-margin activities. The chlorine assets account for as much as USD5 billion of annual revenue and include plants at 11 sites employing almost 2,000 people.

The Dow Chemical Company is an American multinational chemical corporation headquartered in Midland, Michigan, United States. Dow is a large producer of plastics, including polystyrene (PS), polyurethane, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and synthetic rubber. The Company"s more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 188 sites in 36 countries across the globe.
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