Global staples PP non-woven fabric market to grow at 7.7% to 2020

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Global staples polypropylene (PP) non-woven fabric market is expected to grow at 7.7% to 2020, reported Plastemart with reference to Grand View Research.

Thus, global staples PP Non-woven fabric demand was 1,949.2 kilotons in 2013 and is expected to reach 3,103.9 kilotons by 2020, growing at a CAGR of 6.9% from 2014 to 2020.

Hygiene was the largest application segment and accounted for 37.5% of the total market volume in 2013. Increasing geriatric population base, particularly in the US, Japan, and Western Europe will remain a key driver for this segment. High birth rates in North African countries and Middle East, coupled with increasing baby diaper usage in Southeast Asian countries are also expected to have a positive impact on the segment growth.

Medical is expected to witness the highest growth rate of 7.7% from 2014 to 2020, as per Grand View Research. Presence of sophisticated healthcare system in developed economies like the US and Europe coupled with increasing healthcare expenditure in South American and Asian countries is expected to drive this segment.

Asia Pacific emerged as the largest regional staples PP Non-woven fabric market and accounted for over 40% of the total market volume in 2013. Growing baby diapers demand in India and China coupled with increasing investment from companies such as Kimberly-Clark in these countries is expected to remain a key driving factor for the regional market.

Middle East is expected to witness significant growth in demand for staples PP Non-woven fabrics. The region is expected to grow at an estimated CAGR of 9.4% from 2014 to 2020.

Global staples PP Non-woven fabric market is dominated with top multinational corporations. The market has witnessed frequent M&A activities in the recent past. Major companies adopt this strategy in order to reduce competition and gain market share. Some of the major companies operating in the global market include Fibertex, Kimberly-Clark, First Quality, Toray Industries, Mitsui, Fiberweb and Polymer Group Inc.

As MRC informed previously, in late January 2015, Toray Industries, Inc. announced that it had formulated a plan to expand the polyester staple fiber business at Toray Chemical Korea Inc., the acquisition of which Toray completed in February 2014, to pursuit synergy effects within Toray Group. According to the plan, Toray will boost production capacity of low melt polyester staple fiber (LM polyester staple fiber) at TCK’s Gumi I Plant in Gumi, Gyeongsangbuk-do by about 1.7 times to 170,000 tons. The additional LM polyester staple fiber production facility is expected to start production in July 2016.
MRC

Wacker presents new silane-terminated polymers for high-performance adhesives

MOSCOW (MRC) -- At the European Coatings Show 2015, Munich-based chemical group Wacker will be unveiling novel, silane-terminated polymers for the formulation of industrial adhesives and for sealing flat surfaces, said the producer on its site.

Known as GENIOSIL XT, the new binder makes it possible to produce materials that are extremely tear-resistant and at the same time highly elastic. This combination of properties unlocks applications in automotive and mechanical engineering that were previously closed to silane-curing polymers.

GENIOSIL XT silane-modified polymers from Munich-based chemical group WACKER make it possible to formulate strong but highly elastic adhesives of the kind needed for direct glazing.

GENIOSIL XT 50 and GENIOSIL XT 55 further complement Wacker’s portfolio of silane-curing binders. Both grades are based on silane-modified polyethers with a high density of crosslinkable silyl groups which cure to a tight-mesh network that is very strong but elastic. Adhesive layers and sealing membranes formulated with GENIOSIL XT possess high strength. However, they are also highly ductile and will tear only when subjected to strong forces. Damaged material exhibits no tendency to tear propagation.

GENIOSIL XT thus represents the first technically equivalent alternative to conventional polyurethane-based systems. By virtue of their properties, the new polymers are ideal for applications that repeatedly subject them to dynamic forces, such as vibrations in vehicles and washing machines. Up to now, applications of this kind were essentially the domain of isocyanate-curing polymer systems.

Furthermore, GENIOSIL XT’s low viscosity makes it easy to process at low temperatures. The binders can be formulated with and without plasticizers or fillers, and blends can be produced in any color. The compounds can be formulated for adhesion to many conventional substrates, such as metals, glass, cement, glazed tiles, wood, polycarbonate, and polymethyl methacrylate. Priming is unnecessary. As the polymers are also miscible with all other GENIOSIL silane-terminated polyethers, compounders can vary the properties over a wide range of formulations. Typical end products are industrial adhesives, liquid waterproofing systems, and coatings.

GENIOSIL XT 50 is an alpha-silane-terminated polymer and lends itself to the production of tin-free adhesives and crack-bridging liquid waterproofing systems. These can possess tensile strengths of up to 9 N/mm2 and tear strengths of up to 50 N/mm (measured in accordance with ASTM D 624 B-91). What is more, GENIOSIL XT 50 can be formulated without fillers to make transparent, tin-free end products that have good mechanical properties.

GENIOSIL XT 55 is a gamma-silane-terminated polyether. It can yield shear strengths of over 5 N/mm2 combined with elongation at break of around 700 percent, the exact values depending on the formulation. Such formulations are also notable for their high tear strength and high elastic recovery. The polymer is therefore ideal for the production of high strength, yet extremely flexible industrial adhesives of the kind used, for example, in direct glazing of windshields in the automotive industry.

As MRC wrote before, at the ECS Wacker Group will be exhibiting a new polymeric binder for modifying gypsum drywall products.

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

Chemtura Q4 preliminary adjusted earnings fall 15%

MOSCOW (MRC)--US-based specialty chemicals producer Chemtura Corporation reported its preliminary Q4 results showing a 15% decline in adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA), said the company in its press release.

Fourth-quarter adjusted EBITDA was USD41m for the company's two segments, industrial performance products and industrial engineered products. That compares with USD48m reported for the same time in 2013.

Fourth-quarter net sales were USD418m, down 4% from USD437m for the same time in 2013. By segment, industrial performance Q4 sales were USD234m, down 3% from USD242m from the same time in 2013. Industrial engineered products sales were USD184m, down 6% from USD195m from Q4 2013.

Chemtura's operating income from the two segments was USD24m, down nearly 50% from USD46m from the same time last year. Industrial performance was USD25m, unchanged year on year, while industrial engineered products reported a USD1m loss, compared with an income of USD21m in Q4 2013.

Chemtura attributed the declines in industrial engineered products to lower prices and volumes in both bromine and organometallics. For industrial performance products, higher sales prices offset higher feedstock costs. Looking ahead, Chemtura expects lower oil prices to reduce its raw-material costs. The company will release its full earnings on 25 February after the market closes.

As MRC wrote before, a London market insurance company group sued Chemtura Corp., its affiliates and insurers in New York state court Thursday, disclaiming responsibility for environmental remediation costs and food industry employee suits relating to dangerous chemical exposure. The suit seeks a court declaration that the insurers have no responsibility to provide coverage, or reimburse defense costs for the suits under policies it issued to the company's corporate predecessors from 1952 until 1986. Several of the suits stem from millions of dollars in environmental remediation costs for which Chemtura is responsible at two manufacturing and industrial sites located in Ohio and Arkansas.

Chemtura produces petroleum additives and polyester polyols as well as thermoplastic polyurethanes and urethane pre-polymers. It also produces organometallics and bromine products, many of which are used as flame retardants in applications including insulation foam and electronics.
MRC

Styrolution fuels R&D with launch of SBC pilot plant in Antwerp

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Committed to enhancing global supply security while amplifying R&D capabilities, Styrolution, the global leader in styrenics, has recently launched a pilot styrene-butadiene copolymer (SBC) plant in Antwerp, reported the company on its site.

The new plant will produce all of Styrolution's SBC grades and includes capabilities for the processing of other polymer types.

An identical but scaled-down version of the larger production SBC plant (65,000 tonnes) in Antwerp, the pilot plant will be used to conduct R&D experiments, empowering customers to more easily and efficiently produce sufficient amounts of materials for in-house analysis and product testing. Additionally, the pilot plant will support daily commercial plant operations and will help to enhance specialty styrenics, such as Styrolux and Styroflex.

The launch of the new pilot plant focused on styrenic specialties also supports Styrolution's "Triple Shift" growth strategy, which calls for a focus on styrenic specialties and ABS Standard, higher-growth industries and growth in emerging markets. The plant allows customers across industries and throughout the world greater access to specialty materials, while creating a new location for R&D exploration related to new applications and material solutions.

Rudy Verstraeten, SBC Pilot Plant Project Leader, Styrolution: "We are very excited to further enhance Styrolution's global supply availability and R&D capabilities with the development and launch of this plant. This plant was developed in response to our customers' need for greater opportunities to test and experiment with our styrenic solutions. By implementing this unique solution to scaling production, we are also helping our customers identify new solutions to meet their industry's trends and needs."

We remind that, as MRC wrote before, in May 2014, Styrolution inaugurated a new line for the high performance styrenic specialty product Absolan at its Katol site located in Gujarat, India. The new 40,000 mt line intends to meet the growing demand for Absolan across key growth industries in India, such as household, electronics, automotive. Absolan customers will benefit from improved local service and greater security of supply.

The Styrolution Group GmbH is a global provider of styrenics , headquartered in Frankfurt am Main. In mid-November 2014, Ineos completed the purchase of BASF’s 50% share in Styrolution, a joint venture between the companies. Styrolution's main focus is on the production of monomer, polystyrene, styrenic specialties, and ABS. The company offers styrene plastics for a variety of everyday products from different industries, such as automotive, electronics, construction, household, leisure, packaging, medicine and health.
MRC

GPPS imports to Russia fell by 35%

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Imports of general purpose polystyrene (GPPS) to the Russian market decreased in 2014 by 35% year on year, according to MRC DataScope report.

The overall GPPS imports fell to 29,600 tonnes last year versus 45,600 tonnes a year earlier. A slump in purchasing in foreign markets was caused by an increase in polystyrene (PS) production in Russia, due to the launch of a new line at Nizhnekamskneftekhim. In addition, the rouble devaluation in the second half of 2014 led to a substantial rise in prices of imported grades compared to prices of Russian material.
The foaming segment accounted for the greatest decrease. Imports of these grades slumped by almost 60%. Large importers, such as Penoplex, reduced their purchasing by 21.5% (the company increased its GPPS production by 11% in 2014, according to MRC ScanPlast report). At the same time, more than a dozen companies (with imports of up to 500 tonnes per year) that bought material in the domestic market simply ceased importing PS.
Extrusion GPPS was the most popular grade among importers. Last year's imports of extrusion grades fell by 25% and totalled 12,000 tonnes. Imports of injection moulding GPPS dropped by 9% to just over 10,000 tonnes.

MRC