Lanxess introduces innovative halogen-free flame retardants

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The new Rhein Chemie Additives business unit of specialty chemicals company Lanxess has developed innovative halogen-free flame retardants that are based in part on a newly developed type of phosphorus chemistry, reported the company on its site.

These are characterized by low fogging and scorching, making them ideal for use in the furniture and automotive industries. The new Disflamoll TP LXS 51092 grade was primarily developed for PU flexible foam and elastomers while Levagard TP LXS 51114 is especially suitable for flexible foam. Both flame retardants can be used in polyester as well as in polyether flexible foams. Foams manufactured using Levagard TP LXS 51114 even meet the German Association of the Automotive Industry's strict VDA 278 standard for the characterization of non-metallic materials in cars.

The established reactive flame retardant Levagard 4090 N is now available in improved quality owing to process optimizations. The lower acid number and water content ensure better processability, especially in the manufacture of rigid polyurethane foams.

As MRC informed previously, in July 2013, Lanxess opened its first production facility in Russia. In the new plant at the Lipetsk site, Lanxess subsidiary Rhein Chemie manufactures polymer-bound rubber additives for the markets in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), primarily for the automotive and tire industries. A production facility for the bladders used in tire production is to be added in 2016. The overall investment volume in euros amounts to a seven-digit figure and 40 new jobs will be created at the new plant in the medium term.

Lanxess is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 8.0 billion in 2014 and about 16,600 employees in 29 countries. The company is currently represented at 52 production sites worldwide. The core business of Lanxess is the development, manufacturing and marketing of plastics, rubber, intermediates and specialty chemicals.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- PolyOne Corporation, a premier global provider of specialized polymer materials, services and solutions, has launched Geon BIO Flexible Solutions, formulated with a bio-derived plasticizer and in compliance with phthalate-restrictive regulations, such as California's Prop 65 and the Consumer Product Safety Initiative Act of 2008 (CPSIA), said the producer on its site.

"At last, customers can avoid compromising performance to meet regulatory and sustainability objectives," said Michael Garratt, president, Performance Products and Solutions, PolyOne Corporation. "Customers benefit as this plant-based, truly non-phthalate flexible vinyl performs at levels equal to or better than materials containing traditional petroleum-based plasticizers."

Geon BIO materials are formulated with PolyOne's plant-based reFlex 300 plasticizer, which has been tested and certified by the United States Department of Agriculture's BioPreferred Program to be 99% bio-based. In addition, specific Geon BIO healthcare formulations are pre-certified to meet biocompatibility requirements for United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Class VI protocols.

Compared to other flexible vinyls, Geon BIO materials feature a wider processing window and enhanced thermal stability, which may improve manufacturing efficiency to deliver reduced production costs.

As MRC informed previously, last year, PolyOne Corporation presented its specialty portfolio for automotive interiors to designers and engineers. These advanced technologies, including soft-touch materials as well as colorants and special effects, enable customers to design new features that boost consumer appeal and reduce manufacturing complexity.

PolyOne Corporation, with 2014 revenues of USD3.8 billion, is a premier provider of specialized polymer materials, services and solutions with operations in specialty polymer formulations, color and additive systems, polymer distribution and specialty vinyl resins.
MRC

MOSOCW (MRC) - Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) agreed to buy smaller rival BG Group (BG.L) for 47 bn pounds (USD70 billion) in the first major energy industry merger in more than a decade, closing the gap on market leader U.S. Exxon Mobil after a plunge in prices, said Reuters.

Anglo-Dutch Shell will pay a mix of cash and shares that values each BG share at around 1,350 pence, the companies said. This is a hefty premium of around 52 percent to the 90-day trading average for BG, setting the bar high for any potential counter-bid by a company such as Exxon, which has said it would also use the downturn in oil markets to expand.

The third-biggest oil and gas deal ever by enterprise value will bring Shell assets in Brazil, East Africa, Australia, Kazakhstan and Egypt. BG has some of the world's most ambitious projects in liquefied natural gas (LNG), where demand is growing as consumers turn away from more polluting fuels such as coal.

Shell is already the world's leading LNG company and it would get BG's capacity in LNG logistics - complex infrastructure that includes terminals, pipelines, specialized tankers, rigs, super coolers, regasification facilities and storage points.

As MRC informed earlier, Royal Dutch Shell has completed a revamp and upgrade of its Singapore ethane cracker. The project increased production for the 800,000-tpy ethylene plant on Bukom Island by 20%. The ethylene and olefins unit is also integrated with Shell’s 500,000-bpd refinery.

Britain's BG had a market capitalization of USD46 billion at Tuesday's close, Shell was worth USD202 billion and Exxon, the world's largest energy company by market value, was worth USD360 billion.

Royal Dutch Shell plc is an Anglo-Dutch multinational oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the biggest company in the world in terms of revenue and one of the six oil and gas "supermajors". Shell is vertically integrated and is active in every area of the oil and gas industry, including exploration and production, refining, distribution and marketing, petrochemicals, power generation and trading.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Kuraray has acquired Australia's Plantic Technologies. With this, Kuraray expands into bio-based barrier materials, which meet the increasing global demand of bio-based food packaging materials, said the producer in its press release.

Kuraray was the first to commercialise the high-performance barrier resin, EVAL (ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer), which it launched in 1972. EVAL boasts the highest level of gas barrier properties of all plastics and is the market leading barrier resin used in food packaging and industrial barrier applications. In addition, Kuraray has developed and launched Kurarister a transparent barrier film for retort applications.

The acquisition of Plantic enables Kuraray to provide barrier materials which meet the increasing global demand of bio-based food packaging materials. This is in line with Kuraray’s corporate mission.

Plantic film is used in a broad range of products in the barrier packaging sector and is supplying major supermarkets and brand owners on three continents (Australia, North America and Europe) in applications such as fresh case ready beef, pork, lamb and veal, smoked and processed meats, chicken, and fresh seafood and pasta applications.

Kuraray expects that its global sales network will assist to develop the bio-based barrier business in Europe, USA and Asia, responding to the global demand of improved freshness, reduced food loss and waste with the use of environmentally friendly material, Plantic film.

Kuraray produces specialty chemicals, fibres and other materials, including functional resins and films, synthetic isoprene chemical products, synthetic leather, vinylon fibre and polyester fibre.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Celanese Corporation, a global technology and specialty materials company, has announced it has completed the conversion of its Narrows, Va., operation to natural gas-fired boilers, as per the company's press release.

Celanese invested USD150 million to replace its coal-fired boilers with natural gas to generate the steam needed to run the plant's electrical generators and processes.

"The completion of this project is a concrete example of our commitment to carrying out two important Celanese core values - Being Sustainable and Improving the World," said Jon Mortimer, vice president of Manufacturing & Capital Projects, Celanese. "This is a milestone in Celanese's continued growth and an opportunity for us to do our part to create a cleaner environment for the communities where we operate."

"Celanese's investment in its Narrows, Virginia, plant speaks volumes to the commitment the company has made to improve the well-being of the people of Giles County," said Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA). "This project has impacted the State of Virginia and its residents in many positive ways, particularly by creating new job opportunities."

The Celanese Narrows plant has been in operation for 75 years. Celanese's boiler equipment conversion project provided more than 300 jobs in Giles County during the duration of the project as well as the continued support of more than 1,000 existing jobs. The plant is one of the world's largest producers of cellulose acetate tow, a natural and environmentally friendly product that is used for filtration applications.

As MRC reported earlier, in May 2014, Celanese Corporation announced its intent to construct a EVA emulsions production unit in Southeast Asia. The unit is expected to begin production by mid-2016.

Celanese Corporation is a global technology leader in the production of differentiated chemistry solutions and specialty materials used in most major industries and consumer applications. Based in Dallas, Texas, Celanese employs approximately 7,500 employees worldwide and had 2014 net sales of USD6.8 billion.
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