Lotte Titan to shut LLDPE plant for maintenance

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Lotte Titan is in plans to shut its linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) plant for a maintenance turnaround, as per Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in Indonesia informed that the plant is likely to be shut towards end-June 2015. The duration of the shutdown could not be ascertained.

Located in Merak, Indonesia, the plant has a production capacity of 450,000 mt/year.

As MRC informed previously, South Korea-based company Lotte Chemical is likely to shut a cracker for maintenance turnaround next year in October 2015. It is likely to remain off-stream for around one month. Located in Daesan, South Korea, the cracker has an ethylene capacity of 1 million mt/year, propylene capacity of 500,000 mt/year and butadiene capacity of 150,000 mt/year.

The Lotte Group currently has a presence in Indonesia via its subsidiary, Honam Petrochemicals, which acquired Malaysia’s polyolefin major Titan Chemicals in July 2010. Included in the acquisition was Titan’s Indonesian subsidiary - PT Titan Petrokimia Nusantara (TPN), which has a polyethylene (PE) production capacity of 450,000 tonnes/year.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- BASF, the world's petrochemical major, has introduced a new solution: the "Skin Care Polymers Toolbox" to better help customers find the ideal polymer for their individual skin care product, as per the company's press release.

The company analyzed its complete polymer portfolio based on four criteria: viscosity versus pH range, electrolyte tolerance, emulsifying capability and sensory profile. One of the procedures employed for the evaluation was the Pillow Talk - a BASF sensory assessment method where trained individuals compare how their skin feels on the surfaces of different pillows after applying a cream or emollient. "With the results of our analysis we can give our customers clear guidance regarding which polymer is performing how in which formulation," said Francesco Romagnoli, Marketing Manager for Skin Care Polymer Europe. "The Skin Care Polymers Toolbox allows cosmetics manufacturers to choose the most suitable polymer for their specific skin care application."

Among the polymers identified, especially two can help cosmetics manufacturers to optimize the sensory characteristics of their products: Cosmedia SP - efficient thickener and emulsifier for an elegant afterfeel and sensory modifier with a lubricious effect/

Cosmedia SP, off-white, free-flowing powder, stands out for its exceptional sensorial profile and elegant afterfeel. It delivers silky and velvety sensory properties without stickiness, which is appealing for all skin care applications. Cosmedia SP offers emulsifying and suspending capabilities without needing an additional emulsifier, and also demonstrates good thickening capabilities. It demonstrates flexibility as it is suitable for cold processing and can be added to an oil or water phase.

Rheocare HSP 1180, clear, viscous liquid solution, is a sensory modifier imparting a soft and plush afterfeel. Rheocare HSP 1180 can be used at a broad pH range and delivers high lubricity even at low concentrations. When introduced to formulations, it reduces the friction during application: Being rubbed in, it delivers an immediate sense of lightness and quickness comparable to that of oils, but without leaving an oily feeling on the skin. Thus, Rheocare HSP 1180 is particularly suited for skin care products that require a sophisticated sensory profile.

As MRC reported before, earlier this month, BASF unveiled its largest construction chemicals plant in India at Nellore (Andhra Pradesh, South-East India). This is BASF’s fifth construction chemicals plant in the country. With its state-of-the-art technology and strategically located close to regional growth centers, the plant will enable BASF to respond in a timely fashion to customers’ needs in the Southern part of India and to support them with high-performance solutions in the highly competitive market.

The BASF Group’s Intermediates division develops, produces and markets a comprehensive portfolio of more than 700 intermediates around the world. Its most important product groups include amines, diols, polyalcohols, acids and specialties. Among other applications, intermediates are used as starting materials for coatings, plastics, pharmaceuticals, textiles, detergents and crop protectants. BASF had sales of about EUR74 billion in 2014 and over 113,000 employees as of the end of the year.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- BASF is expanding its range of the melamine resin foam Basotect with a version which has been developed specifically for use in visible applications, reported the company on its site.

The new Basotect B is white and meets the highest demands when it is used as a sound absorber for optimizing the acoustics of rooms.

Basotect B opens up new design options. Bright rooms which are bathed in light can be impressively showcased with the white Basotect B.

"The demand from architects and designers for visually appealing sound absorbers is very high," says Johannes Kiefer, Professor in the Department of Design, Computer Science, Media at RheinMain University of Applied Sciences in Wiesbaden.

Basotect B offers attractive design possibilities thanks to its white color and the various options for shaping it. Besides the established properties of Basotect, such as excellent sound absorption, flame retardancy, high inherent rigidity, and ease of processing, Basotect B has a high light reflectance value which can help to lower the lighting demand and thus save energy.

As MRC wrote previously, BASF is significantly expanding its production capacity for about 20 specialty amines at its Verbund site in Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF says it will invest a double-digit million euro amount in expanding current production facilities, which are planned to go on stream gradually by early 2017. The specialty amines are especially used for the manufacturing of coatings, lubricants, crop protection products and pharmaceuticals.

The BASF Group’s Intermediates division develops, produces and markets a comprehensive portfolio of more than 700 intermediates around the world. Its most important product groups include amines, diols, polyalcohols, acids and specialties. Among other applications, intermediates are used as starting materials for coatings, plastics, pharmaceuticals, textiles, detergents and crop protectants. Around the globe the division generated sales to third parties of about EUR2.8 billion in 2013.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Yibin Tianyuan has shut a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plant for maintenance turnaround, according to Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in China informed that the plant was planned to be shut on April 15, 2015. It is likely to remain off-stream for around one month.

Located in Sichuan province, China, the plant has a production capacity of 380,000 mt/year.

As MRC reported earlier, Guangzhou Tosoh shut down its PVC plant for maintenance turnaround on February 27, 2015. It remained off-stream for around one month. Located in Guangzhou, China, the plant has a production capacity of 250,000 mt/year.

Besides, Shandong Dongyue restarted its PVC plant following maintenance turnaround in early March 2015. It was shut on February 6, 2015. Located in Shandong province, China, the plant has a production capacity of 120,000 mt/year.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Italian Maire Technimont and Azerbaijan’s SOCAR-Polymer signed an EUR350 mln-agreement on construction of Sumgayit polypropylene (PP) plant at the Azerbaijan-Italy business meeting on 15 April, 2015, reported APA-Economics.

According to APA-Economics, the agreement was signed by SOCAR-Polymer Director-General Farid Jafarov and Chief Executive Officer Maire Tecnimont Pierroberto Folgiero.

Maire Technimont and SOCAR-Polymer have carried preliminary engineering works and agreed on construction of polypropylene plant and general economic block on EPC agreement. This agreement costs €350 mln. The project envisages engineering, procurement and construction.

The Polypropylene plant with the yearly capacity of 180,000 tonnes will allow to use propylene as a raw material. This plant is planned to be constructed in Sumgayit Chemical Industrial Park.

Currently, Azerbaijan import polypropylene and High-density polyethylene (HDPE).

SOCAR-Polymer Deputy Director General Emil Eminov todl APA-Economics that according to conditions of the agreement, the polypropylene plant will be completed by end of 2017, polyethylene plant by end of 2018.

“The construction works are planned to start in August, 2015. The project of the construction has already been developed and sent to Italian company. The project envisages construction of polypropylene and polyethylene plants. Total worth of the project with both two plants makes EUR700 mln”, Eminov said.

He added that SOCA-Polymer will invest USD420 mln in these projects, which it borrowed from Russia’s Gazprombank in December, 2014.

Main shareholder of the project is SOCAR.

"Moreover, PASHA Holding, Gilan Holding and Azersun Holding will also be involved in the project. 40% of the project will be paid by these companies", Eminov said.

According to him, no problem will occur in the financing of the project and it will be implemented in time: "30% of projects to be produced in the project will be put up to sale to the domestic market. 70% will be exported".

As MRC wrote before, SOCAR announced last summer that it plans to commission PP plant in Azerbaijan in 2016.

SOCAR, which is keen on expanding operations in the retail oil products market abroad, is involved in exploring oil and gas fields, producing, processing, and transporting oil, gas, and gas condensate, marketing petroleum and petrochemical products in the domestic and international markets, and supplying natural gas to industry and the public in Azerbaijan
MRC