SABIC features material to advance additive manufacturing processes at Formnext

MOSCOW (MRC) -- SABIC, a global leader in the chemical industry, is reaffirming, through a multi-faceted exhibition here at Formnext 2018, its determination to further the evolution of additive manufacturing technology and promote application innovation, said the producer.

By leveraging its unique, high-performance resin technologies and process capabilities to develop differentiated material solutions for various additive manufacturing processes, SABIC is creating significant value for customers and the industry as a whole.

Among its exhibit highlights, SABIC is featuring its newest filaments for fused deposition modeling, including a tough filament made from its high impact EXL resin. Addressing industry needs for greater choice, SABIC is also demonstrating the use of its filaments in open architecture printers from a range of equipment manufacturers. Another focus area at the show is large format additive manufacturing (LFAM): SABIC is highlighting various tooling applications, as well as parts printed from its LNP™ THERMOCOMP™ AM portfolio of specialty compounds. The company is also highlighting recent breakthroughs in the use of its amorphous resins with standard selective laser sintering (SLS) equipment to provide a range of sinterable materials that extends beyond currently available semi-crystalline powders.

Differentiated resin capabilities, a broad portfolio and deep expertise empower SABIC to offer material solutions such as high heat ULTEM™ resins, specialty copolymers and reinforced compounds to customers throughout the additive manufacturing value chain. Additionally, SABIC is able to provide materials in printable form when this brings value to the industry.

SABIC’s portfolio of THERMOCOMP™ AM reinforced compounds, which includes materials based on ULTEM™ resin, is helping to encourage the use of LFAM for specialized applications, such as high-temperature autoclave tooling for the aerospace industry, reusable tooling for the cast concrete industry and a wide range of lower-temperature large part thermoforming tooling. Printed tools can help to reduce cost, construction time, inventory and weight vs. traditional steel tools. SABIC is featuring a thermoforming tool for an aircraft interior panel printed on a Thermwood LSAM® machine using THERMOCOMP™ AM EC004XXAR1 compound, a SABIC material based on ULTEM™ resin with 20 percent carbon fiber reinforcement.

In addition to its development of tooling applications, SABIC is working closely with LM Industries Group Inc., parent company of Local Motors, to validate various large format materials for printing finished components of its next iteration of Olli, the world’s first co-created, self-driving electric shuttle. On display in the stand is a fender from Olli, printed on a BAAM® machine from Cincinnati Inc. using one of SABIC’s THERMOCOMP™ AM compounds.

To expand the scope of SLS, SABIC is developing innovative technology to help overcome some of the traditional drawbacks of amorphous resins in this process – including incomplete layer consolidation and parts with lower density, dimensional inconsistencies and sub-optimal physical properties. Using SABIC’s proprietary technologies, the company has demonstrated the ability to produce fully amorphous parts with part densities above 96 percent, good dimensional stability and low refresh rates.

SABIC representatives are available at Formnext to elaborate on the technical aspects of the company’s recently announced materials and those still in development.
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MOSCOW (MRC) -- It’s ten years since AkzoNobel and McLaren first roared off the grid with their ground-breaking partnership, said the producer.

An exciting decade steered by a shared passion for pushing boundaries and levels of performance. The close relationship first shifted into gear in 2008, when AkzoNobel became the official supplier of paint solutions for McLaren Racing. McLaren has used the company’s premium Sikkens brand for its F1 cars ever since.

The collaboration isn’t limited to the F1 team, however. AkzoNobel has also been a technology partner to McLaren Automotive since 2012, with all McLaren road cars being fully painted in the company’s products.

"Working with partners like McLaren is a perfect example of our commitment to delivering cutting-edge innovation," said Keith Malik, Key Account Director of AkzoNobel’s Automotive and Specialty Coatings business. “We’re proud to have partnered with them for ten years and demonstrate our shared passion for high performance technologies and performance."

Added Simon Roberts, Chief Operating Officer of McLaren Racing: "Our decade-long relationship with AkzoNobel has led us to new innovations, scientific and sustainable advancements and quality finishes. Their longevity in the marketplace, coupled with the technology we’ve developed together, has helped us in our ongoing pursuit of high performance, and we’re thrilled to call AkzoNobel our partner."

The livery for this season’s MCL33 F1 car has made a particular impact. The Papaya Spark color scheme resulted in McLaren winning a BBC poll earlier this year for best-looking car.

The successful partnership is being celebrated this week at the annual Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) automotive show. Being held in Las Vegas, Nevada, in the US until November 2, the event is a major gathering for the aftermarket industry. AkzoNobel is well represented and will shine a spotlight on the company’s leadership in color.

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MOSCOW (MRC) -- Pucheng Clean Energy has restarted a polypropylene (PP) plant following an unplanned maintenance, as per Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in China informed that the company has resumed operations at the plant on November 12, 2018. The plant was shut on October 21, 2018.

Located at Shaanxi province in China, the plant has a PP production capacity of 400,000 mt/year.

As MRC reported earlier, on May 28, 2018, Pucheng Clean Energy restarted its PP plant following an unplanned shutdown. The plant remaind off-line for around one week owing to technical issues. Located at Shaanxi province in China, the plant has a PP production capacity of 400,000 mt/year.
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MOSCOW (MRC) - China's private chemical group Hengli Petrochemical said it has entered an annual crude purchase deal with Saudi Aramco for 2019 supplies of 130,000 barrels per day, which marks the top OPEC producer's second major marketing alliance with a private Chinese refiner, said Reuters.

The deal was signed this week at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai and is worth USD3.6 billion based on current market price, according to a Hengli release seen by Reuters on Saturday and confirmed by a Hengli spokesman.

This is Aramco's second major crude supply pact with a private Chinese refiner. Aramco earlier agreed to supply Zhejiang Rongsheng Group 170,000 bpd of crude oil under a term agreement with an intent also to take a stake in the Rongsheng refinery in east China.

Hengli Petrochemical is expected to test run its greenfield 400,000 bpd refinery in northeastern port city Dalian around end of November.
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MOSCOW (MRC) -- French President Emmanuel Macron said he would not back down from a hike in fuel tax, despite plans for nationwide protests this month and his personal popularity reaching a new low, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Drivers are planning blockades and go-slows across France on Nov. 17 to protest against higher fuel prices, which have increased by up to a third in the past year, making Macron's claim to help hard-working people harder to defend.

In a bid to fight climate change, his government has voted increases in a carbon tax and decided in particular to ramp up the price of diesel, the most commonly used car fuel in France.

But the increases, decided in late 2017 at a time crude oil prices were hovering under USD50 per barrel, have become more painful for consumers after oil surged to over USD85 last month. The issue has helped drive Macron's popularity to as low as 21 percent in a poll published last week.

The president, who has launched a seven-day tour of northeastern France, said he has no plan to back down.

"I prefer taxing fuel to taxing labour. People complaining about rising fuel prices are the same ones who complain about pollution and how their children suffer," he told regional newspapers in the area, in an interview published on Monday.

Macron's political rivals have seized on the anger to paint the former investment banker as a member of the metropolitan elite who does not relate to those outside Paris.

"You have to be completely out of touch with reality not to understand that taxing fuel is taxing those French who work," conservative opposition leader Laurent Wauquiez said on Twitter.

The protests, which according to an Odoxa poll are supported by 78 percent of the French, come at a time Macron is seeking to regain the initiative after a political scandal over the summer and a series of cabinet resignations.

His tour of the northeast, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One, gives the 40-year-old leader a chance to reconnect with de-industrialising areas that are among the poorest and most isolated in France.

Sensing a business opportunity from the political tumult over fuel taxes, France's top two hypermarket chains Leclerc and Carrefour announced promotions to sell petrol at cost.

Carrefour said on Monday that its special offer on petrol prices would run until Nov. 17, the date of the planned blockades. Leclerc's will run until the end of the month.
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