sustainable compounding developments in antioxidants wire and cable applications

66 Pages·2013·25.91 MB·English

April 2013
SUSTAINABLE COMPOUNDING
DEVELOPMENTS IN ANTIOXIDANTS
WIRE AND CABLE APPLICATIONS
IntroducIng
on the iPad, iPhone and
Android-based devices
App sponsored by
Having led the way with high-quality digital-only magazines for the global
plastics industry, AMI is now also making its titles available free-of-
charge on the iPad, iPhone and a wide range of Android-based
smartphones and tablet computers.
The dedicated apps for Compounding World magazine are now ready to
download from Apple’s App Store and iTunes or from the Google Play
Store. Just search for ‘AMI Plastics’.
Current and past copies are available free-of-charge and new issues
will be added to the apps as soon as they’re published. If you are using
Apple’s latest iOS 5 operating system, then the magazines will appear in
your Newsstand and new editions will be added automatically if you sign
up for our free subscription.
The Compounding World app is sponsored by Leistritz, a leading
supplier of twin-screw extruders.
AndroId VErSIonS noW AVAILABLE
CHECK OUT OUR OTHER FREE APPS: AMI has also launched free
apps for its three other digital magazines – Injection World, Pipe
and Profile Extrusion and Film and Sheet Extrusion. Plus there’s
an additional AMI Conferences app featuring brochures for our
forthcoming events. Simply search for ‘AMI Plastics’ in iTunes,
Apple’s App Store or the Google Play Store.
contents
07 Industry news
5 The latest compounding industry news including international acquisitions and
1
E alliances, plus new investments and plant openings.
G
A
P
15 Advances in antioxidants
Peter Mapleston reports on the latest antioxidants that are designed to meet the
needs of the automotive, construction and packaging markets.
25 Techmer takes the road to sustainability
5
2
E Techmer PM has implemented a wide range of sustainability initiatives across its
G
A
P compounding sites with impressive results. Dwight Morgan reports.
33 Understanding the drivers for wire and cable
industry demand
What factors need to considered when predicting future demand from the wire
9 and cable industry? Noru Tsalic unravels a complex scenario.
3
E
G
A 39 Current thinking: making compounds for wire and
P
cable applications
Peter Mapleston reviews developments for wire and cable applications, including
the latest compounds, additives and processing options.
1 51 How to identify and rectify pellet defects
5
E
G Charles Crumb of Davis-Standard provides valuable advice on how to spot and
A
P rectify pellet defects when using underwater pelletizers.
55 New products: polymers and additives
60 Book reviews
5
5
E 64 Compounder of the month: LTL Color Compounders
G
A
P
66 Dates for your diary
coming next issue
(cid:31) Anti-stats and conductive additives (cid:31) Clarifi ers and nucleating agents (cid:31) Chinaplas 2013 show preview
(cid:29) Click here to make sure you get your copy
contact us
Applied Market Information Ltd Head of business publishing: Andy Beevers E-mail: [email protected]
AMI House, 45-47 Stokes Croft, Senior editor: Chris Smith E-mail: [email protected]
Bristol, BS1 3QP, United Kingdom Contributing editor: Jennifer Markarian E-mail: [email protected]
Tel:[phone] Designer: Nicola Crane
Fax:[phone] Advertisement manager: Claire Bishop E-mail: [email protected]
www.amiplastics.com Direct tel: [phone]
© Copyright Applied Market Information. No part may be reproduced without the prior written permission of the publisher.
www.compoundingworld.com April 2013 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 3
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50th issue special
Letter from the editor
Welcome to the 50th edition of Compounding World magazine. Time has fl own
since we published our fi rst issue back in December 2008, launching AMI’s
portfolio of four plastics industry magazines each focused on specifi c processes
and market sectors.
It was the start of a groundbreaking plan to deliver clearly-focused magazines
to a global audience, totally electronically. I’m pleased to say that it’s a strategy
that has been enthusiastically received by readers and advertisers alike, with the
support of the latter enabling us to distribute the magazine entirely free-of-charge
to you each month.
Our global readership has continued to grow with new subscribers signing
up each day. In addition, the launch of our free apps for the iPad/iPhone and
Android-based devices last year has helped to lift our readership still further.
As you can read on page 10, our four magazine apps have already been down-
loaded more than 20,000 times.
Over the past 50 issues, we have built up a sizeable library of compounding
industry knowledge. However, only our most recent issues are still available
online after we switched digital publishing platforms in late 2011 to enable the
launch of our apps. In response to frequent requests for back issues, we are
now making the fi rst 50 editions of Compounding World available on a USB
memory stick – you can fi nd out more on page 29.
As an example of the useful information lurking in our archives, we are
repeating one of our most popular articles – the pellet defect guide. It fi rst
appeared in our March 2011 issue, but if you missed it back then, you can now
fi nd it on page 51 of this edition.
Looking forwards rather than backwards, we have a hugely busy year ahead
of us. The K show is just six months away and we will be devoting fi ve isues of
Compounding World to the Düsseldorf show, previewing the most interesting
product launches and bringing you all the news from the exhibition. We will be
there again with our own stand in the North Entrance, so please drop by to
meet our team.
There will be another opportunity to meet up at the fi rst Compounding
World Forum, which will take place in December in
Philadelphia, USA. This international conference
will address many of the hot topics that we cover
in Compounding World magazine, but in a live
format. There will be more details to follow in
the next few months, but you can get an
overview and reserve your place at a special
‘earlybird’ rate over at http://bit.ly/CWF2013.
As we embark on the next 50 issues of
Compounding World, we would welcome your
feedback on the magazine and your suggestions
for topics that you would like to see covered.
Please let us know what you think.
Andy Beevers
Editor, Compounding World, and
Head of Business Publishing, AMI
[email protected]
www.compoundingworld.com April 2013 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 5
M
M A S T E R B A T C H
2 0 1 3
Connecting with downstream customers
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS
HEADLINE SPONSOR
3-5 June 2013
Marriott Hotel, Frankfurt,
Germany
Organised by: Also sponsored by: Media supporter:
Applied Market
Information Ltd.
Sabine Prack – Conference Coordinator [email protected] Ph: [phone] Fax: [phone]
news
Dow puts its additives
Cabot opens
Shanghai
business up for sale
plastics lab
Dow Chemical announced on Cabot has completed its
14 March that it is planning to new plastics application
divest its Plastics Additives development laboratory in
business unit. The company Shanghai, China.
has also put its Polypropylene It will be used to support
Licensing business up for sale, customers in China and
and says that it is targeting Asia-Pacific with the
nearly US$1.5 billion in processing and testing of
proceeds from divestures over specialty carbon black
the next 18 months. products as well as black
Dow’s chairman masterbatches and
and CEO, Andrew compounds.
Liveris said: “We are Above: Dow produces Paraloid additives at the The new facility features
reviewing our entire former Rohm and Haas plant in Lauterbourg, France. the latest processing and
portfolio and seeking Inset: Dow’s Andrew Liveris is “selectively pruning testing equipment and is
even further opportu- assets” staffed by skilled techni-
nities to optimise cians.
value, selectively includes the February 2013, page 6). It will support develop-
pruning assets that additives activities In 2011, Dow’s Plastics Addi- ments in applications such
are no longer a strategic or of the Rohm and Haas group, tives business unit accounted as agricultural films,
financial fit”. which Dow acquired for more for 4% of the Performance irrigation tubing, gas and
The Plastics Additives than US$15 billion in 2009. Materials division’s total sales water pressure pipes, wire
business produces processing Dow sold its methyl tin of US$14,647 million, which and cable jacketing,
aids and impact modifiers stabilizers and solid lubricants equates to approximately injection mouldings, and
under the Paraloid, Surecel businesses to PMC earlier this US$600 million. conductive compounds.
and Tyrin brandnames. It year (see Compounding World, ❙ www.dow.com ❙ www.cabotcorp.com
Songwon starts up US plant
Songwon is starting up its new One Pack strongly with the advent of shale gas-oil
Systems (OPS) plant in Houston, Texas, and lower energy costs. A few years ago
USA, this month – April 2013. It will have the discussion was about rationalization in
an initial capacity of 7,000 tonnes/year. the North America polyolefin industry and
The Houston plant is part of Songwon’s now the discussion is about expansion.
global OPS joint venture with Pan Gulf This OPS Facility is coming on stream at
Holding of Saudi Arabia and Polysys Indus- just the right time to serve the needs of
tries of Abu Dhabi. This also includes the our customers as the industry expands”.
Additive Technology Greiz plant in OPS products combine a range of
Germany, which was doubled in capacity to additives, including antioxidants, in a
14,000 tonnes/year in 2012, and a further dust-free pellet form for ease of handling
plant is due on stream in Abu Dhabi in and processing by compounders.
2014 with a capacity of 7,000 tonnes/year. ❙ www.songwon.com
Doug Excell, Songwon’s vice president
for OPS operations, said: “The North Songwon’s Houston OPS plant will
American polymer industry is rebounding meet growing demand in America
www.compoundingworld.com April 2013 | compounding world 7
news
China XD plans major
Bioplastics
programme
expansion in Nanchong
impresses
China XD Plastics has signed AMI’s third Bioplastics
an agreement to build a Compounding and Process-
300,000 tonnes/year com- ing conference will be held
pounding plant in Nanchong in Miami, Florida, USA, on
City, Sichuan Province, 7-8 May.
Southwest China. Construction This year’s conference
is scheduled to start this year will feature a presentation
and is expected to take on the use of bioplastics in
approximately two years to IT applications from IBM
complete. sustainability expert Joe
It will be China XD’s fourth Kuczynski.
production site and the first to China XD says its new facility There will also be papers
be located outside of Harbin, will help it to diversify into new on developments in bioplas-
Heilongjiang Province, markets, such as high-speed trains tics resins, additives and
Northeast China. Jie Han, compounds delivered by
chairman and CEO of China help it to diversify into other lines in Harbin. These have companies such as
XD, said: “Once our Southwest transportation markets such increased its current annual PolyOne, Teknor Apex,
production base is completed as rail, aerospace and capacity by 135,000 tonnes to FKuR, Braskem, Nature-
and in operation, we will be shipping. Several major 390,000 tonnes. Works, Purac, Clariant and
able to effectively cover the manufacturers of aircraft and China XD reported a 57.2% DuPont. In addition, the
entire country geographically high-speed trains are located increase in sales for 2012, conference will look at the
and reach our goal of 10% within reach of the Nanchong taking its total revenue to latest bioplastic compound-
market penetration with our facility, along with car makers US$599.8 million. Gross profit ing innovations, with
major products”. such as Shanghai GM, Volvo for the year was up 50.1% to presentations by Coperion,
China XD focuses on and Changan Ford. US$143.8 million, and the total Gneuss and B&P.
technical compounds for At the end of last year, volume shipped was up 48.1% The full programme can
automotive applications. It China XD announced that it to 223,982 tonnes. be viewed at:
plans that its new facility will was adding new compounding ❙ www.chinaxd.net ❙ http://bit.ly/Bio13
PolyOne expands vinyl powder production
PolyOne has announced that it continued globalisation of
PolyOne’s
is increasing capacity for its automotive OEMs and their
slush moulding
Geon VBX vinyl powder suppliers.
compounds are
solutions with new production Robert Rosenau, president
used in soft-touch
lines at its plants in Kutno, of PolyOne Performance
components in
Poland, and Dongguan, China. Products and Solutions, said: automotive
The specialty slush “This investment is consistent interiors
moulding compounds are used with the automotive industry’s
in automotive interior applica- desire to work with global
tions and are currently suppliers able to offer local
produced at PolyOne’s plant in production capability. We are
North Baltimore, Ohio, USA. optimistic about the prospects
The expansion of production for growth in the automotive
into Eastern Europe and China segment.”
is designed to support the ❙ www.polyone.com
8 compounding world | April 2013 www.compoundingworld.com
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news
Asahi Kasei adds new
LTL wins
medical
compounding capacity
approval
Asahi Kasei Plastics North LTL Color Compounders
America is investing US$3 has been awarded ISO
million in a new compounding 13485 certification at its
line at its plant in Fowlerville, plant in Dongguan,
Michigan, USA. An additional Guangdong, China. Its plant
US$2 million is being spent on in the USA already has the
other plant upgrades. medical device standard.
The new equipment is Phil Dix, LTL’s medical
expected to be operational by marketing and development
the end of 2013 and will manager, said: “The
provide a 30% increase in medical device industry in
capacity for Thermylene China is expected to grow at
polypropylene compounds and double-digit rates for the
a 10% increase over all foreseeable future in
product lines. The company Asahi Kasei’s Leona polyamide compounds are used to mould response to both China’s
also compounds a range of the the air vents for Ford’s Escape SUV domestic needs and the
engineering thermoplastics device export market. LTL
including PA 6, PA 66, POM, the growth it is achieving Thermylene reinforced PP has taken steps to be
mPPE and ABS. across all of its markets. In grades and Leona polyamide well-positioned to support
Asahi Kasei said that the particular, it highlights compounds. this growth.”
new capacity will help it meet increasing demand for its ❙ www.asahikaseiplastics.com ❙ www.ltlcolor.com
AMI magazine apps pass 20,000 downloads
The iPad/iPhone and Android exceeded 20,000 downloads in but we are also seeing very benefits of reading them on
apps for AMI’s four plastics just 14 months. strong demand in markets tablet computers and smart-
industry magazines have “We have been delighted by such as China, India, Thailand, phones, especially as our apps
the response to the apps, Turkey, Mexico and Brazil”. mean that the magazines can
which are helping to grow the The free apps for Com- still be read when you’re
international audiences for our pounding World, which are offline,” said Beevers.
four magazines,” said Andy sponsored by Leistritz, have The apps provide complete-
Beevers, head of business been downloaded 4,220 times ly free access to our latest
publishing at AMI. “The to date. The Injection World magazines; the Compounding
USA is leading the apps, which are aimed at the World apps contain the 19
way in the larger injection moulding most recent editions, for
number of market, have been downloaded example. You can find and
downloads, 7,659 times. Downloads of the download the apps by search-
apps for Film and Sheet ing for the magazine title or
Extrusion and Pipe and Profile ‘AMI Plastics’ in iTunes, Apple’s
Extrusion take the current App Store or Google Play.
total to 20,425. Users of iPads and iPhones
“Our magazines are still can also subscribe to the
mostly read online using magazines within the News-
computers, but more and more stand app.
people are discovering the ❙ www.amimagazines.com
10 compounding world | April 2013 www.compoundingworld.com