Polymer Additives Industry News

Aug 21, 2008 - A. Schulman to Open Polybatch® Manufacturing Facility in Akron, Ohio

SpecialChem A. Schulman, Inc. announced that it is expanding its North American Polybatch® manufacturing operations with a new plant at the site of its existing distribution warehouse in Akron, Ohio.

Aug 20, 2008 - Ciba Announces Half Year Results and Strategic Moves to Reshape Portfolio

SpecialChem In Plastic Additives we are in the process of agreeing a joint venture to expand our plastics capability in the fast growing region of the Middle East and we are planning to make acquisitions in the next few weeks that will strengthen our Coating Effects business. These moves will enhance already strong market positions in these segments.

Aug 19, 2008 - NEU Launches New Phthalate Free, "Very Stretchy" Thermoplastic Polyurethane for Special Medical and Other Demanding Product Applications

SpecialChem A new, phthalate (plasticizer) free very stretchable thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) alloy from NEU - New England Urethane - promises to offer enhanced product design and application parameters for medical product and other designers and manufacturers.

Aug 18, 2008 - ZEOX Corporation: New Nanotechnology Breakthrough-Lipotrope®

SpecialChem ZEOX Performance Materials, LLC ("ZPM") under the leadership of Chief Technology Officer, Dr. David Chaiko, and his scientific team have developed a new class of surfactant technology based on a newly developed molecular structure known as Lipotrope®. Surfactants are surface active agents required in the chemical processing of many industrial products.

Aug 14, 2008 - Applied NanoWorks MCP Technology™ Platform Now Available

SpecialChem Applied NanoWorks announces the availability of MCP Technology™ for research and development, joint development agreements and material manufacturing applications. The MCP Technology™ patent-pending process creates new inorganic molecules for custom applications in organic material systems.

Aug 13, 2008 - Black Diamond Ski Boots Get a Colorful Lift from Clariant Masterbatches

SpecialChem When Black Diamond Equipment Ltd. began developing the first American-made ski boots to be introduced in 25 years, they wanted to use color to deliver a clear message: these are boots for skiers who are serious about performance, comfort and style. To get those colors right, and for help in turning their vision into reality, Black Diamond called on Clariant Masterbatches

Aug 12, 2008 - PolyOne Corporation Announces an Exclusive License Agreement with Battelle for Bio-Plasticizer Technology

SpecialChem PolyOne Corporation announced that it has entered into an exclusive license arrangement for a series of bio-based plasticizer technology patents owned by Battelle.

Aug 8, 2008 - PolyOne to Feature Expanded Portfolio at Fakuma 2008

SpecialChem PolyOne Corporation will be exhibiting its latest colorants, additives, engineered materials, services and solutions at the Fakuma 2008 exhibition (PolyOne: Hall 3 Stand 3214) October 14-18, 2008 in Friedrichshafen, Germany.

Aug 7, 2008 - SABIC Innovative Plastics Announces VDE Certification of 10 Flame-Retardant Materials for Household Appliance Applications

SpecialChem To help household appliance manufacturers accelerate time to market by streamlining regulatory approvals, SABIC Innovative Plastics announced a full portfolio of flame-retardant materials that have achieved certification from VDE (Verband der Elektrotechnik Elektronik Informationstechnik e.V), a German testing organization.

Aug 6, 2008 - PolyOne Corporation Announces an Exclusive License Agreement with Battelle for Bio-Plasticizer Technology

SpecialChem PolyOne Corporation, a premier provider of specialized polymer materials, services and solutions, announced that it has entered into an exclusive license arrangement for a series of bio-based plasticizer technology patents owned by Battelle.

Aug 5, 2008 - 'Small' Research at MSU Leads to Advances in Energy, Electronics

SpecialChem A Michigan State University researcher and his students have developed a nanomaterial that makes plastic stiffer, lighter and stronger and could result in more fuel-efficient airplanes and cars as well as more durable medical and sports equipment.

Aug 4, 2008 - DISPERBYK®-2155: 100% Solids Wetting and Dispersing Additive for Pigment Concentrates and Coatings

SpecialChem Growing environmental awareness leads to changes in coating formulations, and one way to fulfill stricter requirements is the swap to higher solids systems.

Aug 1, 2008 - Lubrizol to Close Canadian Additives Blending Facility

SpecialChem The Lubrizol Corporation announced its decision to close its Niagara Falls, Ontario facility, a Lubrizol Additives blending, packaging and warehouse site. After careful review of its operations and evaluation of different business strategies, the company determined that operation of the facility is not sustainable for the long term, under current and anticipated market conditions. Operations at the facility are expected to end by June 30, 2009. The Lubrizol Additives sales office in Oakville, Ontario and the Lubrizol Advanced Materials facility in Waterloo, Ontario will remain open.

Aug 1, 2008 - CrystalClear™ PET UV Absorber Eliminates the Unappealing "Yellow" Hue Characteristic in PET UV Plastic

SpecialChem Ampacet CrystalClear™ additive 603192-PT improves upon standard PET UV technology by delivering greater package clarity, lower cost, and all of the UV protection benefits that preserve product integrity, color, flavor and nutritional value.

Jul 31, 2008 - New Heavyweight Compounds from Clariant Give Plastic Parts a Metal-Like Feel

SpecialChem A family of "heavyweight" compounds from Clariant Masterbatches Specialty Compounding offers designers and manufacturers of personal care products a new alternative to metal in applications where the weight and other characteristics of metal are desirable. The new plastic materials can be made using standard processing methods, simplifying manufacturing and reducing total part pricing. Along with exciting special effects, and color and additive masterbatches for packaging applications, these compounds will be featured in Booth 1335 at the HBA Global Exposition.

Jul 30, 2008 - METabolic EXplorer Develops Industrial Biotechnology Processes to Produce Mass-market Bulk Chemicals

SpecialChem METabolic EXplorer is a green chemistry company based in Clermont-Ferrand (France) focused on industrial biotechnology processes development dedicated to be sustainable alternatives to fossil feedstock dependency (such as oil and natural gas).

Jul 29, 2008 - Diamant Corporation Announces Market Growth Statistics for the Alternative Degradable Plastics According to Notable Industry Study as Diamant's Plastic Bottle Biodegrading Additive Nears the Completion of Their Final Trials

SpecialChem Diamant Corporation is pleased to announce that according to an Industry Study named "Degradable Plastic to 2010," the demand for degradable plastic in the US is forecasted to expand nearly 17 percent yearly to 500 million pounds in 2010, valued at $610 million, as reported by Freedonia research company, a well known and respected research group.

Jul 28, 2008 - Rockwood Holdings to Acquire Holliday Pigments, Leading Producer of Ultramarine Blue

SpecialChem Rockwood Holdings, Inc. has announced that it has reached an agreement with Yule Catto & Co. plc to purchase Holliday Pigments, the leading global manufacturer of technical grade ultramarine and manganese violet pigments. The purchase price is approximately 46 million Euros.

Jul 24, 2008 - New Datacolor MATCH PIGMENT 2.0 Software Offers Superior Color Matching Solution for the Paint, Plastic and Ink Industry

SpecialChem Datacolor, a global leader in digital color management technology, announced it is introducing a new version of its popular MATCH PIGMENT® color management software for the Paint, Plastic, and Ink industries with the introduction of MATCH PIGMENT 2.0. The software includes a number of new technologies, including an advanced mathematical algorithm, which allows extremely accurate color matches even with difficult and complex circumstances such as transparent and translucent plastics.

Jul 23, 2008 - New Paradigm for Coloring Plastics: New System Manufacturer for Bayer MaterialScience's AURA® Infusion Technology

SpecialChem When manufacturers need vivid, captivating, customized color for parts, they turn to revolutionary AURA® infusion technology from Bayer MaterialScience LLC (BMS). Yet to use AURA infusion technology, manufacturers have traditionally had to ship stock to an off-site processor to be colored, then ship it back ... until now. AURA infusion technology is now available directly to OEMs thanks to a new licensing agreement with system design specialists Radco Industries of Toledo, Ohio.

Jul 22, 2008 - Dow Acquires Rohm and Haas, Creating World's Leading Specialty Chemicals and Advanced Materials Company

SpecialChem Dow and Rohm and Haas have announced a definitive agreement, under which Dow will acquire all outstanding shares of Rohm and Haas common stock for $78 per share in cash. The acquisition of Rohm and Haas will make Dow the world's leading specialty chemicals and advanced materials company, combining the two organizations' best-in-class technologies, broad geographic reach and strong industry channels to create an outstanding business portfolio with significant growth opportunities.

Jul 22, 2008 - It's Happening… New Foam Cell Stabilizer from Rohm and Haas is Revolutionizing Cellular PVC Trim Board Manufacturing

SpecialChem Specialty materials company Rohm and Haas announced a major innovation in additives for cellular PVC trim manufacture. Paraloid™ SureCel™ foam cell stabilizer is a completely new technology platform that offers free foam cellular PVC trim manufacturers exceptional benefits that aren't available from any other supplier or technology.

Jul 21, 2008 - Americhem's Unique Dispersion Technology Fuels Cocona's New 'Smart Fabric'

SpecialChem Americhem Inc., a global supplier of custom color and additive solutions for synthetic fibers and polymer products, has partnered with Cocona, Inc. to create a unique masterbatch of activated carbon. Fabrics made with nylon and polyester fibers containing this additive offer excellent moisture management and are cool and comfortable for athletes and active professionals.

Jul 18, 2008 - NaturalNano Confirms Use of Naturally Occurring Nano Materials

SpecialChem NaturalNano, Inc., a developer of advanced nanomaterials and extended release nanotechnologies, confirmed that the Company's innovative products are made with halloysite nanotubes (HNT™), a naturally occurring, non-toxic and environmentally-friendly nano material.

Jul 17, 2008 - Thermochromic Phenomena in Polymers - Available Now

SpecialChem Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Thermochromic Phenomena in Polymers" report to their offering.

Jul 16, 2008 - University City Science Center Welcomes R&D Green Materials

SpecialChem The University City Science Center, announced that R&D Green Materials, an emerging firm that will produce and market a variety of bio-based plastic materials using unique, green manufacturing processes, has established operations in the Science Center Incubator.

Jul 15, 2008 - Albemarle Acquires Full Ownership of Antioxidant Joint Ventures in China

SpecialChem Leading global specialty chemicals maker Albemarle Corporation has completed its acquisition of 100-percent ownership of two polymer additive joint ventures in China: Ningbo Jinhai Albemarle Chemical & Industry Co., Ltd. and Shanghai Jinhai Albemarle Fine Chemicals Co., Ltd.

Jul 14, 2008 - Americhem Offers Expanded Line of Color Solutions to the Pharmaceutical Packaging Industry

SpecialChem Americhem, Inc., a global supplier of custom color and additive solutions for polymer-based products, has long been a leading provider of color masterbatches for pharmaceutical applications. In fact, Americhem offers more colors for more polymers than any provider in the industry. These high-quality color masterbatches meet the strict lightfastness, UV protection, clarity, color, extractability and other requirements set for pharmaceutical bottles.

Jul 11, 2008 - Clariant Acquires Rite Systems/Ricon Colors to Strengthen Masterbatches’ North American Position

SpecialChem Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, announced that it has acquired the combined companies of Rite Systems, Inc. and Ricon Colors Inc., leading U.S. masterbatches suppliers with both liquid and solid masterbatches technology. The purchase substantially strengthens Clariant Masterbatches' market position in North America, a region offering important growth opportunities and a technologically demanding customer base. Terms of the agreement, that transferred the businesses effective July 1, were not disclosed.

Jul 10, 2008 - Black Pigments from BASF Reflect Long-Wave Solar Radiation – So Dark Surfaces Stay Much Cooler

SpecialChem Drivers who can't find a shady parking spot in the middle of summer know what to expect: the black instrument panel, seats and steering wheel grow unbearably hot in the scorching sun. Dark surfaces of building roofs and facades also attract the heat, but light surfaces remain distinctly cooler. The reason for this difference: dark surfaces absorb the incident sunlight and convert it into heat, while light surfaces reflect most of the incoming energy.

Jul 9, 2008 - Resilin: A New Biocompatible 'Rubber' Protein

SpecialChem CSIRO has developed a method to produce recombinant resilin proteins and technology to cross link them into insoluble materials, opening up a range of manufacturing opportunities.

Jul 8, 2008 - WACKER Honors Researchers for Developing Highly Reactive Alpha-Silanes

SpecialChem Wacker Chemie AG honored Dr. Volker Stanjek, Dr. Wolfram Schindler and Dr. Thomas Kammel with this year's "Alexander Wacker Innovation Award" for their pioneering work in organofunctional silanes and the development of silane-curing polymers. The researchers discovered that by changing certain structural elements, they could accelerate the chemical reactivity of silanes by a factor of 100 to 1,000.

Jul 8, 2008 - METabolic EXplorer Announces Significant Progress in its Collaborative Glycolic Acid Programme with Roquette

SpecialChem METabolic EXplorer, is a green chemistry company that specializes in the development of bioprocesses for the production of chemical compounds used in a wide range of everyday products - paints, solvents, adhesives, textile fibres, resorbable surgical thread, etc.-, announced a major development in its Glycolic Acid programme.

Jul 7, 2008 - BASF Plasticizer Hexamoll® DINCH Comes Out Ahead in Eco-Efficiency Analysis

SpecialChem The BASF product Hexamoll® DINCH has the highest eco-efficiency in a comparison of the top five non-phthalate plasticizers on the market today. So say the results of a BASF eco-efficiency analysis, verified by the impartial German organization TUV Rheinland.

Jul 7, 2008 - Natural, Renewable Additive Masterbatches Expand Clariant's "Green" Portfolio

SpecialChem Plastics product developers seeking additive masterbatches that are both biodegradable and renewable can now select several different functional ingredients in the new CESA®-natur product line from Clariant Masterbatches.