Petrochemical GeneralNews PlasticRecycling 25-01-2021 - Arhive
Petrochemical GeneralNews PlasticRecycling
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-Celanese globally raises February prices for engineered materials
Celanese (Irving, Texas) says it will raise prices globally for its portfolio of engineered materials due to strengthening product demand and increased transportation, energy, and raw material costs, as per the company’s press release.
The price hike will be effective for orders shipped on or after 1 February 2021 or as contracts otherwise allow.
Nylon-6,6, polyphenylene, long-fiber thermoplastics, and amorphous products will be increased in price by USD0.30/kilogram (kg), while GUR – the trade name for its ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) product – will rise by USD0.25/kg. Nylon-6, polybutylene terephthalate, and polyoxymethylene products will each be increased by USD0.20/kg, with its technical thermoplastic elastomer product to rise by USD0.15/kg.
Individual grades may be subject to higher increases than the rises specified, the company said.
As MRC informed previously, in October, 2020, Celanese (Dallas, Texas) announced plans to add a 15,000-metric tons/year line for the production of GUR ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) at its facility in Bishop, Texas. Startup is expected by the beginning of 2022.
-Researchers develop recyclable composites
A WSU research team has created a recyclable carbon-fiber reinforced composite that could eventually replace the non-recyclable version used in everything from modern airplane wings and wind turbines to sporting goods.
Led by Jinwen Zhang, professor in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, researchers developed a recyclable material that is as strong as commonly used carbon-fiber composites and can also be broken down in very hot water within a pressure vessel.
The new material could be easily substituted into current manufacturing processes. The research team, including scientists from the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, report on their work in the journal, Macromolecular Rapid Communications.
-Biodegradability of plastics in the open environment
Biodegradable plastics are not a ‘silver bullet’ to solve the problem of plastic pollution – it would be better to reduce the amount of plastic we use, or to promote reuse and recycling
bop-coverPlastic pollution is a worldwide problem, and it is still growing. Each year, more and more plastic ends up in the natural environment, raising concerns of risk to the environment, animal and human health.
Biodegradable plastics have a specific role to play in reducing the accumulation of plastics in the environment.
Replacing conventional plastic with biodegradable plastic can help with applications in the open environment — such as agriculture and fisheries, or plastics in fireworks — and where it is difficult or expensive to remove it from the environment. Biodegradable plastics that are designed for industrial composting can also bring benefits in a waste system that is well-managed to ensure this happens.
-ITMA 2023 to highlight innovative shift of industry
ITMA, the world’s largest textile and garment technology showcase, has announced that it will continue to present and share innovative manufacturing technology and materials with the industry at its 19th edition in Milan. ITMA 2023 will feature the theme, ‘Transforming the World of Textiles’ and will be held from June 8-14, 2023 at Fiera Milano Rho, Milan.
The exhibition will be supported by four sub-themes: advanced materials, automation and digital future, innovative technologies, and sustainability and circularity.
“ITMA 2023 will highlight innovations and new approaches that serve as catalysts to inspire and help textile and garment manufacturers grow their business, scale and sustain their transformation journey,” Ernesto Maurer, president of Cematex, the European Committee of textile machinery manufacturers, which owns the ITMA exhibition, said in a press release.
-China’s Fujian Billion starts up Quanzhou PTA unit
Chinese polyester producer Fujian Billion is starting up its new 2.5mn t/yr purified terephthalic acid (PTA) unit at Quanzhou in southeast China’s Fujian province.
Feedstock paraxylene was fed into one of the unit’s two production trains today, while the second train will start up in early February. Fujian Billion targets to have on-specification production within a few days.
The PTA unit is located in the Quangang district of Quanzhou city, 50km northeast of Fujian Billion’s existing polyester production base in Fujian. Construction started in March 2019 with an initial completion target of August 2020. But disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic delayed the completion by two to three months.
-Optimism and caution prevail, entering into 2021
The automotive and mobility technology suppliers have started the year 2021 with mixed feelings of optimism and caution. Optimism, because demand for vehicles and components is picking up more rapidly than expected and the appetite for new, innovative technologies is accelerating. Caution, because the scars from 2020 are deep and the level of uncertainty remains high.
What are the threats and opportunities for the automotive and mobility technology sector in 2021? We’ve listed five themes that will play a key role in shaping the recovery:
Thorsten Muschal, member of the management of Faurecia and CLEPA President comments on the supply industry’s outlook on the new year: “COVID-19 has hit the automotive supply industry particularly hard and the impact of the crisis will remain a major factor in the new year.
-Dow to collaborate on closing plastics packaging loop in China
Dow is to work with laundry brand Liby and environmental tech company Lovere on addressing plastics packaging waste and promoting a circular plastics economy in China.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the three companies is to focus on keeping plastics out of the environment, increasing collective impact through partnerships, and delivering circular economy solutions.
The companies plan to collaborate on achieving these aims in three areas – designing for recyclability, collection of waste, and reusing or recycling plastics waste.
They have also committed to implementing content marketing as a tool in getting more end-consumers to understand the value of recyclable packaging and the concept of a circular economy.
Under the terms of the MoU, Dow’s Innate tenter frame, biaxially oriented PE (BOPE) based and all-PE packaging will be applied to a number of Liby product lines – expanding its fully recyclable packaging applications.
-EuPC warns of ‘alarming increase’ in Force Majeure declarations
The EU market for polymers is under pressure
A repeat of the Force Majeure crisis of 2015 is concerning the polymer industry after what the European Plastics Converters association (EuPC) called “an alarming increase in issued declarations by numerous polymer producers towards the end of 2020”.
EuPC formed the Polymers for Europe Alliance in 2015 due to the shortage of polymers for converters in Europe. Its objective is to build and maintain good communications between suppliers and customers of polymers and additives in Europe.
The Alliance’s monitoring of Force Majeure declarations globally has shown a significant rise in recent months, with the supply situation for polyolefins and PVC worsening significantly. This is making it difficult for converting companies to get the necessary material to keep their production running.
-Keg producer OneCircle in recycling firm deal
Plastics keg producer OneCircle is building on its commitment to the circular economy after announcing a tie-up with fellow Dutch company Kwaliflex Food Recycling.
Under the terms of the deal, Kwaliflex – which converts residual waste streams from the food and beverage industry – will recycle used KeyKegs, OneCircle’s PET keg range.
Alongside its food and beverage processing, Kwaliflex has invested in the recycling of the associated food and beverage packaging by designing dedicated machinery and building up a network of material recyclers for further material processing. Today, almost 100 per cent of all of its incoming goods are captured for reuse.
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