- Email: [email protected]
Showa Denko focuses on 150 nm carbon nanotube grade for composite applications
MATERIALS
metamerism or how different light sources can change the way colour is perceived; how viewing angle and surface texture or gloss can impact what is seen; and how specific polymers can respond differently to colour. ‘Color 202: The Observer’ delves further into three elements of colour vision – the light source, the object being viewed and the eye of the beholder. This unit examines the workings of the human eye, wavelength variation and various instruments available for colour analysis. According to Clariant, these first two sessions are aimed primarily at a design audience, including those individuals who want to know how to use and control colour in a plastic product or package to capture consumer attention. The third and fourth modules address the ‘technical intricacies of different types of colour and their performance in manufacturing’, the company says. ‘Color 303: Pigments’ introduces participants to the different kinds of colorant, including organic and inorganic pigments, dyes and special effects. It examines what the various materials can and cannot do, how two or more colours can be combined to create a third, and how particle size, shape and other factors influence the development of colour in plastics. In the final module – ‘Color 404: Design’ – the ColorWorks instructors cover the interaction of colorants and different polymers under processing conditions; why some dyes migrate to the surface of certain plastics; how the clarity of some resins can be preserved; which colorants are most temperature- and light-stable; and how additives can be used to improve performance. Construction of the newest ColorWorks site is underway at Clariant Masterbatches’ West Chicago facility. Besides West Chicago and Holden, the company has a third US ColorWorks centre in New York City, as well as others globally at Merate in Italy, Sao Paulo in Brazil, Singapore and Taiwan. Contact: Clariant Masterbatches Division, Muttenz, Switzerland. Tel: +41 61 469 6170, Web: www.clariant.masterbatches.com
Elevance Renewable and hte collaborate to develop bio-based lubricants for polymers
G
erman high throughput experimentation company hte AG and US renewable
September 2012
speciality chemicals firm Elevance Renewable Sciences Inc have formed a research collaboration for the development of bio-based speciality lubricants. The initial emphasis of the development work is on applications in polymers and lubricant base oils, the partners say. The collaborative scheme utilizes the multifold high throughput autoclave testing unit developed in-house by hte at its Heidelberg facility, as well as the company’s statistical Design of Experiments (DoE) to assess performance across the process parameters. The use of high throughput techniques allows the research project to be performed faster than with the conventional approach. ‘The research collaboration with Elevance Renewable Sciences … allowed both parties to make use of the advantages of high throughput technologies for the development of renewable speciality lubricants. This ensures rapid knowledge transfer, which accelerates market introduction of innovative products’, remarks Dirk Demuth, CEO at hte. Commenting for Elevance, COO Mel Luetkens says the company is ‘pleased with the progress of the collaboration’ and looks forward to investigating other research opportunities. Launched in 2008, Elevance Renewable Sciences uses olefin metathesis technology to convert natural oils into high-performance ingredients for use in personal care products, detergents, fuels, lubricants and other speciality chemicals markets. Contact: Elevance Renewable Sciences Inc, 2501 Davey Road, Woodridge, IL 60517, USA. Tel: +1 630 633 7214, Fax: +1 630 633 7295, Web: www.elevance.com Or contact: hte AG, Kurpfalzring 104, 69123 Heidelberg, Germany. Tel: +49 62 2174 970, Fax: +49 62 2174 97137, Web: www.hte-company.com
Showa Denko focuses on 150 nm carbon nanotube grade for composite applications
I
n Japan, Showa Denko KK (SDK) has decided to focus on its VGCFTM-H grade of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in an effort to strengthen its CNT business for resin composite applications. The grade, which has a fibre diameter of approximately 150 nm, is additionally used as
Additives for Polymers
3
STRATEGIES
an additive in lithium-ion rechargeable batteries and the company says it also intends to continue expanding its business in that sector. As a result of this strategic decision, the reasons for which have not been disclosed, SDK will cease marketing its VGCFTM-X grade, which was developed specifically for resin composite applications [ADPO, March 2009]. With a fibre diameter of about 15 nm, the finer grade has ‘been evaluated by potential customers’, according to SDK, but presumably the uptake did not meet its expectations. The company reports that it has already closed the dedicated 400 tonnes/year production facility for VGCFTM-X at its Oita Complex [ibid, June 2010] due to the decision to focus on the VGCFTM-H grade. SDK recorded a loss for the impairment of fixed assets in the second quarter of 2012 in relation to the VGCFTM-X facility shutdown. The company manufactures the VGCFTM-H CNT grade at its Kawasaki plant, where it currently has installed production capacity of 200 tonnes/year.
will provide industry with high-quality nano commodities that can significantly reduce product manufacturing costs and the environmental footprint of such products, while also increasing product durability and improving manufacturing efficiencies at the same time’, explains Klean’s CEO Jesse Klinkhamer. Klean Carbon’s products are reported to be suitable for use in many different industrial applications including: advanced resins, flexible film packaging applications, solar power films, nanoplastics, advanced rubber compounds, touch screen devices, and industrial and performance coatings. The materials are said to provide improved thermal, mechanical, tensile or protective properties compared to traditional industrial materials. Klean Industries is a vertically integrated industrial energy solutions company focused on turning waste streams into domestic energy and sustainable green commodities. It describes new subsidiary Klean Carbon as being engaged in ‘the manufacture, distribution, import and export of sustainable high-grade commodities and chemical raw materials’.
Contact: Showa Denko, Tokyo, Japan. Tel: +81 3 5470 3235, Web: www.sdk.co.jp
Contact: Klean Industries Inc, #3038 - 349 West Georgia St, Vancouver, BC V6B 3X5, Canada. Tel/Fax: +1 604 637 9609, Web: www.kleanindustries.com or www.kleancarbon.com
Klean commences production of nano carbon products from waste and scrap
V
ancouver, Canada-based Klean Industries Inc has commenced full-scale production of highgrade carbon nanotubes and fullerenes using feedstock derived from the pyrolysis of waste and scrap tyres. The company has also formed fully owned subsidiary Klean Carbon, to produce and market the advanced nano carbon products. The firm claims to be the first to commercially massproduce nano carbons from scrap tyres. Klean uses a patented advanced thermal treatment technology developed in Japan, and reports that it has been developing facilities that can process in excess of 250 tonnes per day of high carbon content feedstock into nanomaterials using this technology. ‘We take the carbonized materials and pass it through a multistage process unique to Klean that removes any impurities by using patented technologies. The materials we produce
4
Additives for Polymers
COMPANY STRATEGIES Arkema pursues divestment of tin stabilizer business; reports 15% sales rise
A
fter several months of speculation and rumour, French chemicals major Arkema has confirmed that it plans to sell its tin stabilizer business. The company intends to divest the operation to PMC Group, a producer of performance chemicals and plastics headquartered in Mount Laurel, NJ, USA. The move is part of a refocusing of Arkema’s activities on fast-growing core speciality businesses. The proposed divestment of organometallic products includes Arkema’s Thermolite® tin stabilizers, Fascat® catalysts and fine chemicals. Based on tin chemistry, Thermolite heat stabilizers are used to prevent heat-
September 2012
metamerism or how different light sources can change the way colour is perceived; how viewing angle and surface texture or gloss can impact what is seen; and how specific polymers can respond differently to colour. ‘Color 202: The Observer’ delves further into three elements of colour vision – the light source, the object being viewed and the eye of the beholder. This unit examines the workings of the human eye, wavelength variation and various instruments available for colour analysis. According to Clariant, these first two sessions are aimed primarily at a design audience, including those individuals who want to know how to use and control colour in a plastic product or package to capture consumer attention. The third and fourth modules address the ‘technical intricacies of different types of colour and their performance in manufacturing’, the company says. ‘Color 303: Pigments’ introduces participants to the different kinds of colorant, including organic and inorganic pigments, dyes and special effects. It examines what the various materials can and cannot do, how two or more colours can be combined to create a third, and how particle size, shape and other factors influence the development of colour in plastics. In the final module – ‘Color 404: Design’ – the ColorWorks instructors cover the interaction of colorants and different polymers under processing conditions; why some dyes migrate to the surface of certain plastics; how the clarity of some resins can be preserved; which colorants are most temperature- and light-stable; and how additives can be used to improve performance. Construction of the newest ColorWorks site is underway at Clariant Masterbatches’ West Chicago facility. Besides West Chicago and Holden, the company has a third US ColorWorks centre in New York City, as well as others globally at Merate in Italy, Sao Paulo in Brazil, Singapore and Taiwan. Contact: Clariant Masterbatches Division, Muttenz, Switzerland. Tel: +41 61 469 6170, Web: www.clariant.masterbatches.com
Elevance Renewable and hte collaborate to develop bio-based lubricants for polymers
G
erman high throughput experimentation company hte AG and US renewable
September 2012
speciality chemicals firm Elevance Renewable Sciences Inc have formed a research collaboration for the development of bio-based speciality lubricants. The initial emphasis of the development work is on applications in polymers and lubricant base oils, the partners say. The collaborative scheme utilizes the multifold high throughput autoclave testing unit developed in-house by hte at its Heidelberg facility, as well as the company’s statistical Design of Experiments (DoE) to assess performance across the process parameters. The use of high throughput techniques allows the research project to be performed faster than with the conventional approach. ‘The research collaboration with Elevance Renewable Sciences … allowed both parties to make use of the advantages of high throughput technologies for the development of renewable speciality lubricants. This ensures rapid knowledge transfer, which accelerates market introduction of innovative products’, remarks Dirk Demuth, CEO at hte. Commenting for Elevance, COO Mel Luetkens says the company is ‘pleased with the progress of the collaboration’ and looks forward to investigating other research opportunities. Launched in 2008, Elevance Renewable Sciences uses olefin metathesis technology to convert natural oils into high-performance ingredients for use in personal care products, detergents, fuels, lubricants and other speciality chemicals markets. Contact: Elevance Renewable Sciences Inc, 2501 Davey Road, Woodridge, IL 60517, USA. Tel: +1 630 633 7214, Fax: +1 630 633 7295, Web: www.elevance.com Or contact: hte AG, Kurpfalzring 104, 69123 Heidelberg, Germany. Tel: +49 62 2174 970, Fax: +49 62 2174 97137, Web: www.hte-company.com
Showa Denko focuses on 150 nm carbon nanotube grade for composite applications
I
n Japan, Showa Denko KK (SDK) has decided to focus on its VGCFTM-H grade of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in an effort to strengthen its CNT business for resin composite applications. The grade, which has a fibre diameter of approximately 150 nm, is additionally used as
Additives for Polymers
3
STRATEGIES
an additive in lithium-ion rechargeable batteries and the company says it also intends to continue expanding its business in that sector. As a result of this strategic decision, the reasons for which have not been disclosed, SDK will cease marketing its VGCFTM-X grade, which was developed specifically for resin composite applications [ADPO, March 2009]. With a fibre diameter of about 15 nm, the finer grade has ‘been evaluated by potential customers’, according to SDK, but presumably the uptake did not meet its expectations. The company reports that it has already closed the dedicated 400 tonnes/year production facility for VGCFTM-X at its Oita Complex [ibid, June 2010] due to the decision to focus on the VGCFTM-H grade. SDK recorded a loss for the impairment of fixed assets in the second quarter of 2012 in relation to the VGCFTM-X facility shutdown. The company manufactures the VGCFTM-H CNT grade at its Kawasaki plant, where it currently has installed production capacity of 200 tonnes/year.
will provide industry with high-quality nano commodities that can significantly reduce product manufacturing costs and the environmental footprint of such products, while also increasing product durability and improving manufacturing efficiencies at the same time’, explains Klean’s CEO Jesse Klinkhamer. Klean Carbon’s products are reported to be suitable for use in many different industrial applications including: advanced resins, flexible film packaging applications, solar power films, nanoplastics, advanced rubber compounds, touch screen devices, and industrial and performance coatings. The materials are said to provide improved thermal, mechanical, tensile or protective properties compared to traditional industrial materials. Klean Industries is a vertically integrated industrial energy solutions company focused on turning waste streams into domestic energy and sustainable green commodities. It describes new subsidiary Klean Carbon as being engaged in ‘the manufacture, distribution, import and export of sustainable high-grade commodities and chemical raw materials’.
Contact: Showa Denko, Tokyo, Japan. Tel: +81 3 5470 3235, Web: www.sdk.co.jp
Contact: Klean Industries Inc, #3038 - 349 West Georgia St, Vancouver, BC V6B 3X5, Canada. Tel/Fax: +1 604 637 9609, Web: www.kleanindustries.com or www.kleancarbon.com
Klean commences production of nano carbon products from waste and scrap
V
ancouver, Canada-based Klean Industries Inc has commenced full-scale production of highgrade carbon nanotubes and fullerenes using feedstock derived from the pyrolysis of waste and scrap tyres. The company has also formed fully owned subsidiary Klean Carbon, to produce and market the advanced nano carbon products. The firm claims to be the first to commercially massproduce nano carbons from scrap tyres. Klean uses a patented advanced thermal treatment technology developed in Japan, and reports that it has been developing facilities that can process in excess of 250 tonnes per day of high carbon content feedstock into nanomaterials using this technology. ‘We take the carbonized materials and pass it through a multistage process unique to Klean that removes any impurities by using patented technologies. The materials we produce
4
Additives for Polymers
COMPANY STRATEGIES Arkema pursues divestment of tin stabilizer business; reports 15% sales rise
A
fter several months of speculation and rumour, French chemicals major Arkema has confirmed that it plans to sell its tin stabilizer business. The company intends to divest the operation to PMC Group, a producer of performance chemicals and plastics headquartered in Mount Laurel, NJ, USA. The move is part of a refocusing of Arkema’s activities on fast-growing core speciality businesses. The proposed divestment of organometallic products includes Arkema’s Thermolite® tin stabilizers, Fascat® catalysts and fine chemicals. Based on tin chemistry, Thermolite heat stabilizers are used to prevent heat-
September 2012