UK: Tioxide — TiO2

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bleaching for kraft pulp (Instead of chiorrne or chlonne oxides) for full-scale pulp productton Its 1993 output of thts product will be 315,ooO tonnes and the company IS now well placed to benefit from the expected rapid upsurge In European demand for totally chlortne-free (TCP) paper Sodra Cell now plans to Invest SKR 115 M wtth a view to reinforcrng Its claim that with ozone-based technology, the pulpmaker can keep the strength characteristics of standard pulp, at the same time as recyclrng 95% of effluent waste [Source Chim Oggi, 36 Aug 1993, 11(78) 58 & Paper (London), 1 Sep 1993, 218(g), 26 ] Uk Tloxide -

ting fluid, lubricant, plastrcrzer, anticorrosron grease, machine coolant, and skin 011 The Centre for Aerosol Technology at the Research Triangle lnstrtute has evaluated ethyl lactate for this duty, usrng coupons made from type 364 stainless steel This solvent IS made by fermenting sugar and IS an approved food addrtrve A combrnation of ultrasonic cleanrng wrth an ethyl lactate rinse wasfound to be more effecttve than the use of astandard electronic-grade solvent [Mlcrocontamrnatron, Nov 1993, 11 (lo), 271

Performance Flulds from 3M ORer an AlternatIve to CFCs

TiOz

In June, Troxide downgraded Its sulphate-route TIO* plant near Grrmsby from 160,886 tonnes/y to 70,006 tonnes/y, in response to prevailing market condrtrons More recently, the company has indicated that Grrmsby had been selected as the site for the addrtron of new capacity, presumably employing the company’s ICON chloride-route technology Grrmsby was apparently chosen for this venture after carefully studying all existing Tioxrde plant sites in Europe, as well as some greenfields stte options Firm commitment to the Gnmsby project will be declared when the market for TIO~ Improves [Source Eur Chem News, 19 July 1993, 66(1578), 381 Ethyl Lactate Proposed for Cleaning Metal Because of the phasing-out of halogenated solvents, there IS a need for alternatives for cleanrng the surfaces of precisronmade metal pans Common resrdual contaminants are mould release agent, cutapplied catalysis 8’ envlronmental

3M has developed a range of Performance Fluids, for use in crrtrcal precision cleaning processes, which contain neither chlorine nor bromine, and so do not contribute to depletion of the ozone layer Now available in production quantities, 3M Performance fluids are perfluorocarbons, developed specrfrcally as replacements for CFCs in applrcatrons that do not require a high degree of hydrocarbon solubrkty Under the terms of the Montreal Protocol, the supply of all CFCs has to be reduced by 85% in 1994, and will be completely phased out by the end of 1995 Performing as well as, and In many cases better than, conventional CFC cleanrng solutions, 3M Performance Fluids are rdealty surted to a whole range of precision cleaning applaatrons, from PCB assemblies, electronic media and complex components, medical and precision mechanical assemblies Chemically stable and non-flammable, these fluids offer most of the advantageous properties of CFCs, including high vapour pressure, low toxicity, high densrty and low surface tension, providing a practical and cost-effecttve altematrve to CFCs Volume 4 No 1 - 19 July 1994