Polymers
BASF, Alpek agree to swap EPS, polyurethane business in Americas
Alpek will acquire all of Polioles’ EPS business activities, including its EPS production site in Altamira, Mexico. In parallel, BASF will acquire Polioles’ PU business activities, including selected assets in its Lerma facility as well as all marketing and selling rights for PU systems, isocyanates and polyols.
HP Global: The reshaping of Latin America’s petrochemical industry
Latin American economies continue to grow. Fig. 1 shows the gross domestic product (GDP) growth rates from 2010 through 2018 for this region. Brazil accounts for 35% of the total GDP growth. For the p..
HP Petrochemicals: Major US players turn focus to propane dehydrogenation
As of today, seven projects have been proposed in the field of propane dehydrogenation (PDH), which can convert propane into propylene as well as the byproduct hydrogen.
China to build crude MDI plant for polyurethanes with BASF, Huntsman
With the new plant, the MDI capacity will be doubled to 480,000 tpy. In addition, the partners plan to build a HCl (hydrogen chloride) recycling plant for the production of chlorine, a precursor for MDI.
INEOS acquires BASF share in global styrenics JV
Styrolution was founded in October 2011 as a 50-50 joint venture between BASF and INEOS, and is the leading global styrenics supplier, according to company officials.
Braskem to build new polyethylene plant at Texas Gulf Coast complex
The new plant in Texas will manufacture ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), making it the first time for Braskem to produce UHMWPE outside of its home base in Brazil.
Sasol, INEOS approve construction of new Texas polyethylene facility
INEOS will operate the new high-density polyethylene plant at its Battleground manufacturing complex in La Porte, Texas. Plant start-up is expected in the 2016 calendar year.
A chemist’s perspective on organic fouling in ethylene operations
Since organic fouling cannot be completely eliminated, ethylene producers must use operational, chemical and mechanical methods to minimize heat transfer losses and equipment downtime.
HP Petrochemicals: Future vehicle design will need collaboration among HPI and auto manufacturers
The US automotive market is under stress to meet new corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) targets of 50 mpg for 2025 model vehicles. The tighter fuel specifications will bring together automobile man..
Westlake Chemical buys German PVC firm Vinnolit
Vinnolit is an integrated global provider of specialty polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resins. The acquisition price of €490 million will be financed using existing Westlake cash and credit facilities.
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