Polymers
Cytec aims to sell coating resins business this year
Cytec Industries has begun a formal sale process for its coating resins business, the US-based specialty materials company said on Monday. Cytec does not intend to give further updates on the sale process until a transaction is announced, which is estimated to occur later in 2012.
Fluor finishes China polysilicon plant for LDK Solar
Fluor Corp. has completed construction for LDK Solar’s polysilicon plant in Xinyu City, China, one of the largest such production facility in the world. Fluor said it continues to provide debottlenecking services at the plant and is implementing new technologies to increase production.
Albemarle to shutter phosphorous product lines
Albemarle said Thursday that it plans to exit its existing phosphorous flame retardants business, citing a need to restructure its business portfolio and address underperforming assets. Production at both facilities will cease upon completion of customer contracts, according to the company.
Nalco to build dry polymer plant at Louisiana facility
Nalco announced the construction of a new dry polymer production facility at the company’s complex in Garyville, La. Construction of the facility is expected to be completed in December 2012. The plant is expected add 22 full-time positions to the company’s current Garyville workforce of 235 employees.
NOVA to sell North American styrenics unit to PFB
PFB Corp. has agreed to acquire performance styrenics business of Canada’s NOVA Chemicals, including the expandable polystyrene (EPS) and ARCEL resin products. PFB says the acquisition will underpin a vertically-integrated, construction-materials focused product offering in the US.
Eastman finishes retrofit, startup of newly-acquired plasticizer plant in Texas
Eastman Chemical has completed the retrofit and startup of its non-phthalate plasticizer manufacturing facility in Texas City, Texas. Eastman, which purchased the former Sterling Chemicals plant in mid-2011, said further capacity additions were possible with minimal investment.
BASF acquires Brazil polyamide polymer business
BASF on Thursday struck a deal to buy the polyamide (PA) polymer business of Mazzaferro Group in Brazil. The deal includes the site and production facilities for the PA 6 product range, as well as engineering plastics compounds at São Bernardo do Campo in the metropolitan area of São Paulo.
Control moisture problems in slurry-based polyolefin operations
Proper moisture removal from the polymerization-reaction medium is key to successfully operating a HDPE plant designed on low-pressure, slurry-process technology.
2012 petrochemical outlook: Middle East
Most of the Middle Eastern countries are looking to expand further into downstream petrochemicals as opposed to exporting the building blocks.
2012 petrochemical outlook: United States
The boom in oil and gas is creating both demand side (e.g., pipe mills, oilfield machinery) and supply-side (e.g., chemicals, fertilizers, direct iron reduction) opportunities.
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