Plastopedia

With US ethylene production shifting to lighter feedstocks, pressure is on propylene supply, forcing prices higher with little sign of increased avilability

US propylene prices began 2011 on a sharp upwards trend, after a surge in spot prices in December paved the way for a large contract increase in January, and opened the door for a contentious and drawn-out settlement process.

Researchers at Rice University have created a synthetic material that gets stronger from repeated stress much like the body strengthens bones and muscles after repeated workouts.Work by the Rice lab of Pulickel Ajayan, professor in mechanical engineering and materials science and of chemistry, shows the potential of stiffening polymer-based nanocomposites with carbon nanotube fillers.

A research team at Rice University in Houston has created a carbon nanotube-reinforced polymer composite that displays improving stiffness when exposed to cyclical strains.The findings, reported in the ACS Nano journal, are surprising because – unlike metals – the stiffness properties of polymers typically degenerate in repeated high-cycle strain tests. The researchers attribute the unusual behavior to the interaction at the dynamic interface between the carbon nanotube (CNT) and the polymer matrix.

Cereplast, Inc. (NASDAQ: CERP), a leading manufacturer of proprietary bio-based, compostable and sustainable plastics, announced today that it has entered into a distribution agreement with DMT Plasticolor to supply Cereplast bioplastic resins to the Croatian marketplace. This agreement is the fourth contract that Cereplast has entered in to in 2011 and reflects a continuing surge in demand for bioplastic resin across the pan-European marketplace.

Barclays Corporate has provided a £1m commercial mortgage facility to speciality compounds manufacturer Colloids. The deal will enable the business to purchase the premises from which it currently operates.

Shell is expected to keep shut its 800,000 tonne/year mixed-feed cracker in Pulau Bukom, Singapore, for 10 days following operational issues at the facility on 18 March, market sources said on Monday. The cracker was shut at 21:00 hours Singapore time (13:00 GMT) on Friday due to a compressor issue, traders said. The cracker had recently completed a turnaround and was restarted over the weekend of 12-13 March.

The effect of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami on materials markets is explored in this week’s Material Insights video.The March 11 quake has led some makers of plastic resins and feedstocks to close their plants or reduce operating rates. Materials affected include PVC resin and ethylene and propylene monomer. A bigger impact may be on logistics in the region, since Japan’s northern region — which has been most affected — is less populated and industrialized than the rest of the company, according to industry consultant Balaji Singh.

The massive earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan March 11 has disrupted production of some plastic materials and products.More than 5,000 deaths and 2,000 injuries had been reported from the 9.0 magnitude quake as of March 17. The epicenter of the quake was located about 80 miles off the east coast of northern Japan, roughly 200 miles away from Tokyo.

Materials firm ATC Plastics LLC plans to add at least one extrusion line at its Houston plant in the next 12-18 months to handle new demand.

PepsiCo has introduced its answer to Coca-Cola’s PlantBottle – a PET bottle made completely from plant-based materials. By comparison, Coke’s PlantBottle, introduced in 2009, sources 30% of its material from plants.

PepsiCo has introduced its answer to Coca-Cola Co.’s PlantBottle -- a PET bottle made completely from plant-based materials.By comparison, Coke’s PlantBottle, introduced in 2009, sources 30 percent of its material from plants.

Using a type of 3D printing technique called additive layer manufacturing (ALM), a high power laser is fired from above to melt a powdered material in a container. As the laser marks out a pre-programmed shape in the powder, the melted nylon solidifies making the first layer of the object that is to be printed.
The machine then sprinkles another layer of powder on top and the laser makes another pass, allowing progressive layers of the object to be built up. The printer eventually creates a 3D object - even including functional moving parts - that has been built layer by layer from scratch.