Commodity Resins

Automotive

PP Compounds Used in First Thermoplastic Lift Gate in New Renault Clio

WEB EXCLUSIVE: The new Renault Clio sports what’s said to be the first all-thermoplastic, mono-material lift gate on a commercial vehicle.

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New Plastic ‘Lumber’ Uses No Wood

Intended to expand the property profile and application potential of polymeric wood substitutes, a new technology is available for license to make lightweight plastic lumber-type products that contain no wood fiber.

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polyolefins

PP, PS, PVC Prices Up, But Not for Long

A soft landing is expected for the four commodity thermoplastics as the year comes to an end.

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polyolefins

Resin Prices Go Up, Down and Sideways

Tight resin inventories and upward pressure from feedstocks were two factors pushing prices of PE, PP, and PVC higher last month.

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polyolefins

Surlyn Ionomer Overmolding of Cosmetic Jar Has Distinctive Printing Effect

WEB EXCLUSIVE: The kaleidoscopic visual appeal of Surlyn ionomer from DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers, Wilmington, Del., was exemplified last month at Luxe Pack 2012 in Monaco by Italian cosmetics packaging designer Lucchese Design.

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Commodity Resins

PE , PS , PVC Prices Rise While PP Tabs Dip

Prices of PE and PS rose in August, and PVC prices were set to move up this month, while PP prices did the reverse.

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Commodity Resins

Commodity Resin Prices Still Dropping - July 2012

Lower feedstock costs, ample material availability, and overall sluggish demand has driven prices down for the four commodity thermoplastics.

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Biopolymers

Algae/PP Hybrid Can Be Thermoformed

Algae and plastics do mix—that’s the message to be delivered at the upcoming Pack Expo, Oct. 28-31 at Chicago’s McCormick Place.

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Medical

Glass-Like Colored COC for Pharma Packaging, Medical Devices

WEB EXCLUSIVE: A collaboration between Clariant Masterbatches, Holden, Mass., and Topas Advanced Polymers, Florence, Ky., is bringing bright, clear colors to pharmaceutical packaging and medical devices made of TOPAS cyclic olefin copolymer (COC). Clariant’s new precolored compounds and color concentrates are part of the Mevopur family of products developed for companies whose applications require risk control, product consistency, and regulatory compliance. “Topas COC has become the material of choice for pharmaceutical packaging and medical devices,” says Barbara Canale, healthcare market-development manager for Topas Advanced Polymers. “It offers high shine even in thick sections and, unlike resins such as polycarbonate and polyester, has a non-reactive surface.

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Commodity Resins

Resin Prices Still Heading South

A sharp decline in U.S. energy prices and tabs for all key feedstocks, along with dismal-to-lackluster domestic and global demand, have brought significantly more attractive pricing for the four commodity thermoplastics and downward movement for four high-volume engineering resins.

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Process Cooling
Plastics Size Reduction