Weekly News Digest 3/13/2017

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Solvay introduces two new grades of PEEK for implantable devices

FDA approves cosmetics container made out of KW Plastics recycled polypropylene

Nexeo Solutions announces changes to its board of directors after member joins Trump White House

Teijin develops hard-coating technology for polycarbonate automotive glazing

Scientists at several universities working together develop new PE/iPP multiblock polymer

Weekly resin report: Commodity resin prices rise a penny

Nexeo Solutions purchases Mexican material distributor Ultra Chem

 

News Digest 3/6/2017

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PolyOne applies for patent on carbon nanotube reinforced plastic materials

Nexeo acquires part of German material distributor K.D. Feddersen Norden AB

NBD Nanotechnologies introduces new hydrophobic polymer additives

Weekly resin report: Polypropylene market resumes rally

PE, PP, PVC prices on the rise

PolyOne increases its credit line by $50 million

A. Schulman to open new distribution center in Stryker Ohio

 

My old BMW and it’s Painted Plastic Parts

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It had been many years since I had driven a car that was older than 3 years. Being in plastic material sales and in management positions for a number of years, I had company cars that were leased. Basically from 1990 until 2010 I leased 8 different cars on 2 to 3 year leases. Turn and burn, one after another.

In 2010, I was self employed and my finances had taken a hit from starting a company in September of 2008, right before the bottom fell out of the economy. The lease from my 2007 Infinity G35 was coming to an end. I thought about buying the Infiniti instead of turning it in, it had been an excellent car. However I decided to buy a car that I had desired for a while, a BMW 335i. I started hunting for a used one online and finally came across  a three year old example that was the exact car that I wanted at a dealer in San Francisco.

I planned, at the time, to keep the car for 3 to 4 years and then I would trade it in something else. Sometimes life gets in the way of our plans. I still have the car, now almost ten years old. It has been interesting driving a rather complex German car so far out of warranty. I wanted to talk about how it has held up.

Continue reading “My old BMW and it’s Painted Plastic Parts”

News Digest 2/27/2017

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Huntsman reports lower sales, higher profits for 2016

SABIC says that deliveries are improving but some customers disagree

Borealis sees a 10% increase in profits for 2016

Trex decking sees record increases in sales

New cyclo-olefin polymer grades target auto industry

Weekly resin report: Spot resin market cools, as buyers push back on price inflation

BASF sees lower earnings for 2016

PP & PE march into March with higher pricing

 

News Digest 2/20/2017

Citizen Kane

Solvay appoints new president to head up composite materials

Plastic electronics set to revolutionize products

Weekly resin report: Lackluster demand opens gap between buyer and seller price expectations

USI Group claims new cyclic block copolymers offer many advantages

Toyoba turning to foaming to reduce weight of plastic parts for automotive

Ohio recycler closes doors

 

What PEX Tubing and the Microwave Oven have in Common

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I have a friend that is in the pipe and pipe fitting business. He distributes copper and steel pipe and fittings for commercial and residential applications. He is convinced that PEX tubing is going to give everyone cancer and advises everyone not to use it. He also thinks that microwave ovens will give you cancer and won’t go near one, much less eat anything that was cooked in one.

If he knew how PEX was made, he’d be even more freaked out.

Continue reading “What PEX Tubing and the Microwave Oven have in Common”

ASA: The Lesser Known Cousin of ABS

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How exactly did the word cousin become synonymous with similarity? How many times have you heard someone refer to one thing being the close cousin to another thing like granite is a close cousin of marble or a planet in a distant solar system being Earth’s cousin? I don’t know about you but I am not that much like any of my cousins. Maybe it’s just me.

Anyway, you could say that ASA is a close cousin to ABS. ASA is ABS with one ingredient changed out.

Continue reading “ASA: The Lesser Known Cousin of ABS”