Ref: http://www.yourmetalnews.com
Monday, Jul 20, 2009
Launched in March 2009, Rilsan® HT for extrusion is the first flexible high-temperature thermoplastic to replace metal in high-temperature applications. Today, Arkema unveils Rilsan® HT injection resins. The Rilsan® HT range is now the first complete polyphtalamide (PPA)-based product line suitable for all process technologies, ranging from extrusion to blow or injection molding. Rilsan® HT resins are up to 70% bio-based and match the increasing environmental commitment of many industries.
PPA-based injection resins in automotive applications have increasingly replaced metal parts as a way to optimize costs, reduce emissions and weight, improve fuel economy and extend car life. Until now, PPA-based injection resins were more difficult and costly to process when compared to aliphatic high-performance polyamides.
Rilsan® HT offers easy processing and cost-efficient manufacturing
Rilsan® HT is the only PPA-based injection resin that offers processing characteristics similar to those of aliphatic high-performance polyamides. With mold temperatures close to those of PA12 and PA11, Rilsan® HT can be easily processed on standard injection-molding equipment using conventional water-cooled temperature control. Moreover, Rilsan® HT can be processed in injection molds designed for PA12 and PA11 thanks to similar mold shrinkage properties.
Unlike conventional PPA-based resins, Rilsan® HT has very low moisture uptake, which provides multiple benefits in manufacture and applications. Low moisture pickup means that Rilsan® HT resin is easily stored and requires no supplemental steps before processing. Low moisture absorption makes the resin easy to process and handle, and imparts reliable uniformity to the finished parts’ properties, which avoids further downstream processing and limits waste. The finished parts exhibit excellent dimensional stability.
Rilsan® HT builds its own class among the PPA polymers
Rilsan® HT injection grades have exceptional ductility not found in typical semi-aromatic injection resins. Thus Rilsan® HT resins deliver a designer-friendly balance of toughness, strength and elongation and reduce the risk of failures that can occur with brittle plastics, such as conventional PPA-based injection materials or PPS.
Conductivity combined with ductility make Rilsan® HT the first conductive PPA-based injection resin that perfectly balances high temperature resistance and excellent mechanical properties with conductivity – making it well suited for fuel system applications where conductivity is specifically required, as it is in the North American market.
Furthermore, Rilsan® HT is the only PPA-based injection resin that can be easily spin-welded with aliphatic high performance polyamides, a completely new processing feature for this material group. This offers further component integration and addresses the enhanced safety and emission standards of pipe connections in fuel-conducting systems.
Rilsan® HT injection grades - glass-fiber reinforced or formulated for conductivity - are ideally suited for metal replacement in fuel system applications requiring low permeation, low swelling and high thermal resistance. And the suitability of the injection grade for quick-connectors and other temperature resistant parts extends to powertrain components including those integrated with Rilsan® HT flexible tubing.
Rilsan® HT allows you to benefit from renewable materials
Largely derived from renewable non-food-crop vegetable feedstock, Rilsan® HT is a durable high-temperature thermoplastic containing up to 70% renewable carbon. Rilsan® HT offers a significant reduction in CO2 emissions compared to conventional petroleum-based high-temperature plastics, a reduced dependence on oil resources and a perfect fit with the eco-design concepts of many vehicle manufacturers.
With global brands like Rilsan® and Pebax®, unique products from renewable resources like Rilsan® Polyamide 11, Rilsan® HT, Pebax® Rnew and Platamid® Rnew, and leading capacities in Rilsan® Polyamide 11 and 12, Arkema’s Technical Polymers activity stands out in the industry by providing its customers with global coverage and superior regional service from production facilities and research centers in Europe, Asia, and the USA. Arkema has more than 30 years of experience and innovation serving the Automotive Industry, offering a wide range of advanced materials designed to match current and future specifications. Arkema’s Technical Polymers business is the acknowledged leader in bio-based high performance polyamides such as renowned Rilsan® Polyamide 11.
A global chemical company and France’s leading chemicals producer, Arkema consists of three businesses: Vinyl Products, Industrial Chemicals, and Performance Products. Arkema reported sales of 5.6 billion euros in 2007. Arkema has 15,000 employees in over 40 countries and six research centers located in France, the United States and Japan. With internationally recognized brands, Arkema holds leadership positions in its principal markets.
2009年7月28日
乙烯大跌 台塑台聚笑
【經濟日報╱記者吳秉鍇／高雄報導】 2009.07.18 03:30 am
亞洲乙烯現貨價創近九個月來新高後，近日行情急轉直下，貿易商報價由高點每公噸1,100美元大挫至900美元，價差高達18%，確立跌勢成形。
台聚集團表示，由於有貿易商準備引進美國低價原料至亞洲套利，加上相關輕裂廠復工，造成價格立刻大跌。
法人表示，乙烯現貨開價大跌，反觀本周下游衍生品包括PE、PVC等現貨價格均持穩，甚至繼續走高，在上下游產品價差大幅擴大下，將讓各生產廠如台塑（1301）、台聚（1304）、亞聚（1308）、華夏（1305）、大洋（1321）等廠的獲利放大。
據了解，受到中東SABIC、NPC減產乙烯，大陸福建煉化推遲年產80萬公噸乙烯新廠，而日本、南韓各有輕裂廠歲修，造成亞洲乙烯現貨價格近期出現一波急拉行情，上周攀升至每公噸1,090美元至1,100美元高價。
然而在短短幾天內，市場情勢又出現大扭轉，已有貿易商開出每公噸900美元求售的消息。
石化業者說，本周初石油腦由每公噸610美元下挫至540美元左右，買盤呈現一片觀望氛圍，國內各廠均預言，乙烯行情不久將會開始反轉。現正如業界所料，跌勢幾乎確立。
業者分析，乙烯出現每公噸900美元的售價，主要是料源來自美國，當地目前乙烯行情約每公噸440美元左右，再加上赴亞洲的運費每公噸300美元，其成本僅有700多美元。換言之，若是依據其賣價，每公噸仍可套利約160美元。台聚集團證實，確實已經下單買料了。
業者認為，現在上海實科石化已完成乙烯產能擴充作業，並已復工。而因供水問題減產的中東SABIC方面，也傳出以新海水淡化系統供水給相關乙烯裝置，操作恢復正常，將繼續對亞洲乙烯市場產生打壓、殺價效應。
法人指出，以PE產品為例，先前乙烯現貨高漲至每公噸1,100美元時，原料與衍生產品價差僅150美元，造成台灣各下游石化廠相繼暫停現貨採購腳步，以避免虧損。
但就現在情勢看，本周包括LDPE、LLDPE、HDPE行情均持續走揚，與貿易商報價的價差拉大至每公噸350美元以上，各廠獲利可期。
亞洲乙烯現貨價創近九個月來新高後，近日行情急轉直下，貿易商報價由高點每公噸1,100美元大挫至900美元，價差高達18%，確立跌勢成形。
台聚集團表示，由於有貿易商準備引進美國低價原料至亞洲套利，加上相關輕裂廠復工，造成價格立刻大跌。
法人表示，乙烯現貨開價大跌，反觀本周下游衍生品包括PE、PVC等現貨價格均持穩，甚至繼續走高，在上下游產品價差大幅擴大下，將讓各生產廠如台塑（1301）、台聚（1304）、亞聚（1308）、華夏（1305）、大洋（1321）等廠的獲利放大。
據了解，受到中東SABIC、NPC減產乙烯，大陸福建煉化推遲年產80萬公噸乙烯新廠，而日本、南韓各有輕裂廠歲修，造成亞洲乙烯現貨價格近期出現一波急拉行情，上周攀升至每公噸1,090美元至1,100美元高價。
然而在短短幾天內，市場情勢又出現大扭轉，已有貿易商開出每公噸900美元求售的消息。
石化業者說，本周初石油腦由每公噸610美元下挫至540美元左右，買盤呈現一片觀望氛圍，國內各廠均預言，乙烯行情不久將會開始反轉。現正如業界所料，跌勢幾乎確立。
業者分析，乙烯出現每公噸900美元的售價，主要是料源來自美國，當地目前乙烯行情約每公噸440美元左右，再加上赴亞洲的運費每公噸300美元，其成本僅有700多美元。換言之，若是依據其賣價，每公噸仍可套利約160美元。台聚集團證實，確實已經下單買料了。
業者認為，現在上海實科石化已完成乙烯產能擴充作業，並已復工。而因供水問題減產的中東SABIC方面，也傳出以新海水淡化系統供水給相關乙烯裝置，操作恢復正常，將繼續對亞洲乙烯市場產生打壓、殺價效應。
法人指出，以PE產品為例，先前乙烯現貨高漲至每公噸1,100美元時，原料與衍生產品價差僅150美元，造成台灣各下游石化廠相繼暫停現貨採購腳步，以避免虧損。
但就現在情勢看，本周包括LDPE、LLDPE、HDPE行情均持續走揚，與貿易商報價的價差拉大至每公噸350美元以上，各廠獲利可期。
全球石化業龍頭SABIC Q2純益年減76%
精實新聞 2009-07-20 10:05:18 記者 賴宏昌 報導
全球石化業巨擘沙烏地阿拉伯基礎工業公司(SABIC)18日公佈，受到全球景氣下滑導致石化、金屬產品需求大減的衝擊，2009年第2季(4-6月)純益年減76%至18.1億里亞爾(SAR)。根據彭博社的調查，分析師原先預期SABIC第2季純益將達20億里亞爾。
SABIC於1976年由沙烏地阿拉伯政府創立，為全球市值最高的石化公司，主要產品包括乙烯、鋼材、尿素、氨水等。SABIC 09年第1季淨損9.74億里亞爾。
全球石化業巨擘沙烏地阿拉伯基礎工業公司(SABIC)18日公佈，受到全球景氣下滑導致石化、金屬產品需求大減的衝擊，2009年第2季(4-6月)純益年減76%至18.1億里亞爾(SAR)。根據彭博社的調查，分析師原先預期SABIC第2季純益將達20億里亞爾。
SABIC於1976年由沙烏地阿拉伯政府創立，為全球市值最高的石化公司，主要產品包括乙烯、鋼材、尿素、氨水等。SABIC 09年第1季淨損9.74億里亞爾。
2009年7月22日
中國擁有完全自主知識產權的20萬噸尼龍66鹽
2009/06/26 @ 02:58 pm 香港時間
國際財經時報(IBTimes 中文網)
我國擁有完全自主知識產權的20萬噸尼龍66鹽項目25日在河南省平頂山市開工建設。中國平煤神馬能源化工集團投資的這一項目建成後，尼龍66鹽產能將居亞洲第一位，工業絲和簾子佈產能將居世界第一位。
20萬噸尼龍66鹽項目以提高尼龍66鹽產能為核心，將煤炭採選、焦煤、尼龍、氯鹼等上下游產業連為一體，形成了世界上最為完整的尼龍66鹽產業鏈。此次開工建設的項目還包括和尼龍66鹽項目配套的10萬噸粗苯精製、2億立方焦爐煤氣製氫和200萬噸焦化等5個項目。
中國平煤神馬能源化工集團董事長陳建生說：“今天啟動的這一項目是中國平煤神馬能源化工集團發展史上產業鏈最為完整、循環經濟特徵最明顯的項目。”
據介紹，項目總投資33．99億元，計劃工期15個月，建成投產後可實現年營業收入74億元。
中國平煤神馬能源化工集團是由平煤集團和神馬集團重組整合而成的國有特大型集團，資產總額700億元，擁有平煤股份和神馬實業兩家上市企業。尼龍66鹽是廣泛應用於橡膠、輪胎、塑料、電子、化工、化纖等行業的重要原料。
我國尼龍66的生產始於60年代中期。 1964年，上海遼原化工廠建設了我國第一個尼龍66鹽生產廠，年產能力僅600噸。 “八五”期間，我國尼龍66鹽需求量已達10萬噸，而生產尼龍66鹽的企業只有一家年產能4萬噸的廠家，無法滿足市場需求。國家每年要花費大量外匯進口尼龍66，當時僅神馬集團一家生產錦綸簾子佈用尼龍66鹽每年就需外匯5000萬美元。
尼龍66鹽生產工藝非常複雜，它以苯為主要原料，經過一系列的化學反應，最後生成尼龍66鹽。所以，尼龍66的生產是一個技術密集、資金密集、人才密集的行業。一直以來，我國都沒有自主開發的尼龍66生產技術，尼龍66生產技術、生產規模主要集中在美國、日本、德國等幾個技術上領先的國家。
國際財經時報(IBTimes 中文網)
我國擁有完全自主知識產權的20萬噸尼龍66鹽項目25日在河南省平頂山市開工建設。中國平煤神馬能源化工集團投資的這一項目建成後，尼龍66鹽產能將居亞洲第一位，工業絲和簾子佈產能將居世界第一位。
20萬噸尼龍66鹽項目以提高尼龍66鹽產能為核心，將煤炭採選、焦煤、尼龍、氯鹼等上下游產業連為一體，形成了世界上最為完整的尼龍66鹽產業鏈。此次開工建設的項目還包括和尼龍66鹽項目配套的10萬噸粗苯精製、2億立方焦爐煤氣製氫和200萬噸焦化等5個項目。
中國平煤神馬能源化工集團董事長陳建生說：“今天啟動的這一項目是中國平煤神馬能源化工集團發展史上產業鏈最為完整、循環經濟特徵最明顯的項目。”
據介紹，項目總投資33．99億元，計劃工期15個月，建成投產後可實現年營業收入74億元。
中國平煤神馬能源化工集團是由平煤集團和神馬集團重組整合而成的國有特大型集團，資產總額700億元，擁有平煤股份和神馬實業兩家上市企業。尼龍66鹽是廣泛應用於橡膠、輪胎、塑料、電子、化工、化纖等行業的重要原料。
我國尼龍66的生產始於60年代中期。 1964年，上海遼原化工廠建設了我國第一個尼龍66鹽生產廠，年產能力僅600噸。 “八五”期間，我國尼龍66鹽需求量已達10萬噸，而生產尼龍66鹽的企業只有一家年產能4萬噸的廠家，無法滿足市場需求。國家每年要花費大量外匯進口尼龍66，當時僅神馬集團一家生產錦綸簾子佈用尼龍66鹽每年就需外匯5000萬美元。
尼龍66鹽生產工藝非常複雜，它以苯為主要原料，經過一系列的化學反應，最後生成尼龍66鹽。所以，尼龍66的生產是一個技術密集、資金密集、人才密集的行業。一直以來，我國都沒有自主開發的尼龍66生產技術，尼龍66生產技術、生產規模主要集中在美國、日本、德國等幾個技術上領先的國家。
晉倫上半年獲利抗跌，每股稅前盈餘0.83元
精實新聞 2009-07-14 09:47:31 記者 楊喻斐 報導
電子複合材料廠晉倫(6151)公佈6月合併營收1.15億元，比上月增加10.6%，較去年同期衰減20.8%，而單月稅前盈餘1171萬元，其中含認列投資大陸淨利283萬元，累計上半年稅前盈餘3492萬元(其中大陸貢獻463.7萬元)，較去年同期3574萬元微幅減少，累計上半年每股稅前盈餘0.83元
晉倫表示，因汽車水箱大客戶出貨狀況回穩，帶動營收逐月走高，加上原物料成本下滑，第二季毛利率應可回升至20%；隨著下半年旺季來臨，法人預估，晉倫今年全年每股稅後純益上看1.5元。
晉倫於工程塑膠製造上累積多年之經驗，目前主要為尼龍、聚丙烯、ABS、PBT、PC 複合材料之生產，並已開發各種纖維補強級及阻燃級複合材料，應用於腦週邊產業之塑膠件及電子、光纖連接器的製造。
另外，近年來配合市場之走向，及環境上之要求，晉倫已研發成功低污染材料提昇產品技術及附加價值，已完成符合歐盟環保要求之非鹵素系耐燃複合材料，以及通過日本SONY 公司之綠色伙伴認證（GP）。
電子複合材料廠晉倫(6151)公佈6月合併營收1.15億元，比上月增加10.6%，較去年同期衰減20.8%，而單月稅前盈餘1171萬元，其中含認列投資大陸淨利283萬元，累計上半年稅前盈餘3492萬元(其中大陸貢獻463.7萬元)，較去年同期3574萬元微幅減少，累計上半年每股稅前盈餘0.83元
晉倫表示，因汽車水箱大客戶出貨狀況回穩，帶動營收逐月走高，加上原物料成本下滑，第二季毛利率應可回升至20%；隨著下半年旺季來臨，法人預估，晉倫今年全年每股稅後純益上看1.5元。
晉倫於工程塑膠製造上累積多年之經驗，目前主要為尼龍、聚丙烯、ABS、PBT、PC 複合材料之生產，並已開發各種纖維補強級及阻燃級複合材料，應用於腦週邊產業之塑膠件及電子、光纖連接器的製造。
另外，近年來配合市場之走向，及環境上之要求，晉倫已研發成功低污染材料提昇產品技術及附加價值，已完成符合歐盟環保要求之非鹵素系耐燃複合材料，以及通過日本SONY 公司之綠色伙伴認證（GP）。
中石化 本季會賺錢
2009/07/15 經濟日報
己內醯胺（CPL）漲價，加上使用中油便宜的苯，遠較現貨價格便宜約每公噸150美元。法人推估，中石化第二季可轉虧為盈，每股稅後純益約0.28元。
今年第一季CPL、丙烯（AN）報價雖上漲約20%，不過仍低於去年11月報價，導致中石化首季每股仍虧損0.18元。隨報價上漲，且第二季CPL與AN利差轉趨穩定，中石化第二季業績可望由負轉正。
中石化除本業獲利轉機，旗下共有四片土地值得開發。其中，位於高雄一心路土地達2.3萬坪，經多年翻土曝曬、水源曝氣後，土地中含苯汙染已揮發殆盡。
汙染物清理完成後，已順利獲得高雄市政府的解禁令，可重新使用土地。
分析師指出，中石化一心路土地公告現值每坪10萬至15萬元，市價約25萬元，未實現潛在利益約47億元，每股貢獻約2.6元；另一塊位於前鎮區的6.1萬坪土地仍在整治中，但因位置靠近夢時代的商業區，開發價值頗受關注。
中石化因已內醯胺本周調漲每公噸70美元，目前最新報價已經逼進每公噸2,000美元；而且，中石化使用的苯幾乎是中油的便宜合約料，平均行情遠較現貨價格便宜每公噸150美元左右，7月的獲利情況不容小覷。
市場法人認為，中石化今年第二季在高價原料及庫存去化完後，將可轉虧為盈；預估中石化第二季稅後純益為5億元，每股稅後純益0.28元。
法人指出，中石化近期CPL及AN利差已回升，且因技術及原料來源不易取得，新增產能微乎其微，加上日本三菱化學宣布將於2010年起關閉其CPL工廠，亦為中石化增添有利因素。
乙烯急漲 近期恐拉回
乙烯現貨因供應吃緊，價格再拉升至每公噸近1,100美元，但台塑（1301）、台聚（1304）兩集團一致指出，石油腦已隨國際油價回軟到每公噸520美元，加上日本等輕油裂解廠陸續復工，預期乙烯行情應會很快拉回。
法人表示，台塑、台聚等PE廠正面臨產品獲利被大幅壓縮情勢，不過，因東南亞、中東相關各廠減產，加上大陸需求持穩，後續PE價格仍有強勁支撐力道，只要原料走跌，將挹注獲利放大。
台塑集團表示，最近亞洲乙烯現貨急漲，主要原因是石油腦隨原油高漲，令各輕裂廠降低開工率因應；加上中東SABIC、伊朗NPC海水淡化等因素減產，日本、南韓也有開爐不順、操作出狀況等，使原料飆至每公噸近1,100美元。
但台灣各乙烯用戶仍暫停在現貨市場購進乙烯，目前先以中油合約量應急。
業者認為，在主要PE廠普遍觀望下，預期乙烯現貨應會在近期內回跌；關鍵在於影響其走勢的石油腦，已由原先高點每公噸610美元直落至現在的520美元附近，以此成本估算，輕裂廠乙烯原料售價在每公噸900美元即有賺頭。
其次，輕裂廠復工方面，日本Mitsubishi石化正陸續啟動旗下各年產45、37.5萬公噸乙烯的兩座乙烯裝置；南韓YNCC年產55萬公噸乙烯的一座輕裂廠上個月底因故停爐後，也重新啟動。
乙烯雖然下跌，但台塑、台聚兩大石化集團對PE後續走勢持樂觀看法。業者說，在供應面來看，東南亞一些生產廠因伊朗NPC減供乙烯，短期內難以增產；SABIC目前雖然仍維持對外供料乙烯，但其旗下PE生產線均降低開工中，使PE貨源仍呈吃緊。
己內醯胺（CPL）漲價，加上使用中油便宜的苯，遠較現貨價格便宜約每公噸150美元。法人推估，中石化第二季可轉虧為盈，每股稅後純益約0.28元。
今年第一季CPL、丙烯（AN）報價雖上漲約20%，不過仍低於去年11月報價，導致中石化首季每股仍虧損0.18元。隨報價上漲，且第二季CPL與AN利差轉趨穩定，中石化第二季業績可望由負轉正。
中石化除本業獲利轉機，旗下共有四片土地值得開發。其中，位於高雄一心路土地達2.3萬坪，經多年翻土曝曬、水源曝氣後，土地中含苯汙染已揮發殆盡。
汙染物清理完成後，已順利獲得高雄市政府的解禁令，可重新使用土地。
分析師指出，中石化一心路土地公告現值每坪10萬至15萬元，市價約25萬元，未實現潛在利益約47億元，每股貢獻約2.6元；另一塊位於前鎮區的6.1萬坪土地仍在整治中，但因位置靠近夢時代的商業區，開發價值頗受關注。
中石化因已內醯胺本周調漲每公噸70美元，目前最新報價已經逼進每公噸2,000美元；而且，中石化使用的苯幾乎是中油的便宜合約料，平均行情遠較現貨價格便宜每公噸150美元左右，7月的獲利情況不容小覷。
市場法人認為，中石化今年第二季在高價原料及庫存去化完後，將可轉虧為盈；預估中石化第二季稅後純益為5億元，每股稅後純益0.28元。
法人指出，中石化近期CPL及AN利差已回升，且因技術及原料來源不易取得，新增產能微乎其微，加上日本三菱化學宣布將於2010年起關閉其CPL工廠，亦為中石化增添有利因素。
乙烯急漲 近期恐拉回
乙烯現貨因供應吃緊，價格再拉升至每公噸近1,100美元，但台塑（1301）、台聚（1304）兩集團一致指出，石油腦已隨國際油價回軟到每公噸520美元，加上日本等輕油裂解廠陸續復工，預期乙烯行情應會很快拉回。
法人表示，台塑、台聚等PE廠正面臨產品獲利被大幅壓縮情勢，不過，因東南亞、中東相關各廠減產，加上大陸需求持穩，後續PE價格仍有強勁支撐力道，只要原料走跌，將挹注獲利放大。
台塑集團表示，最近亞洲乙烯現貨急漲，主要原因是石油腦隨原油高漲，令各輕裂廠降低開工率因應；加上中東SABIC、伊朗NPC海水淡化等因素減產，日本、南韓也有開爐不順、操作出狀況等，使原料飆至每公噸近1,100美元。
但台灣各乙烯用戶仍暫停在現貨市場購進乙烯，目前先以中油合約量應急。
業者認為，在主要PE廠普遍觀望下，預期乙烯現貨應會在近期內回跌；關鍵在於影響其走勢的石油腦，已由原先高點每公噸610美元直落至現在的520美元附近，以此成本估算，輕裂廠乙烯原料售價在每公噸900美元即有賺頭。
其次，輕裂廠復工方面，日本Mitsubishi石化正陸續啟動旗下各年產45、37.5萬公噸乙烯的兩座乙烯裝置；南韓YNCC年產55萬公噸乙烯的一座輕裂廠上個月底因故停爐後，也重新啟動。
乙烯雖然下跌，但台塑、台聚兩大石化集團對PE後續走勢持樂觀看法。業者說，在供應面來看，東南亞一些生產廠因伊朗NPC減供乙烯，短期內難以增產；SABIC目前雖然仍維持對外供料乙烯，但其旗下PE生產線均降低開工中，使PE貨源仍呈吃緊。
中石化與SABIC天津建乙烯廠獲准 規劃年產100萬噸
精實新聞 2009-07-15 11:49:42 記者 周怡仿 報導
中國石化(600028,0386.HK)與沙比克(SABIC)合資在天津建設的年產100萬噸乙烯及配套工廠，並已獲得發改委核准。
中國石化與SABIC係於2008年6月簽署合作備忘錄，在天津合資30億美元組建合資公司，雙方各出資一半，希望進一步採用SABIC的技術和天津廠產出的原料生產聚碳酸酯。
中沙天津乙烯廠預計在2009年9月完工，年產約320萬噸各種石化產品，包括100萬噸乙烯、60萬噸聚乙烯、40萬噸乙二醇及其他下游產品聚丙烯、丁二烯、苯酚／丙酮等。
總部位於利雅德的SABIC公司是中東市值最大的企業，沙烏地阿拉伯政府擁有該公司70％股份，沙烏地及海灣合作委員會其他成員國的私人投資者持有其餘的30%股份。2008年SABIC凈利潤58.6億美元，銷售總收入達402億美元，總資產達450億美元。
中國石化(600028,0386.HK)與沙比克(SABIC)合資在天津建設的年產100萬噸乙烯及配套工廠，並已獲得發改委核准。
中國石化與SABIC係於2008年6月簽署合作備忘錄，在天津合資30億美元組建合資公司，雙方各出資一半，希望進一步採用SABIC的技術和天津廠產出的原料生產聚碳酸酯。
中沙天津乙烯廠預計在2009年9月完工，年產約320萬噸各種石化產品，包括100萬噸乙烯、60萬噸聚乙烯、40萬噸乙二醇及其他下游產品聚丙烯、丁二烯、苯酚／丙酮等。
總部位於利雅德的SABIC公司是中東市值最大的企業，沙烏地阿拉伯政府擁有該公司70％股份，沙烏地及海灣合作委員會其他成員國的私人投資者持有其餘的30%股份。2008年SABIC凈利潤58.6億美元，銷售總收入達402億美元，總資產達450億美元。
2009年7月13日
Some new bio-based polyamides
REF: http://biopol.free.fr/
Evonik Industries AG (Germany) has added a group of bio-based polyamides to its VESTAMID® family. The polymers, sold under the VESTAMID® Terra brand name, are based on monomers produced partly or entirely from fatty acids.
The most important source is currently castor oil, obtained from the seed of the castor oil plant, which is not used as food or animal feed, so its cultivation does not compete with that of food crops. Evonik is also forging ahead with the development of further polyamides from renewables based on palm kernel and rapeseed oils.
VESTAMID® Terra molding compounds are semicrystalline and therefore distinguished by high mechanical strength and good resistance to chemicals and stress cracking. They are also said to have high to very high heat deflection temperatures and a low absorption capacity for water, so that the good mechanical properties are retained even at high humidity.
VESTAMID® Terra DS has yet another advantage over other polyamides: Despite its crystallinity it is translucent and can therefore be processed into components with good contact transparency.
Evonik currently offers two new castor oil-based polyamides. VESTAMID® Terra DS is a 100% bio-based polyamide 1010. Its property profile bridges the gap between high-performance long-chain polyamides such as PA 12 and PA 1212 and the shorter chain standard polyamides PA 6 and PA 66.
VESTAMID® Terra HS is a polyamide 610 that contains approximately 60% renewable raw materials. From a technical viewpoint, this variant occupies a position between the high-performance polyamide 612 and the standard polyamides PA 6 and PA 66.
Evonik Industries AG (Germany) has added a group of bio-based polyamides to its VESTAMID® family. The polymers, sold under the VESTAMID® Terra brand name, are based on monomers produced partly or entirely from fatty acids.
The most important source is currently castor oil, obtained from the seed of the castor oil plant, which is not used as food or animal feed, so its cultivation does not compete with that of food crops. Evonik is also forging ahead with the development of further polyamides from renewables based on palm kernel and rapeseed oils.
VESTAMID® Terra molding compounds are semicrystalline and therefore distinguished by high mechanical strength and good resistance to chemicals and stress cracking. They are also said to have high to very high heat deflection temperatures and a low absorption capacity for water, so that the good mechanical properties are retained even at high humidity.
VESTAMID® Terra DS has yet another advantage over other polyamides: Despite its crystallinity it is translucent and can therefore be processed into components with good contact transparency.
Evonik currently offers two new castor oil-based polyamides. VESTAMID® Terra DS is a 100% bio-based polyamide 1010. Its property profile bridges the gap between high-performance long-chain polyamides such as PA 12 and PA 1212 and the shorter chain standard polyamides PA 6 and PA 66.
VESTAMID® Terra HS is a polyamide 610 that contains approximately 60% renewable raw materials. From a technical viewpoint, this variant occupies a position between the high-performance polyamide 612 and the standard polyamides PA 6 and PA 66.
2009年7月12日
Green tax to drive bioplastics trend
By Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul
(泰國)The Nation Published on July 8, 2009
Planned levy for oil-based plastics aimed at more use of biodegradables
The National Innovation Agency (NIA) is to propose a plan to the Finance Ministry that would introduce an environmental tax on oil-based plastics by 2010 in an attempt to encourage consumers to use more biodegradable plastics.
The move is a part of the National Road Map for the Development of the Bioplastics Industry, which covers the five years from 2008 to 2012.
The measure is designed to boost bioplastics demand in Thailand in line with practices in Japan and several European countries.
The government will have to set clear goals and take serious action if it is to encourage the replacement of oil-based plastics with bioplastics and establish a bioplastics industry in the Kingdom, NIA Innovation Department director Wantanee Chongkum told The Nation.
Green tax
"The environmental tax will make the price of oil-based plastics higher, plus the trend of environmental concern, manufacturers and consumers will shift to biodegradable plastics instead," she said.
The NIA has employed experts to study existing environmental taxes and government measures overseas, particularly in Europe, which can be adapted here.
Bioplastics have not been popular in Thailand because their prices are double or triple those of conventional plastics. Wantanee said that in fact biodegradable plastics cost about the same as ordinary plastics if the whole process from production through waste treatment is considered.
The NIA is cooperating with the Development of the Environment and Energy Foundation to study the possibility of setting up the first degradable-waste plants in Thailand.
"Our country needs to develop its system of waste management. Bioplastics will play an important role in the substitution of organic waste for dry waste," she said.
Presently, 60 per cent of total waste in the Kingdom is organic waste and the other 40 per cent is dry rubbish.
She said the cost of setting up a degradable-waste treatment plant with a capacity of 200 tonnes per day is estimated to be about Bt100 million, which should be cheaper than building high-quality furnaces with zero emissions.
The NIA expects to complete its study and make its proposal to the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry and the Finance Ministry this year, with an eye to implementation by the end of 2010.
(泰國)The Nation Published on July 8, 2009
Planned levy for oil-based plastics aimed at more use of biodegradables
The National Innovation Agency (NIA) is to propose a plan to the Finance Ministry that would introduce an environmental tax on oil-based plastics by 2010 in an attempt to encourage consumers to use more biodegradable plastics.
The move is a part of the National Road Map for the Development of the Bioplastics Industry, which covers the five years from 2008 to 2012.
The measure is designed to boost bioplastics demand in Thailand in line with practices in Japan and several European countries.
The government will have to set clear goals and take serious action if it is to encourage the replacement of oil-based plastics with bioplastics and establish a bioplastics industry in the Kingdom, NIA Innovation Department director Wantanee Chongkum told The Nation.
Green tax
"The environmental tax will make the price of oil-based plastics higher, plus the trend of environmental concern, manufacturers and consumers will shift to biodegradable plastics instead," she said.
The NIA has employed experts to study existing environmental taxes and government measures overseas, particularly in Europe, which can be adapted here.
Bioplastics have not been popular in Thailand because their prices are double or triple those of conventional plastics. Wantanee said that in fact biodegradable plastics cost about the same as ordinary plastics if the whole process from production through waste treatment is considered.
The NIA is cooperating with the Development of the Environment and Energy Foundation to study the possibility of setting up the first degradable-waste plants in Thailand.
"Our country needs to develop its system of waste management. Bioplastics will play an important role in the substitution of organic waste for dry waste," she said.
Presently, 60 per cent of total waste in the Kingdom is organic waste and the other 40 per cent is dry rubbish.
She said the cost of setting up a degradable-waste treatment plant with a capacity of 200 tonnes per day is estimated to be about Bt100 million, which should be cheaper than building high-quality furnaces with zero emissions.
The NIA expects to complete its study and make its proposal to the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry and the Finance Ministry this year, with an eye to implementation by the end of 2010.
BASF promotes biodegradable bag project in Thailand
Ref: http://www.europeanplasticsnews.com
By Gurdip Singh Posted 8 July 2009 8:45 am GMT
BASF is leading a pilot project to encourage consumers to use biodegradable bags for waste and compost in Thailand.
The pilot project, which will run from July to December in the Samut Songkhram Province, is aimed at encouraging consumers to use biodegradable bags to collect household organic waste and produce high-quality compost that will serve as organic fertilizer for the purpose of soil improvement.
BASF has joined Thailand’s National Innovation Agency (NIA), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ or German Technical Cooperation) and the Thai Bioplastics Industry Association (TBIA).
“Biodegradable plastics present an important contribution to efficient biowaste management. Additionally, as a secondary raw material post-composting, it can also be used to provide an economical and ecologically viable utilization possibility — fertilizer in this case,” said NIA director Supachai Lorlowhakarn.
NIA has a plan to develop the bioplastics industry in Thailand, which was approved by the cabinet on 22 July 2008.
For the production of the biodegradable bags, TBIA will compound starch with BASF’s Ecoflex resin, a biodegradable, compostable polyester.
“Thailand has an abundant supply of renewable resources, such as tapioca for the production of starch. As such, starch will be an important raw material for the bioplastic industry development in Thailand. The pilot project is another step to build up the domestic market and elaborate on the application of bioplastics for the entire life cycle,” said TBIA chairman Somsak Borrisutthanakul.
The pilot project was launched in conjunction with the BioPlastics Asia 2009 forum, held 11-12 June in Bangkok.
By Gurdip Singh Posted 8 July 2009 8:45 am GMT
BASF is leading a pilot project to encourage consumers to use biodegradable bags for waste and compost in Thailand.
The pilot project, which will run from July to December in the Samut Songkhram Province, is aimed at encouraging consumers to use biodegradable bags to collect household organic waste and produce high-quality compost that will serve as organic fertilizer for the purpose of soil improvement.
BASF has joined Thailand’s National Innovation Agency (NIA), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ or German Technical Cooperation) and the Thai Bioplastics Industry Association (TBIA).
“Biodegradable plastics present an important contribution to efficient biowaste management. Additionally, as a secondary raw material post-composting, it can also be used to provide an economical and ecologically viable utilization possibility — fertilizer in this case,” said NIA director Supachai Lorlowhakarn.
NIA has a plan to develop the bioplastics industry in Thailand, which was approved by the cabinet on 22 July 2008.
For the production of the biodegradable bags, TBIA will compound starch with BASF’s Ecoflex resin, a biodegradable, compostable polyester.
“Thailand has an abundant supply of renewable resources, such as tapioca for the production of starch. As such, starch will be an important raw material for the bioplastic industry development in Thailand. The pilot project is another step to build up the domestic market and elaborate on the application of bioplastics for the entire life cycle,” said TBIA chairman Somsak Borrisutthanakul.
The pilot project was launched in conjunction with the BioPlastics Asia 2009 forum, held 11-12 June in Bangkok.
2009年7月7日
Nokia, bioplastics and the big green responsibility debate
Ref:http://thereallymobileproject.com/
Posted by Vikki Chowney on 30th June 2009
Some of you may or may not know that on my personal blog, I cover green and social change issues. This week I’ve been talking about manufacturer’s attempts to make their phones ‘greener’, looking specifically at Nokia, bioplastics and extended producer responsibility.
we:recycle, but is that enough?
I thought some of you might find it interesting as well, so have re-published below.
At present, the European Commission is considering applying stronger regulatory actions to try and address the 10.3 billion tonnes of electronic waste produced each year in Europe.
Right now, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) guidelines have been implemented in many forms, which means that a manufacturer takes accountability for a product beyond the time of sale.
This ranges from regulatory to negotiated and even voluntary models, depending on individual EU member countries.
In many instances, EPR has already influenced the waste legislation or is being positioned to do so.
Once upon a time, Nokia was one of the worst culprits for having a poor attitude toward being sustainable, but has recently (well, over the past ten years) come along in leaps and bounds. Many of its ERP initiatives seem to have been put in place way before it was forced to (Germany and Spain are the two examples they reference). Its ‘Take-Back’ programme collects phones at nearly 5,000 locations globally and the company as a whole has employed a commitment toreduce absolute CO2 emissions by a minimum of 10% by the end of 2009 and 18% by 2010.
Part of the commitment to becoming ‘greener’ means not focusing purely on how to recycle a device once it’s become obsolete, but looking at the materials and components of the handset as well. Nokia first introduced products that were free of PVC — a harmful plastic often used to insulate wires in phones — at the beginning of 2006. Then, the Nokia 7100 Supernova followed suit last year and became the first product free of brominated compounds, antimony trioxide and chlorinated flame retardants.
Nokia isn’t alone; LG has also stopped using beryllium, known to cause nasty lung diseases. In fact, all of the top tier manufacturers are RoHS-complaint, which means that their phones contain no more than the agreed-upon levels of lead, cadmium, mercury and other harmful materials. It’s actually safe to assume that no new handset is going to be produced with hazardous chemicals in.
Both Nokia and LG, as well as several other manufacturers, are working on biodegradable plastics and renewable sources, but haven’t rolled them out on mass yet. The Nokia 3100 Evolve for one has a bio-cover made from 50 percent renewable raw materials, but this is not without its problems.
As well as getting hold of enough of these resources in the first place, one problem is that a bioplastics should ideally be composted and cannot be recycled alongside other plastics (different types of resin you see). When mixed, bioplastics are in fact more harmful than they are useful, and without an advanced infrastructure in place to separate them, the correct identification and sorting becomes a difficult task.
Now, Nokia supports individual producer responsibility, so they - like others - spend an extraordinary amount in overcoming these hurdles. The company has invested in creating a device that could be made entirely from recycled materials, the aim of which is to avoid virgin materials and to divert waste from going into landfills. The main outcome of this project had been the ‘Remade’ concept device, which uses recycled materials from metal cans, plastic bottles, and car tires.
On a more touchy feely note, it has also developed the Eco Sensor Concept – a mobile phone and sensing device that will collect environmental data that can be shared with others, increasing environmental awareness.
The company also says that “in order for us to carry out our own responsibilities we also need the help of others in the value chain, like consumers and retailers, and their commitment to bringing back obsolete mobile devices for responsible recycling”. I’m in full support of this, and I think Nokia is right in saying that co-operation eventually leads to a situation where recycling becomes easier for everyone as its commonplace.
To further speed this up and create a sense of shared liability, one of the specific things that the European Commission are threatening to do is clamp down on the proliferation of mobile phone chargers if the manufacturers don’t self-regulate. Quick to respond to this, Nokia launched the N79 Eco model, which simply comes without a charger (customers are expected to retain one from a previous device). With 15 million phones upgraded each year in the UK alone, that’s a lot of chargers milling around (I must have four or five at home).
Additionally, the AC-8 uses just 0.03W in no-load mode (the amount the charger uses if you forget to unplug it from socket when the phone is fully charged). This is 90-95% less than what typical chargers can waste.
Nokia’s take on recycling is based around ‘lifecycle thinking’ (minimising the environmental impacts across the lifecycle of a product). The only thing slight concern I have with this approach is that applying conventional life cycle assessment, and assigning environmental impacts to producers and consumers can lead to double-counting. I’m not saying that it means all of the company’s efforts are wasted (no pun intended), but it’s this slight concern that makes me want to hear someone from within talk about it a bit more. Integrate these goals and objectives into normal briefings, don’t just paste lots of text onto a briefing document. There’s a fantastic portal on Nokia.com/environment, but it isn’t immediately obvious, you have to scroll to the bottom, click on corporate responsibility and then choose the right tab.
Like Nokia, Sony Ericsson has a large ‘sustainable’ section on their site, but it seems to have been created purely for the sake of having it rather than a core part of their thinking. Maybe that’s just the way it’s presented. Motorola is the same, with their environmental objectives hidden behind three clicks and listed amidst reams of text.
I’m not as hardcore as many other green bloggers, so from my perspective, the ERP work from Nokia and research into biodegradable plastics from many is a good start.
However, though concept products like the Nokia ones mentioned above and Samsung’s Blue Earth have been shown at nearly every mobile-related trade show over the past few years, but predominately as a profile raising exercise than anything else.
When it comes to nailing the ultimate green concept, manufacturers are really struggling to push it that little bit harder and make it relevant for mass production. So surely, making consumers more aware of what they are all trying to achieve will encourage the kind of responsible behaviour that is still required to make any kind of change realistic.
2009年7月3日
塑膠廠商
Unitika www.unitika.co.jp 尼龍薄膜
Toyobo www.toyobo.co.jp TPEEs
東洋Toyo www.toyo-eng.com.cn
帝人Teijin www.teijin.co.jp PC (Top 3)
住友Sumitomo www.sumitomo-chem.co.jp
寶理 www.polyplastics.com POM,LCP
大塚 chemical.otsukac.co.jp
三井 www.mitsui-chem.co.jp
三菱 www.m-kagaku.co.jp PC
Kuraray www.kuraray.com PVA,PA
出光 www.idemitsu.co.jp Taflon/PC,PC-LC,PPS
Dupont www2.dupont.com/Plastics
Bayer www.bayer.com
BASF www.bayermaterialscience.com
Toray www.toray.com
Sabic www.sabic.com
DSM www.dsm.com
Toyobo www.toyobo.co.jp TPEEs
東洋Toyo www.toyo-eng.com.cn
帝人Teijin www.teijin.co.jp PC (Top 3)
住友Sumitomo www.sumitomo-chem.co.jp
寶理 www.polyplastics.com POM,LCP
大塚 chemical.otsukac.co.jp
三井 www.mitsui-chem.co.jp
三菱 www.m-kagaku.co.jp PC
Kuraray www.kuraray.com PVA,PA
出光 www.idemitsu.co.jp Taflon/PC,PC-LC,PPS
Dupont www2.dupont.com/Plastics
Bayer www.bayer.com
BASF www.bayermaterialscience.com
Toray www.toray.com
Sabic www.sabic.com
DSM www.dsm.com
2009年7月2日
Waste recycling: Motorola unveils first mobile phone made with recycled plastic water bottles
摩托罗拉革命性的新款手机MOTOÔ W233 Renew是该展位的一大亮点，也是全球首款获得碳中和认证的设备。这款新手机是摩托罗拉与沙伯基础创新塑料长期合作的结晶，利用定制等级的 Lexan* EXL树脂加上大量消费后塑料材料制造而成。
With the launch of MOTO W233 Renew, Motorola says it has the world’s first carbon neutral phone. The plastic housing is made from plastics comprised of recycled water bottles. “Through an alliance with Carbonfund.org, Motorola offsets the carbon dioxide required to manufacture, distribute and operate the phone through investments in renewable energy sources and reforestation. The phone has earned Carbonfund.org’s CarbonFree® Product Certification”, Motorola said in its press release of 06 Jan 2009.
Motorola says it has reduced size of packaging, made of recycled paper, by 22 percent, and that it provides a postage-paid recycling envelope.
Commenting on the introduction of Renew in his blog, Professor Noah Hall notes: “This is great, but don’t feel like you need to rush out and buy bottled water to keep Motorola supplied with recycled plastic. With over 8 billion gallons of bottled water sold in the U.S. annually, we should have enough recycled plastic from water bottles to give us a lifetime of cell phones”.
With the launch of MOTO W233 Renew, Motorola says it has the world’s first carbon neutral phone. The plastic housing is made from plastics comprised of recycled water bottles. “Through an alliance with Carbonfund.org, Motorola offsets the carbon dioxide required to manufacture, distribute and operate the phone through investments in renewable energy sources and reforestation. The phone has earned Carbonfund.org’s CarbonFree® Product Certification”, Motorola said in its press release of 06 Jan 2009.
Motorola says it has reduced size of packaging, made of recycled paper, by 22 percent, and that it provides a postage-paid recycling envelope.
Commenting on the introduction of Renew in his blog, Professor Noah Hall notes: “This is great, but don’t feel like you need to rush out and buy bottled water to keep Motorola supplied with recycled plastic. With over 8 billion gallons of bottled water sold in the U.S. annually, we should have enough recycled plastic from water bottles to give us a lifetime of cell phones”.
關於 SABIC
沙特基礎工業公司 (SABIC) 是全球第五大石化公司。在聚乙烯、聚丙烯及其他高端熱塑性產品、 乙二醇、甲醇和化肥製造領域，該公司處於全球領先地位。
2007年，SABIC實現利潤270億裏亞爾（72億美元），同比增長33%，創歷史新高。同年的銷售總收入達到了1262億裏亞爾（337億美元），是公司成立以來的最佳銷售業績。2007年底，公司總資產達到了2560億裏亞爾（683億美元）。
SABIC下設六個互相關聯的戰略業務部門：基礎化學材料部、中間體部、特種產品部、聚合體部、化肥部以及金屬製品部。作為全球領先的生產商和供應商，沙伯基礎創新塑膠2007年推出了高度加工的熱塑性材料。SABIC擁有豐富的研發資源，在中東、美洲、歐洲和亞太地區設有16個專門的研究、技術及應用中心。公司在全球40多個國家設有運營機構，擁有員工逾31000人。
SABIC在沙烏地阿拉伯建立了20個世界級工廠，其中19個位於阿爾朱拜爾和延布工業城。部分工廠是由SABIC與埃克森美孚、殼牌和三菱化學等公司組建的跨國合資企業。此外，SABIC在美洲、歐洲和亞太地區超過45個國家/地區設有生產基地。現在，SABIC的總產量已由2001年的2700萬噸增至2007年的5500萬噸。
SABIC總部位於利雅得，是在1976年沙特政府決定利用石油生產過程中產生的烴氣來生產化學品、聚合物和化肥的背景下建立的。沙特政府擁有SABIC公司70%的股份，沙特私人投資者及海灣合作委員會其他成員國持有其餘的30%。
關於沙伯基礎創新塑膠
沙伯基礎創新塑膠是全球領先的工程熱塑性材料供應商，在針對客戶面臨的最緊迫難題提供相應的突破性解決方案方面擁有75年的經驗。沙伯基礎創新塑膠目前擁有資產數十億美元，在超過25個國家/地區設有分支機搆，其全球員工總數超過9,500人。該公司通過與客戶協作以及不斷投資開發新型聚合物技術、全球應用產品、工藝技術以及滿足汽車、電子、建築、運輸與保健等多個行業需求的環保型解決方案，從而繼續在塑膠行業居於領導地位。公司的產品可謂品種繁多，其中包括熱塑性樹脂、塗層、特種複合材料、薄膜與板材。沙伯基礎創新塑膠 (www.sabic-ip.com) 為沙特基礎工業公司 (SABIC) 的全資子公司。SABIC 是全球五大石化公司之一。
文章来源：盖世汽车网
2007年，SABIC實現利潤270億裏亞爾（72億美元），同比增長33%，創歷史新高。同年的銷售總收入達到了1262億裏亞爾（337億美元），是公司成立以來的最佳銷售業績。2007年底，公司總資產達到了2560億裏亞爾（683億美元）。
SABIC下設六個互相關聯的戰略業務部門：基礎化學材料部、中間體部、特種產品部、聚合體部、化肥部以及金屬製品部。作為全球領先的生產商和供應商，沙伯基礎創新塑膠2007年推出了高度加工的熱塑性材料。SABIC擁有豐富的研發資源，在中東、美洲、歐洲和亞太地區設有16個專門的研究、技術及應用中心。公司在全球40多個國家設有運營機構，擁有員工逾31000人。
SABIC在沙烏地阿拉伯建立了20個世界級工廠，其中19個位於阿爾朱拜爾和延布工業城。部分工廠是由SABIC與埃克森美孚、殼牌和三菱化學等公司組建的跨國合資企業。此外，SABIC在美洲、歐洲和亞太地區超過45個國家/地區設有生產基地。現在，SABIC的總產量已由2001年的2700萬噸增至2007年的5500萬噸。
SABIC總部位於利雅得，是在1976年沙特政府決定利用石油生產過程中產生的烴氣來生產化學品、聚合物和化肥的背景下建立的。沙特政府擁有SABIC公司70%的股份，沙特私人投資者及海灣合作委員會其他成員國持有其餘的30%。
關於沙伯基礎創新塑膠
沙伯基礎創新塑膠是全球領先的工程熱塑性材料供應商，在針對客戶面臨的最緊迫難題提供相應的突破性解決方案方面擁有75年的經驗。沙伯基礎創新塑膠目前擁有資產數十億美元，在超過25個國家/地區設有分支機搆，其全球員工總數超過9,500人。該公司通過與客戶協作以及不斷投資開發新型聚合物技術、全球應用產品、工藝技術以及滿足汽車、電子、建築、運輸與保健等多個行業需求的環保型解決方案，從而繼續在塑膠行業居於領導地位。公司的產品可謂品種繁多，其中包括熱塑性樹脂、塗層、特種複合材料、薄膜與板材。沙伯基礎創新塑膠 (www.sabic-ip.com) 為沙特基礎工業公司 (SABIC) 的全資子公司。SABIC 是全球五大石化公司之一。
文章来源：盖世汽车网
2009年7月1日
Bioplastic market expands despite recession
24 June 2009 00:00 [Source: ICB]
Development and marketing are surging as bioplastics categories expand to meet a worldwide demand that is growing exponentially
WHILE STILL considered to be in its infancy, bioplastics development, production and demand will continue to see enormous growth in coming years.
Germany-based Helmut Kaiser Consultancy estimates that the global bioplastics market is growing at 20-30%/year, and will jump from 400m lb (203,000 tonnes) in 2006, to 10bn lb by 2015. A 2007 report from US-based BCC Research forecast the global bioplastics growth rate at 17%/year from 541m lb in 2007 to 1.2bn lb by 2012.
"Overall, we see the market growing by double-digit percentages, although there are significant differences for different product/market combinations," says Marcel Dartee, global biopolymers director for US plastics compounder PolyOne. "Much of that growth today is linked to typical compostable and biodegradable biopolymers."
The segment currently accounts for less than 1% of PolyOne's total sales, says Dartee. The company expects to continue to increase its share with new products.
"Biopolymers is one of our strategic growth platforms as it fits perfectly within our sustainability effort," he says.
"We have and we will devote considerable resources in developing masterbatches for existing biopolymers like PLA [polylactic acid], PHBV [poly-3-hydroxy butyrateco-valerate], and starch blends, as well as engineered thermoplastics and thermoplastic elastomers with high bio-derived content."
Bioplastics account for less than 10% of the total global plastics use, says Paul Iacobucci, manager of organic peroxide business development and high polymer specialties at US-based AkzoNobel Polymer Chemicals. He notes double-digit growth, particularly in packaging, as well as in more durable applications.
"The drivers of the growth are twofold: consumer demand and the volatile price of petroleum," says Iacobucci. "Although the recent fall in oil prices has slowed interest in this area, it is clear that petroleum prices have once again begun to climb, making bioresins short-term economically competitive, as well as the sustainable solution for the long term."
Bioplastics has already become a considerable market, both on the retail and on the resin level, says Hans van der Pol, marketing manager for Netherlands-based lactic acid producer PURAC.
"Reduction of the environmental footprint and innovation in the chemical industry are strong drivers for developments in bioplastics markets," he says. "Brand owners and retailers are taking note because companies like Coca-Cola and Wal-Mart have announced major moves towards bioplastics."
Coca-Cola launched its new 100% recyclable plastic bottle under the trademark PlantBottle, 30% of which is made from sugar cane and molasses, with the balance being petroleum-based polyethylene (PET).
The company will pilot the bottle with Dasani and sparkling water brands in select markets later this year, and with VitaminWater in 2010.
German chemical major BASF notes that because of cost reductions or environmental benefits, bioplastics often command a higher value in the marketplace.
The meaning of bioplastics
The word "bioplastics" is no longer limited to biodegradable or compostable plastics made from natural materials such as corn or starch.
Bioplastics could also include petroleum-based plastics that are degradable; natural-based plastics that are not necessarily biodegradable; and plastics that contain both petroleum-based and plant-based materials, which could be biodegradable or not.
"The term bioplastics includes both biodegradability as a product property and the use of renewable raw materials. A bioplastic can be both, or one or the other," says Keith Edwards, biodegradable plastics business manager for BASF.
BASF sees biodegradability in the context of organics recycling (compostability) and diversion from landfills as a major market trend. The company estimates global bioplastic growth rates at more than 20% for several years.
"We expect new legislation for bioplastics around organics recycling in Canada and the US in the coming years," says Edwards. "These products are favorable in the packaging as well as in agriculture markets, offering physical properties similar to current materials with the added functionality of biodegradability."
BASF's current bioplastics offerings include Ecoflex, an aliphatic-aromatic copolyester, and Ecovio, a compound based on Ecoflex and 45% by weight PLA. Both are fully biodegradable in controlled compost processes.
BASF is building a new 60,000 tonne/year facility for Ecoflex at its Ludwigshafen site, which currently produces 14,000 tonnes/year of the bioplastic. Ecoflex was developed in the mid-1990s while Ecovio was launched in 2006.
The company expects total capacity of 75,000 tonnes/year for both bioplastics combined in Germany by late next year.
"We have numerous worldwide joint development projects with Ecoflex. For Ecovio, we are expanding the technology into films, profiles and molded products," says Edwards.
While natural polymers such as PLA, starch blends, PHBV and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) dominate the bioplastics market from a material perspective, more and more blends of bioresins with traditional polymers are being developed.
"Since many of the current bioresins in homopolymer form cannot provide all of the benefits of petroleum-based resins, blends may be required to meet the performance specifications," says Iacobucci.
The current generation of bioplastics predominantly lack heat resistance, impact resistance and barrier properties, says Dartee. PolyOne has a development joint venture (JV) with US agribusiness Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) for bioplasticizers.
For the past five years, AkzoNobel has been working with additives that can improve bioresin properties. The company also partnered with PURAC this year to develop PLA plastic additives made from organic peroxide technologies.
"Organic peroxides modify the resin without incorporating additional chemical fragments into the resin, thus not changing the overall bioresin content of the plastic," says Iacobucci.
INVESTMENTS ABOUND
PURAC says it has developed D-lactide, which greatly improves heat resistance even up to 180˚C (356˚F) for PLA plastics.
PURAC announced another partnership this year with Japanese chemical firm Toyobo for the production of D-lactide-based PLA for use as coatings or adhesives for packaging films and materials. In September 2008, PURAC joined Swiss polymer technology firm Sulzer Chemtech to develop a more cost-effective polymerization process to produce high-quality PLA.
Netherlands-based plastics producer Synbra will use the technology for a new 5,000 short ton/year (4,536 tonne/year) facility, which will produce a PLA-based foamed polystyrene (PS) product called Biofoam by the end of 2009. Synbra expects to expand to around 50,000 tons/year in the next few years.
The different economies of scales of lactic acid and lactide production versus PLA production prompted PURAC to work with a number of partners to develop PLA production capacity, says van der Pol. "Ultimately, our vision is that various integrated PLA production facilities arise."
PURAC-produced D-lactide last year for the first time on an industrial scale in its Spanish plant. The company is planning another full-scale lactide plant to be integrated at its new lactic acid facility in Thailand, which officially opened in April 2008.
In 2007, Japanese chemical firm Teijin launched its high heat-resistant bioplastic Biofront, which the company claims is the world's first commercially produced stereocomplex PLA made with high-purity L-lactate and D-lactate.
Teijin's PLA plastic has a melting point of 210°C, a significant improvement over the 170°C melting point of conventional PLAs, says Hideshi Kurihara, general manager, high-performance biomaterials project at Teijin's new business development group.
"Biofront rivals that of petroleum-based commonly heat-resistant plastic polybutylene terephtalate (PBT)," says Kurihara. "With this level of heat resistance, fabrics made from Biofront can be ironed."
Initial applications for the bioplastic include apparel and automotive interiors. Japanese carmaker Mazda is using 100% Biofront in the seat fabrics of its Mazda Premacy RE hybrid vehicle, says Kurihara. "Teijin's subsidiary Teijin Fibers will continue to refine Biofront fabric use in automobiles, with a sales goal of ¥100m [$1m] in 2011 and ¥300m in 2012."
The company aims to produce 5,000 tonns of Biofront in 2011. A 1,000 ton/year PLA facility in Ehime prefecture, which Teijin acquired from compatriot carmaker Toyota last year, is expected to produce Biofront this summer. The new plant's capacity has yet to be confirmed, says Karihara. Teijin is producing 200 tons of the bioplastic at its pilot plant in Yamaguchi prefecture.
Teijin's 50% bioplastic JV with US agribusiness Cargill, called NatureWorks, meanwhile, is looking for a new location in Asia or Europe for its second manufacturing facility that will produce its PLA-based bioplastic Ingeo. The company will evaluate the location based on projected growth in these regions and the availability of PLA feedstock.
"We anticipate steady and gradual growth for the market over the next two years," says NatureWorks spokesman Steve Davies. "We continue to fine tune our resin grades to address the diverse needs of the multiple market segments into which we are selling, from single-use items such as flexible and rigid packaging and food service ware, beverage packaging, textiles, nonwovens, and increasingly durable plastics markets."
As an example, Davies notes customer US snack foods manufacturer Frito-Lay, which in April announced the 2010 launch of its groundbreaking compostable chip bag for the snack product SunChips using Ingeo bioplastic.
Ingeo will be used in the packaging's outer-print web film and inner-barrier web film. Frito Lay said it did not replace all the materials with PLA, as there was not enough PLA available and there was "still work needed to maintain the packaging's quality."
Last month, NatureWorks also completed additional equipment installations at its Blair, Nebraska, US plant, which doubled capacity to 140 tonnes/year. The Nebraska plant also inaugurated a new manufacturing process late last year that further lowered the facility's carbon dioxide emissions and energy use.
US bioscience company Metabolix, which has a bioplastic JV called Telles with its partner, ADM, is also building the first production facility for Telles' Mirel bioplastic product in Clinton, Iowa, US. The 110m lb/year facility is slated to be completed in December.
Metabolix CEO Rick Eno says it will begin shipping product to customers who will be introducing new products and applications over the next 12-24 months.
Despite the economic downturn, Eno says recent one-on-one discussions with customers and prospects revealed that 74% of its pipeline customers cited no change in their overall interests with the bioplastic and will move ahead with plans for using Mirel.
"Mirel continues to be in great demand given the difficult external environment," says Eno. "We have received over 60 new leads per month so far this year. However, given the capacity constraint of our pilot facility, we have focused on our existing customer and prospect relationships."
Metabolix is also seeking internationally recognized certification and testing to substantiate claims of its corn-based plastic. Eno says Mirel recently received the European Vincotte Home and Industrial Compost certification approval. The bioplastic's biodegradability certification in both water and soil environments was approved in October 2008.
Mirel is the only nonstarch bioplastic so far to gain all four Vincotte certifications, says Eno. Given the proliferating ecolabeling in the marketplace, he adds that Metabolix is also active in seeking stricter regulation on existing certification processes.
TAKING THE HEAT
While bioplastics are being embraced, labeling confusion, skepticism on functional abilities and environmental claims, and the fact that bioplastics still command a higher price compared with traditional plastics, continue to pose challenges.
Biodegradable plastics are not appropriate for all applications, says Eno. "Take plumbing, for example. You would not want biodegradable plastic pipes buried in the ground. They would lose stability and spring leaks." Several PLA bioplastic producers also note the limitations of PLA. "Further improvement, especially in terms of overall strength, still needs to be achieved," says Kurihara.
One concern for traditional plastics is the growing use of degradable additives in polyethylene (PET) packaging, according to a late May statement from the US-based National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR). The group says no data has been made public to substantiate claims of degradability of PET resin products containing degradable additives. It is also unknown how degradable additives can affect the quality of both the PET recycling stream and the recycled PET products themselves.
"We urge PET resin and packaging manufacturers to refrain from introductions of degradable-additive containing products until data is made available for review and verification, to better understand these products and their potential ramifications," says NAPCOR chairman Tom Busard.
Development and marketing are surging as bioplastics categories expand to meet a worldwide demand that is growing exponentially
WHILE STILL considered to be in its infancy, bioplastics development, production and demand will continue to see enormous growth in coming years.
Germany-based Helmut Kaiser Consultancy estimates that the global bioplastics market is growing at 20-30%/year, and will jump from 400m lb (203,000 tonnes) in 2006, to 10bn lb by 2015. A 2007 report from US-based BCC Research forecast the global bioplastics growth rate at 17%/year from 541m lb in 2007 to 1.2bn lb by 2012.
"Overall, we see the market growing by double-digit percentages, although there are significant differences for different product/market combinations," says Marcel Dartee, global biopolymers director for US plastics compounder PolyOne. "Much of that growth today is linked to typical compostable and biodegradable biopolymers."
The segment currently accounts for less than 1% of PolyOne's total sales, says Dartee. The company expects to continue to increase its share with new products.
"Biopolymers is one of our strategic growth platforms as it fits perfectly within our sustainability effort," he says.
"We have and we will devote considerable resources in developing masterbatches for existing biopolymers like PLA [polylactic acid], PHBV [poly-3-hydroxy butyrateco-valerate], and starch blends, as well as engineered thermoplastics and thermoplastic elastomers with high bio-derived content."
Bioplastics account for less than 10% of the total global plastics use, says Paul Iacobucci, manager of organic peroxide business development and high polymer specialties at US-based AkzoNobel Polymer Chemicals. He notes double-digit growth, particularly in packaging, as well as in more durable applications.
"The drivers of the growth are twofold: consumer demand and the volatile price of petroleum," says Iacobucci. "Although the recent fall in oil prices has slowed interest in this area, it is clear that petroleum prices have once again begun to climb, making bioresins short-term economically competitive, as well as the sustainable solution for the long term."
Bioplastics has already become a considerable market, both on the retail and on the resin level, says Hans van der Pol, marketing manager for Netherlands-based lactic acid producer PURAC.
"Reduction of the environmental footprint and innovation in the chemical industry are strong drivers for developments in bioplastics markets," he says. "Brand owners and retailers are taking note because companies like Coca-Cola and Wal-Mart have announced major moves towards bioplastics."
Coca-Cola launched its new 100% recyclable plastic bottle under the trademark PlantBottle, 30% of which is made from sugar cane and molasses, with the balance being petroleum-based polyethylene (PET).
The company will pilot the bottle with Dasani and sparkling water brands in select markets later this year, and with VitaminWater in 2010.
German chemical major BASF notes that because of cost reductions or environmental benefits, bioplastics often command a higher value in the marketplace.
The meaning of bioplastics
The word "bioplastics" is no longer limited to biodegradable or compostable plastics made from natural materials such as corn or starch.
Bioplastics could also include petroleum-based plastics that are degradable; natural-based plastics that are not necessarily biodegradable; and plastics that contain both petroleum-based and plant-based materials, which could be biodegradable or not.
"The term bioplastics includes both biodegradability as a product property and the use of renewable raw materials. A bioplastic can be both, or one or the other," says Keith Edwards, biodegradable plastics business manager for BASF.
BASF sees biodegradability in the context of organics recycling (compostability) and diversion from landfills as a major market trend. The company estimates global bioplastic growth rates at more than 20% for several years.
"We expect new legislation for bioplastics around organics recycling in Canada and the US in the coming years," says Edwards. "These products are favorable in the packaging as well as in agriculture markets, offering physical properties similar to current materials with the added functionality of biodegradability."
BASF's current bioplastics offerings include Ecoflex, an aliphatic-aromatic copolyester, and Ecovio, a compound based on Ecoflex and 45% by weight PLA. Both are fully biodegradable in controlled compost processes.
BASF is building a new 60,000 tonne/year facility for Ecoflex at its Ludwigshafen site, which currently produces 14,000 tonnes/year of the bioplastic. Ecoflex was developed in the mid-1990s while Ecovio was launched in 2006.
The company expects total capacity of 75,000 tonnes/year for both bioplastics combined in Germany by late next year.
"We have numerous worldwide joint development projects with Ecoflex. For Ecovio, we are expanding the technology into films, profiles and molded products," says Edwards.
While natural polymers such as PLA, starch blends, PHBV and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) dominate the bioplastics market from a material perspective, more and more blends of bioresins with traditional polymers are being developed.
"Since many of the current bioresins in homopolymer form cannot provide all of the benefits of petroleum-based resins, blends may be required to meet the performance specifications," says Iacobucci.
The current generation of bioplastics predominantly lack heat resistance, impact resistance and barrier properties, says Dartee. PolyOne has a development joint venture (JV) with US agribusiness Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) for bioplasticizers.
For the past five years, AkzoNobel has been working with additives that can improve bioresin properties. The company also partnered with PURAC this year to develop PLA plastic additives made from organic peroxide technologies.
"Organic peroxides modify the resin without incorporating additional chemical fragments into the resin, thus not changing the overall bioresin content of the plastic," says Iacobucci.
INVESTMENTS ABOUND
PURAC says it has developed D-lactide, which greatly improves heat resistance even up to 180˚C (356˚F) for PLA plastics.
PURAC announced another partnership this year with Japanese chemical firm Toyobo for the production of D-lactide-based PLA for use as coatings or adhesives for packaging films and materials. In September 2008, PURAC joined Swiss polymer technology firm Sulzer Chemtech to develop a more cost-effective polymerization process to produce high-quality PLA.
Netherlands-based plastics producer Synbra will use the technology for a new 5,000 short ton/year (4,536 tonne/year) facility, which will produce a PLA-based foamed polystyrene (PS) product called Biofoam by the end of 2009. Synbra expects to expand to around 50,000 tons/year in the next few years.
The different economies of scales of lactic acid and lactide production versus PLA production prompted PURAC to work with a number of partners to develop PLA production capacity, says van der Pol. "Ultimately, our vision is that various integrated PLA production facilities arise."
PURAC-produced D-lactide last year for the first time on an industrial scale in its Spanish plant. The company is planning another full-scale lactide plant to be integrated at its new lactic acid facility in Thailand, which officially opened in April 2008.
In 2007, Japanese chemical firm Teijin launched its high heat-resistant bioplastic Biofront, which the company claims is the world's first commercially produced stereocomplex PLA made with high-purity L-lactate and D-lactate.
Teijin's PLA plastic has a melting point of 210°C, a significant improvement over the 170°C melting point of conventional PLAs, says Hideshi Kurihara, general manager, high-performance biomaterials project at Teijin's new business development group.
"Biofront rivals that of petroleum-based commonly heat-resistant plastic polybutylene terephtalate (PBT)," says Kurihara. "With this level of heat resistance, fabrics made from Biofront can be ironed."
Initial applications for the bioplastic include apparel and automotive interiors. Japanese carmaker Mazda is using 100% Biofront in the seat fabrics of its Mazda Premacy RE hybrid vehicle, says Kurihara. "Teijin's subsidiary Teijin Fibers will continue to refine Biofront fabric use in automobiles, with a sales goal of ¥100m [$1m] in 2011 and ¥300m in 2012."
The company aims to produce 5,000 tonns of Biofront in 2011. A 1,000 ton/year PLA facility in Ehime prefecture, which Teijin acquired from compatriot carmaker Toyota last year, is expected to produce Biofront this summer. The new plant's capacity has yet to be confirmed, says Karihara. Teijin is producing 200 tons of the bioplastic at its pilot plant in Yamaguchi prefecture.
Teijin's 50% bioplastic JV with US agribusiness Cargill, called NatureWorks, meanwhile, is looking for a new location in Asia or Europe for its second manufacturing facility that will produce its PLA-based bioplastic Ingeo. The company will evaluate the location based on projected growth in these regions and the availability of PLA feedstock.
"We anticipate steady and gradual growth for the market over the next two years," says NatureWorks spokesman Steve Davies. "We continue to fine tune our resin grades to address the diverse needs of the multiple market segments into which we are selling, from single-use items such as flexible and rigid packaging and food service ware, beverage packaging, textiles, nonwovens, and increasingly durable plastics markets."
As an example, Davies notes customer US snack foods manufacturer Frito-Lay, which in April announced the 2010 launch of its groundbreaking compostable chip bag for the snack product SunChips using Ingeo bioplastic.
Ingeo will be used in the packaging's outer-print web film and inner-barrier web film. Frito Lay said it did not replace all the materials with PLA, as there was not enough PLA available and there was "still work needed to maintain the packaging's quality."
Last month, NatureWorks also completed additional equipment installations at its Blair, Nebraska, US plant, which doubled capacity to 140 tonnes/year. The Nebraska plant also inaugurated a new manufacturing process late last year that further lowered the facility's carbon dioxide emissions and energy use.
US bioscience company Metabolix, which has a bioplastic JV called Telles with its partner, ADM, is also building the first production facility for Telles' Mirel bioplastic product in Clinton, Iowa, US. The 110m lb/year facility is slated to be completed in December.
Metabolix CEO Rick Eno says it will begin shipping product to customers who will be introducing new products and applications over the next 12-24 months.
Despite the economic downturn, Eno says recent one-on-one discussions with customers and prospects revealed that 74% of its pipeline customers cited no change in their overall interests with the bioplastic and will move ahead with plans for using Mirel.
"Mirel continues to be in great demand given the difficult external environment," says Eno. "We have received over 60 new leads per month so far this year. However, given the capacity constraint of our pilot facility, we have focused on our existing customer and prospect relationships."
Metabolix is also seeking internationally recognized certification and testing to substantiate claims of its corn-based plastic. Eno says Mirel recently received the European Vincotte Home and Industrial Compost certification approval. The bioplastic's biodegradability certification in both water and soil environments was approved in October 2008.
Mirel is the only nonstarch bioplastic so far to gain all four Vincotte certifications, says Eno. Given the proliferating ecolabeling in the marketplace, he adds that Metabolix is also active in seeking stricter regulation on existing certification processes.
TAKING THE HEAT
While bioplastics are being embraced, labeling confusion, skepticism on functional abilities and environmental claims, and the fact that bioplastics still command a higher price compared with traditional plastics, continue to pose challenges.
Biodegradable plastics are not appropriate for all applications, says Eno. "Take plumbing, for example. You would not want biodegradable plastic pipes buried in the ground. They would lose stability and spring leaks." Several PLA bioplastic producers also note the limitations of PLA. "Further improvement, especially in terms of overall strength, still needs to be achieved," says Kurihara.
One concern for traditional plastics is the growing use of degradable additives in polyethylene (PET) packaging, according to a late May statement from the US-based National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR). The group says no data has been made public to substantiate claims of degradability of PET resin products containing degradable additives. It is also unknown how degradable additives can affect the quality of both the PET recycling stream and the recycled PET products themselves.
"We urge PET resin and packaging manufacturers to refrain from introductions of degradable-additive containing products until data is made available for review and verification, to better understand these products and their potential ramifications," says NAPCOR chairman Tom Busard.
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