The following were gathered by Plastics News reporter Frank Esposito from Performance Compounding 2002, held April 11-12 in San Antonio.
Dow Chemical offers new Flexomer grades
Dow Chemical Co. has introduced grades of its Flexomer-brand ultralow density polyethylene that allows the material to be used as a blending agent with nylon and other engineering resins.
To date, most Flexomer uses have been in combination with polypropylene, said senior development specialist Brian Walther. By increasing levels of maleic anhydride, Flexomer can be used with engineering resins, in sheet products and in a range of other uses by improving impact and low-temperature performance. The higher maleic anhydride levels can improve impact and low-temperature performance.
Current research work could move Flexomer into acetals and polyphenylene ether as well, Walther said.
Midland, Mich.-based Dow inherited Flexomer when it acquired Union Carbide Corp. in 2000. Current annual production in Seadrift, Texas, is 200 million pounds, including 70 million added via debottlenecking last year.
Teknor Apex adding lines in Ky., Calif.
Teknor Apex Co. of Pawtucket, R.I., plans to add new twin-screw extrusion lines at plants in Henderson, Ky., and City of Industry, Calif., later this year.
Each site will receive a line dedicated to producing color concentrates based on polyethylene, polystyrene and polypropylene, said specialty compounding business director Jonathon Riley. The City of Industry line should be up in June, while the Henderson line is expected to be up in August.
The new lines offer twice the capacity of the older lines, which will be removed.
