CHICAGO (May 8, 10 a.m. EDT) — Each and every plastic part starts with the humble resin pellet.
A number of resin makers will take a break from grappling with high energy and feedstock costs to show their wares at NPE 2006. Here's a sampling of what will be on hand.
Advanced Polymer Alloys, division of Ferro Corp. (Booth N5139-K): Showcasing DuraGrip-brand thermoplastic elastomers and Alcryn-brand melt-processible rubber.
AGC Chemicals Americas Inc. (Booth N5139-Y): Offering fluoropolymer resins, fluoropolymer-based compounds and fluoroelastomers.
BASF Corp. (Booth S2903): New grades of Elastollan thermoplastic polyurethane for auto interiors and a new, nonhalogenated, flame-retardant TPU grade. Also debuting PlasticsPlus business model for innovative plastics and solutions in styrenics.
Bayer MaterialScience LLC (Booth S1676): Highlighting Aura color infusion technology and zaZen concept car, which features a contoured single-section polycarbonate roof dome. Other product introductions: Baytron-brand conductive polymers for electrical/ electronics applications, Makrofol-brand PC film for color stabilizing in medical equipment, a medical grade of Texin-brand polyether-based TPU, a biocompatible grade of Makrolon-brand PC for medical applications, and Fantasia-brand color special effects for foodware, audio systems, furniture, CDs and other products.
DuPont Engineering Polymers (Booth S2632): Introducing two new grades of Zytel HTN-brand high-performance nylon and two new grades of Delrin-brand acetal. All four new materials are aimed at improving wear and friction performance.
Kraton Polymers LLC (Booths N5139-AC, N6368): Showcasing full line of styrenic block copolymers.
Merquinsa North America Inc. (Booth S418): TPU maker debuting Pearlcoat Active product line for melt coating and extrusion coating. Also, new injection molding Pearl-thane grades for auto industry.
Noveon Inc. (Booth N5455): Full range of aromatic and aliphatic TPUs.
Nylon Corp. of America (Booth E10559): Nylon resins, alloys and compounds. New line of engineering TPEs based on random block nylon copolymers.
Sekisui Chemical (Booth N7019): Chlorinated PVC as well as thermal expandable microspheres.
Shincor Silicones Inc. (Booth S142): New line of Select-Hesive liquid injection molding material for silicone-to-plastic molding. The material allows molders to use two-shot or overmolding to bond silicone to a thermoplastic substrate without primers or pretreatment. The material also will be demonstrated at Arburg Inc.'s booth, S2160.
Sterigenics Advanced Applications (Booth S842): Branched high density and linear low density polyethylene resins that, according to Sterigenics, offer processing advantages of low density PE with greater toughness of LLDPE.
Taiwan PU Corp. (Booth E11332): Improved grades of TPU as well as PU tubings and wheels.