Vol. 19, No. 6, Page 11

MARKETS

FILLERS AND Croxton & Garry Ltd. of Dorking, Surrey (UK) has estimated the REINFORCEMENTS IN FOLYOLEFINES

use of such fillers and reinforcements in W. Europe as follows:

Type

Talc CaCO Glas fibres 2 Glass spheres Mica Kaolin Wollastonite Silica Wood fibres Total

1000 tonnes PP

1987 lggo

43.0 55.3 34.0 48.0

7.0 8.5 0.3 0.4 1.0 2.4

0.2 0.4 small small 0.1 0.2

86.5 115.2

TITANIDT"l DIOXIDE World consumption grew by 5% in 1988 to 2.9, ton, representing an effective capacity utilization rate of 100%. With an expected rise in demand of around 3.5% in 1989 and little extra capacity due on stream, the inbalance between supply and demand is likely to continue, with consequent price increases.

PE

1987

2.0 29.0

2.4

1.4

34.8

0.2

2.9

1.8

46.2

Additional pigment capacity has come on stream in the Pacific re- gion following the start up of SCM's 35,000 ton/year expansion at Bunbury in Australia. In Europe, producers say that increases are inevitable following the conclusion of the EEC directive con- trolling the dumping and discharge of acid wastes from Ti02 pro- duction into the sea.

With the majority of European production still based on the sul- phate route, producers must now install acid recycling units or convert to the cleaner chloride route, which they say will add up to 15% to costs.

Europ. Chem. News, 1989, 52, (Mar 27)

PROCESSING

COMPOUND SUPPLIES Polycom Huntsman who manufacture compounds is linked by direct VIA PIPELINE pipeline with the neighbouring plant of Harrison Radiator Division

of General Motors. The company supply the Division with 40% talc- filled polypropylene via an overhead pipeline which is fed to

Cont./......

ADDITIVES FOR POLYMERS

0 1989 Elsevier Science Publishem Ltd., F,ngland./89/$0.00 + 2.20 No part of this publication may bee reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any form or by any means, electronic. mechanical, photocopying, reccording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers (Readers in the USA. - please see special regulations listed on back cover.)

Vol. 19, No. 6, Page 12

storage silos.

WASTERBATCH DOSING UNIT

SPECIALITY LUBRICANTS

Harrison Radiators use the compound in 47 injection moulding mach- ines manufacturing some 26,OOO components every day.

TEK Machinery, the UK agent for Spiroflux conveying and colouring systems has announced a new addition to the range, The Spiroflux DV25 masterbatch dosing unit operates via a variable DC motor driving an auger screw, as opposed to a cylinder, to ensure pre- cise metering of material. The equipment is very compact, up to four units can be mounted on a single crosspiece, and quick re- lease fittings permit rapid removal for easy cleaning. Through- put for the DV25 is O.lg/hr through to 1.5kg/hr. The new machine further extends the Spiroflux range - the largestmachine handling throughputs of 5kg/hr.

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Dow Corning has developed a range of speciality lubricants for use with plastics, which are combined under the designation Moly- kote Plastislip. Based on silicone, synthetic or partially syn- thetic oils, they are claimed to meet the requirements of a large number of possible material pairings, as well as the most diverse operational conditions of temperature, speed and load.

BIFUNCTIONAL ORGANOSILANES

Degussa has published No 75 in its series of technical bulletins. The 46-page bulletin deals with bifunctional organosilanes and their use, amongst other things, in coupling fillers and f'ibres

to polymers and rubbers. A comprehensive ref'erence list is also included.

WABASH RANGE EXTBNBED

Mercury Plastics, of Watford (UK) has extended its range of col- oured masterbatches to include the following colours: Baby Blue, Military Green, Honey Beige, and Soft Grey. (See also MATERIALS section).

REDUCING HAZE IN POLYGLEFINES

Milliken Chemical Co is increasing capacity.for the production of its Millad dibenzylidene sorbitol (DBS) additives, which effect- ively reduce the haze levels in polyolefines by as much as 60%. These additives are finding increasing use in polypropylene pack- aging.

ADDITIVE% FOR 0 1989 Elrevier Science Publirhem Ltd., England./891S0.00 + 2.20

POLYMERS No part of this publication may bee reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any form or by any means, electronic. mechanical, photocopying. reccording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers (Readers in the USA. - please see special regulations listed on back cover.)