improvement will be partly due tohigher profits on pigments, especiallyin Asian export markets, and partlydue to the start-up of Toyo’s newprinting ink plant in Taiwan.

Nikkei Net, 4 Jun 2002, (Website:http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/) & European Paint andResin News, Jul 2002, 40 (7), 12-13

Zinc Corp of America faces bankruptcy

Zinc Corp of America has filed forChapter 11 creditor protection. Thecompany is a significant manufacturerof zinc oxide and it is possible thatthis business may have to be sold aspart of financial restructuringmeasures.

Rubber and Plastics News II, 2 Sep 2002, 23 (24), 2

TECHNOLOGYEckart’s encapsulated metallicpigments for cosmetics

Eckart GmbH & Co KG is adopting anew type of micro-encapsulationtechnology for its Visionnaire range ofmetallic pigments. These pigmentsare made with silica-coated powdersof aluminium, bronze or copper metal.On their own, they provide gold, silver,copper and bronze shades, but theycan also be used with other organiccolorants or pearlescent pigments todeliver polychromatic shades withfinishes ranging from matte to highgloss. Eckart is promoting the use ofVisionnaire pigments for cosmeticformulations in face powders, nailpolishes, mascaras, and lipsticks.

Eckart is also promoting Metalure,a range of aluminium pigmentdispersions for nail polish, givingsuperior gloss with a high level ofspecular reflection.

Parfums, Cosmetiques, Actualites, Jun-Jul 2002,(165), 58 (in French) & HAPPI, Household & PersonalProducts Industry, Jun 2002, 39 (6), 136

Kobo’s surface treatment for cosmeticpigments makes them hydrophobic

Kobo has developed a surfacetreatment for various cosmeticpigments, including TiO2, iron oxides,non-porous silicas and certainorganics, designed to make themhydrophobic and highly resistant todetergents and emulsifiers. The

surface treatment involves isopropyltitanium triisostearate.

Parfums, Cosmetiques, Actualites, Apr-May 2002,(164), 134-135 (in French)

Merck’s Eusolex filters based onultrafine TiO2

Merck is offering cosmeticsformulators two new inorganicultraviolet filters, based on ultrafineTiO2. The Eusolex T-S filter, based onultrafine TiO2 with alumina and stearicacid coatings, exhibits good UVA/UVBperformance at high transparency.The Eusolex T-Eco filter, based onultrafine TiO2 with alumina anddimethicone coatings, produces ahigh-density material, facilitatinghandling. These filters arerecommended for use in a variety ofsunscreen and skincare applications.

SPC, Soap Perfumery and Cosmetics, May 2002, 75(5), 45

Momentum’s anti-rodent masterbatch

Momentum International (of Frankfurt,Germany) has developed Microcell159, a plastic masterbatch designedfor applications where deterringdamage by rodents is a key criterion.The product is non-toxic, but bitter-tasting and carries an odour that isparticularly offensive to rodents.Microcell 159 is suitable for use inmaking plastic park benches andgarden furniture, cable sheathing,tubing and outdoor wastebins. It couldalso be used for injection-mouldedautomotive under-the-hood parts,which is a sizeable potential market,bearing in mind that rodentsreportedly cause over €205,000 worthof damage per year to vehicles inGermany.

Modern Plastics International, May 2002, 32 (5), 65

Polyplast Muller’s opaque whitemasterbatches

A new line of white masterbatcheshas been rolled out by PolyplastMuller intended for highly opaqueplastic packaging applications,compatible with laser scanning for barcode identification. They give 15-25%higher opacity than standard whitemasterbatches, though they do havea perceptible grey tinge. PolyplastFC7002 PS/G has a TiO2 content of

60% in polystyrene. Polyplast FC7002PP/G has a TiO2 content of 60% inpolypropylene. Polyplast FC7026 S/Ghas a TiO2 content of 75% inpolyethylene.

European Plastics News, May 2002, 29 (5), 36

Swada’s fluorescent pigments

Swada Colours claims that its newlydeveloped FEX and FTX series offluorescent pigments offer 20% morestrength than typical fluorescent,without loss of brightness orcleanliness.

Paint & Coatings Industry (PCI), May 2002, 18 (5),110

US Aluminum’s pigments for powdercoatings

The new Omiya range of aluminiumflake pigments from US Aluminum Cooffers a broad spectrum of colours forpowder coating applications. In themanufacture of the Omiya products,organic pigments and metal oxidesare implanted on the flake surfacesand the aluminum can befunctionalised with an organic linkmolecule or partially bonded with thespecific resin to be used in thepowder coating system.

Modern Paint and Coatings, Mar 2002, 92 (3), 42

Viba’s masterbatch for plastic film forgreenhouses

In February, Viba began offeringVibatan GP Antifog 02292masterbatch, specially designed foruse in plastic film used forgreenhouses. The material has a 30%additive level and has beenformulated both for EVA and LDPEplastic films. Viba recommends usageat 5-7% concentrations in monolayerfilms up to 150 mm thick or at 4%concentration in monolayer films up to200 mm thick. For coextruded filmsfacing the greenhouse interior, thenew Vibatan masterbatch should beused at 6-8% concentration in thecore and at 4% concentration in theouter layer.

Viba has also begun offeringmasterbatches based on calcinedkaolin with a light diffuser additive,intended for LDPE plastic filmapplications.

European Plastics News, Apr 2002, 29 (4), 23

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F O C U S O N P I G M E N T S