The North American PVC market had a rocky year in 2015. The construction market, PVC’s biggest domestic sector, did not rebound as expected which caused sales to be down 3 percent for the first 10 months of the year. Export sales saw fewer losses. The areas of PVC flooring, decking, and automotive each saw some... Read more »
Synthetic diamonds are typically created by subjecting graphite to immense pressure and high temperatures, which makes production in the industry low and costly. Things may be about to change due to new research performed at North Carolina State University. Researchers have found a new phase for carbon called “Q-carbon” which is produced at ambient temperatures... Read more »
Most average consumers don’t know much about phthalates, and only adding to the confusion has been misreporting by the media of recent studies that have been conducted. One example was a series of “tips” to avoid phthalates that the media picked up on from a NYU professor who studied phthalates. The tips included things such... Read more »
EPS, or expanded polystyrene, is the plastic foam commonly found in food containers and has been a source of controversy due to the unrecyclable waste its use creates. Now researchers may have found an unlikely solution: Mealworms. The larvae of the darkling beetle will not only feed on EPS, but the microorganisms in their gut... Read more »
A bill to ban the manufacture or sale of personal care products containing small plastic particles known as “microbeads” by the year 2019 was passed by the U.S. House following a December 7th vote. The bill (HR 1321) was introduced by Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ) an proposes banning microbeads manufacture beginning July 2017 and... Read more »
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a delay on a ban of the production and import of mid and long-chain chlorinated paraffins until mid-2017. Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) have long been used as additives in metalworking fluids, and groups such as the Chlorinated Paraffins Industry Association (CPIA) and the Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association (ILMA) have... Read more »
Since the 1990’s, many scientists have pointed out various chemicals might be disrupting the endocrine systems of people and animals. In 1996 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) formed scientific advisory committee to investigate such claims, and by 1998 the committee developed an Endocrine Distruptor Screening Program (EDSP). The program uses a uses a two... Read more »
Back in June, Shell took further steps toward its investment in shale gas by purchasing a site near Pittsburgh for a plastics and petrochemicals plant. The preliminary plants indicated that the plant would have three polyethylene resin production lines as well as an ethylene manufacturing line, and seven ethane crackers. The site would be able... Read more »
Procter & Gamble Co. recently announced they would be adding a bittering agent to the outside layer of their single-use laundry packets. The move comes after reports of children who were attracted to the bright candy-like colors accidentally ingesting the packets, leading to poisoning. While the product has gained in popularity over the years... Read more »
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is currently the third-largest volume thermoplastic and continues to show global growth. PVC demand is a price-sensitive market and has felt the impacts of the lower crude oil prices. After the major drop in crude oil prices last November, PVC prices began falling as much as 30% in some regions. Prices began... Read more »
