Product Feature: Diundecyl Phthalate (DUP)

DUP is a linear phthalate ester plasticizer which is produced from a mostly linear C11 alcohol. Due to its excellent high temperature properties, DUP is a good choice when high temperature stability is required. DUP boasts strong outdoor weathering capabilities and good low temperature flexibility properties, making it a prime plasticizer for long-life outdoor products... Read more »

Automotive Market Outlook 2016 and Corrosion Inhibitors

With many reports indicating that the automotive and new car production will continue with a solid performance in 2016, the demand for metalworking fluids and lubricant demand should also continue to be strong this year as well. From the metal grinding fluids to the coolants used in the an actual vehicle production, MWF will play... Read more »

Product Focus: Dioctyl Maleate

Dioctyl Maleate is a maleic acid that can act as a plasticizer and is used in resins to provide elasticity and flexibility. Dioctyl Maleate is a co-monomer which can be polymerized with vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride (PVC), acrylates as well as stearates. These types of polymerizations with dioctyl maleate can be used in the production... Read more »

PVC outlook in 2016

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 »

Myths about Phthalates and Food Containers

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 »

Mealworms Present a Surprising Solution to EPS Waste

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 »

Microbead Ban Passes House

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 »

EPA Delays Chlorinated Paraffin Ban

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 »

EPA Releases Assessments in Chemical Screening Tests

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 »