How To Make A Profit From Rotting Garbage

Methane is produced by decomposing trash that can be used to produce electricity or heat. Currently, most landfills do not make enough methane for energy production to make it worthwhile. Therefore, these landfills burn (flare) the methane away. Russell Chinelli, Ph. D., a professor at The University of Texas at El Paso, invented a process... Read more »

A New Development Using Plant Oils In Bioplastics

Polyurethane, as many of you might already know, is extremely tough and corrosion-and-wear-resistant, which makes it a popular choice for a wide variety of applications.  The only real downside is that the petroleum-based product isn’t as environmentally friendly as one would hope.  But a new development from Washington State University is sure to change that.... Read more »

Explosion Rips Through Paraxylene Plant In China

An explosion and major fire erupted in China’s Fujian province Monday night, sending six people to the hospital, officials reported.  State news agency Xinhua said 177 fire engines and more than 800 firefighters were sent to the scene.  The plant, in the city of Zhangzhou, produces the chemical paraxylene (PX), which is the basic raw... Read more »

Coating Turns Cotton Into A Fabric Worthy Of A Superhero

Superhydrophobic surfaces are found on duck feathers and lotus leaves that repels water. A Chinese group, led by Junqi Sun, from Jilin University has achieved the same superhydrophobicity. The surface heals itself. If the surface gets nicked, it allows water from the air to cause the molecules to fill back in and bring back the... Read more »

CLIP 3D Printing 25-100X Faster Than Layer By Layer

It’s called Continuous Liquid Interface Production (CLIP), and it could revolutionize 3D printing. Carbon3D, a privately-held Redwood City, California based company has created a process which can print three-dimensional objects as one piece instead of the layer by layer approach used now. Carbon3D uses photosensitive monomers which will polymerize when exposed to UV light, and... Read more »

What’s In Store For The Future Of Metalworking Fluid Additives?

Full implementation of the GHS (Globally Harmonized System) regulations are set to be in place by mid-2015, and the European Union’s REACh registration requirements are to be completely updated by June of 2018. These new regulations are expected to affect the metalworking lubricants industry especially hard. The cost to MWF additive manufacturers to participate in... Read more »

Product Focus: Sebacic Acid (SBA)

Sebacic acid, also known as SBA, is a castor oil derivative which finds many industrial uses. It is used as a corrosion inhibitor in lubricants and metalworking fluids by forming a thin coating on the metal which restricts access by corrosive ions. Sebacic acid is used in the production of Nylon 6-10 and is a... Read more »

NACD Pushes For TSCA Reform

Last week, the National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) senior leadership traveled to Washington, DC to meet with Members of Congress and their staff.   One of the key discussions centered on the recently introduced Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (S.697). This legislation would reform the very outdated Toxic Substances Control... Read more »

PAOs On The Rise

The last decade of the 20th century saw a healthy rise of synthetic base stock in lubricants and greases. One industry expert had growth of API Group IV base stock, PAOs, at 5.5% a year growth from 1994-2000. But in 1997 Castrol reformulated one of their synthetic blends with Group III base oil and kept... Read more »

Disaster Ready?

As we move into the spring season ChemCeed LLC is looking ahead to better our business continuity plan by focusing on disaster readiness. In order to make sure that we stay informed on the latest disasters that put our business and customer’s at risk we have turned to multiple local, state wide and national sources.... Read more »