PRA News

After what are said to be record-breaking figures of the 2017 edition, that marked the move of JEC Asia from Singapore to Seoul, the composites event is returning to South Korea, from 14-16 November at Seoul Coex Centre. The future of mobility is a hot topic for composite materials and…

German chemical group Wacker says it is expanding its ACEO 3D printing services for silicone rubber and will open a US-based printing lab later this year. The facility, which will be located at Wackers’s R&D centre for silicones in Ann Arbor (MI), is the company’s first regional 3D printing lab…

Belgian chemical supplier Solvay recently inaugurated its manufacturing centre for aerospace structural adhesives and surfacing films in Wrexham, UK. Together with the existing plant in Havre De Grace, US, this investment broadens Solvay’s footprint and strengthens its leadership position in this growing and demanding global market. The centre is purpose-built and automated,…

Following Sabic, the world’s third largest diversified petrochemicals company, taking up a 24.99% stake in Swiss chemical firm Clariant recently, the Riyadh-headquartered firm is now taking steps to establish certain elements of its Specialties business as a stand-alone business. The strategic purpose of this is to prepare the Specialties business…

AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals has completed its acquisition of Brazil’s Polinox, South America’s producer of ketone peroxides, an essential ingredient in the manufacture of polymers. The purchase expands the company’s footprint in South America, establishing it as one of the region’s leading producers of curing systems for polyester thermoset resins. AkzoNobel has acquired…

Austrian chemical maker Borealis has entered into a strategic alliance with Bockatech, a UK early stage Greentech and provider of EcoCore technology for sustainable packaging. This new material and technology partnership will advance the circular economy by developing what is said to be a low-cost, high performance, reusable, and recyclable…

Dutch materials company DSM says its new carbon fibre-filled grade PA6/66 filament Novamid ID1030 CF10 is targeted for 3D printing. Despite the low carbon fibre loading of 10% – much lower than other carbon filled materials – it produces functional prototyping and industrial parts with properties close to what is…

After two years of intensive research, German chemical firm BASF says it is now able to present prototypes of the world’s first particle foam based on polyethersulfone (PESU). The foam is characterised by its unique combination of properties: high-temperature resistance, inherent flame retardancy – and its light weight coupled with…

Japanese chemical maker Mitsui Chemicals is setting up a new production facility for long glass fibre-reinforced polypropylene (LGFPP) at the Ohio plant of its US subsidiary, Advanced Composites. With a capacity of 3,500 tonnes/year, it will be completed and started up by 2019. LGFPP is a composite material made by melting and…

Bayport Polymers, a 50/50 joint venture owned by French oil/gas major Total and Novealis Holdings, a joint venture of Austrian chemical maker Borealis and Canada-based Nova Chemicals, has finalised its investment decision to build a 625,000-tonne/year PE unit at its production site in Bayport, Texas. The new unit will use…