Trinseo and BASF have launched a new cooperation project, the production of styrene based on circular feedstock. Trinseo has recently been procuring first supplies of the synthetical chemical styrene based on circular feedstock from BASF for use in its Solution-Styrene Butadiene Rubber (S-SBR) and polystyrene products. Trinseo supplies S-SBR to major tires manufacturers while its PS products are used in applications such as food packaging and appliances. The first few customers have already processed the material.

Movacolor has launched a new version of its software for dosing plastic additives in February 2021. According to the company, the new software includes features such assensor neck integration, fast calibration options and a single shot test button for taking verification samples.

Cabot Corporation announced the launch of a new Enermax 6 carbon nanotube (CNT) series. With its high aspect ratio, it is proven to be the most conductive multi-walled CNT product in the company’s portfolio, said Cabot. The Enermax 6 carbon nanotube series can enhance battery performance at lower loadings enabling a higher energy density of battery.

According to the Radevormwald-based German company Rado Gummi GmbH, many synthetic and natural materials are highly flammable and combustible, meaning that flame-resistant products need to comply with the most stringent safety requirements and statutory obligations. These requirements are highly demanding, as ultimately they need to satisfy the widest range of demands such as smoke formation, burning speed and flash point. The strictest flammability standards for products are found in the automotive industry, aeronautics and also rail transportation and construction requirements for structural and building protection. The classification of burn ratings involves the evaluation of burning stoppage and afterglow values, burn speed and the dripping behaviour of the burning specimen.

SI Group, a manufacturer of additives, process solutions, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and chemical intermediates, will present its new advancements in plastic additives technologies and its rubber and chemical intermediate solutions at Chinaplas 2021 (Hall 15, Stall D39). The event will be held on 13 – 16 April 2021 at the Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Center in Shenzhen, China.

Research institutions and industry partners from Germany and South Africa are cooperating in the new MultiMat³ project as part of the European Union's M-era.Net program. Together, they are developing optimized and new materials for use in additive manufacturing technologies.

APS Elastomers has set up a new state-of-the-art lab after moving to a larger facility in Westland, Michigan, USA, in 2020. With the new laboratory APS can provide in-depth and high- level customer and technical service, problem-solving, product development and support to designers, OEMs and processors. Capabilities including tensile strength, melt flow rate, density, durometer hardness, melting point, gel count, stress at 100% and 300%, elongation at break, tear strength, and taber abrasion loss.

According to the German company Rado Gummi GmbH, a specialist in the manufacturing of silicone compounds, discussions on PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls) emissions resulting from the extrusion of peroxide cured crosslinked silicone products have become a topical issue, with both authorities and the public showing greater levels of awareness and alarm. Ultimately, this will lead to manufacturers of such products having to switch over to PCB emission-free crosslinking systems for their products or operators will face having their installations become subject to licensing in accordance with Article 4 of the German Federal Immission Control Act.

DIK (Deutsches Institut für Kautschuktechnologie e. V.) and DKG (Deutsche Kautschuk-Gesellschaft e. V.) are planning a research project regarding the efficiency of antiozonants in rubber matrices. The project has arisen from the need to find suitable alternatives to 6PPD, which is expected to be regulated by REACH in the future. From this situation the aim results to investigate possibilities in ozone protection for polydienes, which are already available and known from literature concerning their efficiency.

Rubber Division, ACS invites submissions for inclusion in the 200th Technical Meeting & Annual Student Colloquium taking place 5-7 October 2021 in Pittsburgh, PA, USA.