Manufacturing North America

Toyota Motor Engineering Manufacturing, North America... 

To date, the most developed production of nanotubes has Asia, the production capacity, which is 2-3 times higher than in North America and Europe combined. Is dominated by Japan, which is a leader in the production of MWNT. Manufacturing North America mainly focused on the SWNT. In the coming years, China will surpass the level of production of the U. S. and Japan, and by now, a major supplier of all t3 es of nanotubes, according to experts, could be South Korea. 

Early demand for chlorine centered on textile bleaching, and chlorine generated through the electrolytic decomposition of salt (NaCl) sufficed. Sodium hydroxide was produced by the lime—soda reaction, using sodium carbonate readily available from the Solvay process. Increased demand for chlorine for PVC manufacture led to the production of chlorine and sodium hydroxide as coproducts. Solution mining of salt and the avadabiHty of asbestos resulted in the dominance of the diaphragm process in North America, whereas soHd salt and mercury avadabiHty led to the dominance of the mercury process in Europe. Japan imported its salt in soHd form and, until the development of the membrane process, also favored the mercury ceU for production. 

The market for optical fiber worldwide in 1992 was 2.8 billion corresponding to 10 million fiber kilometers (Mfk) (38). This can be broken down into the U.S. market (3.7 Mfk), the rest of North America (0.4 Mfk), northern Europe (4.1 Mfk), eastern Europe (2.6 Mfk), the Pacific Rim (2.8 Mfk), and elsewhere (0.3 Mfk). Most of the optical fiber is manufactured by only a few companies, the largest of which are AT T and Coming. Other producers include Alcatel, Eujikura, Eurakawa, Northern Telecom, Pirelli, and Sumitomo. The market for optical fibers is projected to reach 3.5 biUion by 1998. In addition, according to ElectroniCast (San Mateo, Ca.), the total market for passive optical components, optical electronics, connectors, and fiber-optic cable is predicted to increase from 1.76 billion (U.S.) in 1992 to over 4 billion in 1997, and 10 billion by 2002. 

Bleaching. The largest single use for hydrogen peroxide in the United States and North America is wood pulp bleaching, but consumption for the manufacture of chemicals, environmental appHcations, and for bleaching cotton (qv), wool (qv), and other textiles (qv) is significant. 

Economic Aspects. MaHc acid is manufactured in over 10 countries, with 1992 worldwide production estimated at approximately 33,000 t, distributed as follows 44.4%, North America 52.1%, Far East and 3.5%, Africa. 

In North America, quicklime was produced locally as early as 1635 in Rhode Island. It was not until 1733, when lime was shipped by boatioad from Rockland, Maine, to Boston, that lime manufacture was estabUshed as a significant iadustry in commerce. The commercial hydration of lime is a relatively recent development initiated in 1904. Technical progress has allowed the industry to advance rapidly during the latter part of the twentieth century. 

Vinyl acetate is another monomer used in latex manufacture for architectural coatings. When copolymerized with butyl acrylate, it provides a good balance of cost and performance. The interior flat latex paint market in North America is almost completely dominated by vinyl acetate—acryHc copolymers. Vinyl acetate copolymers are typicaHy more hydrophilic than aH-acryHc polymers and do not have the same ultraviolet light resistance as acryHcs as a result. 

Economic Aspects. PBT is one of the fastest growing commercial thermoplastics. In 1993 the North American market alone exceeded 90,000 t, a 15% increase over 1992 (174). This rapid growth was accounted for mainly by the electrical and electronic and automotive markets, which together accounted for over half the PBT used. The principal manufacturers of PBT in North America, Europe, and Japan are shown in Table 9. 

Approximately 40% of synthetic amorphous siUca production is in Europe, followed by North America at 30%, and Japan at 12%. Although deposits of naturally occurring amorphous siUcas are found in all areas of the world, the most significant commercial exploitation is of diatomaceous earth in industrialized countries (see Diatomite). This is because of the high cost of transportation relative to the cost of the material. Worldwide manufacturers of amorphous siUca products are Hsted in Table 2. 

Courtaulds North America, Inc. 45 La Moyne, Ala. rayon manufacture... 

In North America the individual blocks of carbon used in the hearth bottom have exceeded 6 m in length. In Europe and Asia these blocks are much shorter because of manufacturing capabiHties. The longer bottom blocks permit the spanning of the hearth diameter with only two pieces, which prevents flotation of the carbon by the denser molten iron. This is because the bearing provided by the dead load of the hearth walls, which rest on the ends of the carbon block "beams," anchors the bottom blocks and prevents flotation. If smaller blocks are utilized with two or more joints across the bottom, special reverse taper mating surfaces or interlocking techniques are required to prevent block flotation. 

Calcium Hypochlorite. High assay calcium hypochlorite [7778-54-3] was first commercialized in the United States in 1928 by Mathieson Alkali Works, Inc. (now Olin Corp.) under the trade name HTH. It is now produced by two additional manufacturers in North America (Table 5). Historically, it usually contained about 1% water and 70—74% av CI2, so-called anhydrous product, but in 1970, a hydrated product was introduced (234). It is similar in composition to anhydrous Ca(OCl)2 except for its higher water content of about 6—12% and a slightly lower available chlorine content. This product has improved resistance to accidental initiation of self-sustained decomposition by a Ht match, a Ht cigarette, or a small amount of organic contamination. U.S. production in the 1990s consists primarily of partially hydrated Ca(OCl)2, which is sold as a 65% av CI2 product mainly for swimming pool use. Calcium hypochlorite is also sold as a 50% av CI2 product as a sanitizer used by dairy and food industries and in the home, and as a 32% product for mildew control. 

Although chlorinated paraffins are manufactured throughout the world, the principal centers of production are Europe, North America, and Japan. ICI is the leading suppHer having its main production centered in Europe, but it has a number of plants around the world including North America. 

In North America, calcium cyanamide is no longer used as fertiliser, but it has limited use in special agricultural appHcations for defoHants, fungicides, herbicides, and as a weed killer. The primary industrial use is as a chemical intermediate for the manufacture of calcium cyanide, hydrogen cyanamide solution, and dicyandiamide. Calcium cyanamide is also used to add nitrogen to steel. 

CR has now been used commercially for around 60 years. Over that period of time, it has estabUshed a reputation for reUabiUty, and has become the material of choice for innumerable appHcations. Its aimual volume has approached around 350,000—400,000 metric tons. It is currendy manufactured in five countries in Western Europe, North America, and Japan with a combined capacity of 385,000 metric tons. Du Pont is the largest suppHer with 49% of the total capacity and plants in the United States, UK, and Japan. Other suppHers are Bayer/Miles (22.6%) in Germany and the United States, Denki Kagaku Kogyo (11.7%) in Japan, DISTUGIL (10.4%) in France, and TOSOH (6.2%) inJapan (2). 

Copyright 1997. Exclusive rights by The McGraw-HiU Companies, Inc., for manufacture and export. This book cannot be re-exported from the countiy to which it is consigned by McGraw-Hill. The International Edition is not available in North America. 

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