Polymers European production

The most prominent aliphatic polyamides are polyamide 6 and polyamide 6.6. Polyamides are used in a broad range of applications as performance polymers in medicine, textile, and car manufacturing industries. In 2003, the European production ofpolyamides was approximately 3 million tons for technical applications. Of the total polyamide consumption, 94% was polyamide 6 and polyamide 6.6. 

The phosphoric acid triesters (organophosphates, not to be mistaken for organophosphorous pesticides) are, like phthalates, plasticizers mixed into polymers to increase flexibility and workability. Unlike phthalates they are remarkable flame retardants as well. The total European production of phosphorous-base flame... 

In 2010, the European Polysaccharide Network of Excellence (EPNOE) prepared a research road map vision to 2020 focusing on polysaccharides used in material structuring [196]. This report was completed with a market study on biomass-based polymers and products reviewed by Shen et al. [41]. Future and present applications have been reported by the two leading producers of PLA (NatureWorks LLC and Purac) at Horizon 2020. It clearly appears that the most promising sectors are the textile, automotive and building sectors, which require durable PLA products (Figure 8.12). 

Shen, L., Haufe, J. and Patel, M. (2009) Product Overview and Market Projection cf Emerging Bio-Based Plastics, downloadable from http //www.epnoe.eu/research/Life-Cycle-Analysis (accessed 8 luly 2013). Lemstra, P. (2008) Introduction - Synthetic versus natural polymers. European polymer Federation workshop on Bioplastics Crossing the border between synthetic and natural polymers - May 30-31, Paris. Kim, S. (2004) Global potential bioethanol production from wasted crops and crop residues. Biomass and Bioenergy, April, 361-375. 

Butadiene is chlorinated in the gas phase to give mixtures of 1,2-dichlorobut-3-ene and l,4-dichlorobut-2-ene, which are interconvertible in the presence of copper catalysts. The former is dehydrochlorinated by contact with aqueous sodium hydroxide, to give chloroprene (2-chlorobuta-l, 3-diene) for polymer production (neoprene). The earlier acetylene-dimer route has been phased out. U.S. production of neoprene has fallen to about 120 kt per annum, of which over 40% is exported European production is somewhat lower. 

Plastics rely on a feedstock used for energy production, but at the same time they need less of it per ton of product than other materials. The European Association of Plastic Manufacturers (APME) in Brussel has made a big effort over the last decade to develop a life-cycle analysis approach for an environmental positioning of all major plastic materials [1]. Meanwhile, the data for most polymers for resource demand and major emissions have been evaluated and published based on the average data of all European production sites. 

The development and subsequent market entry of new, innovative materials and products from renewable resources, such as bioplastics and other biodegradable polymer-based products, as well as the current research in this field, is of the utmost importance for the future of Europe. That is why since its introduction in 2004, the concept of KBBE has become a major sector of European Union (EU)-funded research, and currently represents a great share in EU research programmes and EU policy initiatives. 

In Western Europe, the CPC producers are equally varied. The following is a partial Hst of the larger companies with total CPC production capacity (10 t) at all sites shown in parentheses Atochem SA (148.5, Prance and Spain), Hoescht AG (102.0, Germany), KaH-Chemie AG (66.0, Germany and Spain), Montefluos SpA (100.0, Italy), and ICI Chemicals and Polymers Ltd. (>113.6, United Kingdom). These producers account for over 80% of the Western European CPC production. 

As mentioned earlier, unmodified polystyrene first found application where rigidity and low cost were important prerequisites. Other useful properties were the transparency and high refractive index, freedom from taste, odour and toxicity, good electrical insulation characteristics, low water absorption and comparatively easy processability. Carefully designed and well-made articles from polystyrene were often found to be perfectly suitable for the end-use intended. On the other hand the extensive use of the polymers in badly designed and badly made products which broke only too easily caused a reaction away from the homopolymer. This resulted, first of all, in the development of the high-impact polystyrene and today this is more important than the unmodified polymer (60% of Western European market). 

Over the years with the different editions 1 have received help from very many companies concerned with the production of plastics materials and from very many individuals. For this edition I should specifically like to thank Susan Davey, Academic Information Services Manager of the University of North London, Rebecca Dolbey and Ray Gill of Rapra Technology Ltd, Peter Lewis of the Open University, Simon Robinson of European Plastics News, Christopher Sutcliffe of Crystal Polymers Ltd and Graham Bonner of BP Chemicals. 

Dye setting, control of, 9 493-498 Dyesite content, of polymer fibers, 11 195 Dye solubility, modification of, 9 509 Dye stability, in color photography, 19 263 Dyestuff migration, 9 231-232 Dyestuff production trends in, 9 294t United States, 9 295 West European, 9 294t Dyestuffs industry, growth of, 9 238-239 Dye-transfer inhibition system, 10 284 Dye transfer system, in color photography, 19 242... 

According to the 1990-93 CAREX database for 15 countries of the European Union (Kauppinen et al., 1998) and the 1981-83 United States National Occupational Exposure Survey (NOES, 1997), approximately 35 000 workers in Europe and as many as 80 000 workers in the United States were potentially exposed to acrylonitrile (see General Remarks). Occupational exposures to acrylonitrile have been measured in monomer production and in the production of fibres, resins, polymers and other chemical intermediates from acrylonitrile. 

Glucose syrups, also known as com syrups in the United States, are defined by the European Commission (EC) as a refined, concentrated aqueous solution of D(+)-glucose, maltose and other polymers of D-glucose obtained by the controlled partial hydrolysis of starch (Howling, 1984). Glucose syrups were fust manufactured industrially in the nineteenth century by acid hydrolysis of starch. Hydrochloric acid was normally used, because sulphuric acid caused haze in syrups due to insoluble sulphates. The source of starch can vary in the United States corn is widely used, whereas in other parts of the world wheat, potato and cassava starch are also employed. Acid hydrolysis of starch is still used today. The method is non-specific, but if conditions are tightly controlled, it is possible to make products with a reasonably consistent carbohydrate profile. 

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