Thermoplastics specialty

Polyester sheet products may be produced from amorphous poly(ethylene terephalate) (PET) or partiaHy crystallized PET. Acid-modified (PETA) and glycol modified (PETG) resins are used to make ultraclear sheet for packaging. Poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) has also been used in sheet form. Liquid-crystal polyester resins are recent entries into the market for specialty sheet. They exhibit great strength, dimensional stabHity, and inertness at temperatures above 250°C (see Polyesters,thermoplastic). 

Ethylenebis(tetrabromophthalimide). The additive ethylenebis(tetrabromophthalimide) [41291 -34-3] is prepared from ethylenediamine and tetrabromophthabc anhydride [632-79-1]. It is a specialty product used ia a variety of appHcations. It is used ia engineering thermoplastics and polyolefins because of its thermal stabiUty and resistance to bloom (42). It is used ia styrenic resias because of its uv stabiUty (43). This flame retardant has been shown to be more effective on a contained bromine basis than other brominated flame retardants ia polyolefins (10). 

Natural mbber comes generally from southeast Asia. Synthetic mbbers are produced from monomers obtained from the cracking and refining of petroleum (qv). The most common monomers are styrene, butadiene, isobutylene, isoprene, ethylene, propylene, and acrylonitrile. There are numerous others for specialty elastomers which include acryUcs, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, chlorinated polyethylene, epichlorohydrin, ethylene—acryUc, ethylene octene mbber, ethylene—propylene mbber, fluoroelastomers, polynorbomene, polysulftdes, siUcone, thermoplastic elastomers, urethanes, and ethylene—vinyl acetate. 

The plastics industry was launched nearly 150 years ago with the production of certain derivatives of cellulose. However, its real emergence as a growth industry of immense proportions and importance has occurred since World War II with the sustained strong growth of thermoplastics and specialty elastomers. The importance of the polymers industry in modern society is underscored by the myriad of uses already developed for these materials, with more being developed almost daily. Although there are a multitude of polymers that are derived from hydrocarbons, we will only briefly discuss the more common thermoplastics that are made from relatively simple monomers from petroleum. 

Ashland distribution company, a division of Ashland inc. http //www.ashlandchemical.com/gp.html. The General Polymers Division of Ashland Distribution Company stocks virtually every grade of prime thermoplastic resins and specialties for plastics processors. General Polymers represents and distributes product for the following plastics manufacturing businesses ... 

Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) are either block copolymers (SBS, SEES, SEPS, TPU, COPA, COPE) or blends, such as TPO (elastomer/hard thermoplastic, also referred to as thermoplastic olefin) and TPV (fhermoplastic vul-canizafe, blend of a vulcanized elastomer and a hard fhermoplastic). These types represent the majority of fhe TPEs other types are either specialty or small-volume materials. 

This volume on Polyolefins and Styrenics is the first part of a four-part set on Handbook of Engineering and Specialty Thermoplastics. The other three parts, to be published in late 2010 and 2011, are on Polyethers and Polyesters Nylons Water Soluble Polymers. The aim of the Handbook is to keep the practitioner abreast of the recent developments in these subfields as well as to equip the advanced student with up-to-date knowledge as he/she enters the industrial arena. 

Decorating. The decoration of enamels is primarily done by silk screening. Other methods include indirect printing such as use of decals (decalcomania), and indirect lithographic, thermoplastic, and total transfer printing. Photographic printing is also done as a specialty. 

Extrusion. Sheet, film, and profiled articles are made by extrusion (20). The resin is melted and forced through a die plate or head. Variations include multilayer and blown film applications. In multilayer coextrusions, different combinations of plastics are separately but concurrently extruded to form layered sheet or film. In the packaging industry, specialty resins such as high barrier ethylene—vinyl alcohol copolymers are combined with heat- and impact-resistant thermoplastics for food packages. The properties of each resin layer are additive, as opposed to the "averaging of property" in blends. Multilayers are also used for blow-molded containers, films, and sheet products (see also Film AND sheeting materials). 

The Dow Chemical Company, Castor Oil, Inc., and the USD A Western Regional Research Center are collaborating to develop the castor plant as a suitable oilseed for specialty oils that can be converted into lubricants, coatings, foams, adhesives, and engineering thermoplastics. Castor oil already contains ricinoleic acid, a fatty acid used in many industrial applications, but project partners hope to produce other industrially desirable fatty acids within the castor bean. 

The most common polymers used in FR wire and cable applications are PVC, polyolefins, fluoropolymers, and silicone polymers. Thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) and other specialty polymers such as chlorosulfonated polyethylene also serve niche applications in wire and cable. The approaches to achieve flame retardancy in each of these polymer systems along with issues unique to wire and cable application are discussed in the following sections. 

Phosphorus Phosphate esters and others (halogenated and nonhalogenated) Polyurethane foams, polyesters, and thermoplastics such as flexible PVC, modified PPO, and cellulosics Also polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and ethylene/propylene copolymers Akzo Nobel, Albemarle, Amfine Chemical Corp., Amspec Chemical, Bayer, Ciba Specialty Chemical-Melapur, Clariant, Cytec, Daihachi Chemical Industry, Great Lakes, Italmatch Chemicals, Nitroil, Rhodia... 

Melamine Pure melamine, melamine derivatives (salts and inorganic acids), melamine homologues Polyurethane, polyamide, polyolefins, thermoplastic polyesters Akzo Nobel, Budenheim, Ciba Specialty Chemicals-Melapur... 

Among the contrarians, Bayer has had for historical reasons a different approach to the problem of remaining a well-rounded producer of chemicals. It has always been a leader in such specialty chemicals as plastics and rubber additives and supplies master batches through its subsidiary Rhein Chemie. Its polymers are mainly centered on synthetic elastomers and specialty plastics like polyurethanes and polycarbonates that Bayer itself develops. These are not subjected to the cutthroat competition that commodity thermoplastics are. Bayer has remained involved in aroma chemicals with a well-known subsidiary, Haarmann Reimer. In pharmaceuticals the company occupies an honorable rank, although in the future its management may want to separate that branch from the rest of its activities in preparation for further alliances. Like BASF, Bayer considers its agrochemical line as a core business. However, unlike BASF, it is less interested in integrating upstream production to oil raw... 

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