Additives for Polymers January I993

require minimal secondary processing and pose few, if any, environmental hazards.” Therefore, in view of the inevitable trade-offs among these desired qualities being made in the marketplace, ABS (the former market leader) is being replaced by relatively new ABS/PC blends, particularly those offering flame retardancy without the use of chlorine- or bromine-based additives. High- impact polystyrene will represent the fastest growing resin in plastic enclosures. This report, referenced RP-064N Plastics in Electronic Equipment Enclosures, (September 1992) is priced at $2,750.00. Contact: Business Communications Co. Inc, 25 Van Sant Street, Norwalk, CT 068.55, USA. Tel: + I-203-853-4260. Fax: + 1-203- 853-0348.

Overview of titanium dioxide industry

In his annual paper on the TiO, industry, presented in Dusseldorf, Germany, DV Borst, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive of SCM Chemicals, highlighted TiO,‘s increasingly important role in the everyday life of modern societies whilst acknowledging that individuals’ concern for the environment will play an ever-expanding role in determining how each of us lives our life. Whilst the TiOz industry as a whole has been moving towards the environmentally-preferred chloride process as the principal means of production, environmental legislation is accelerating to a point where some manufacturers may be unable to keep pace. In particular, Borst predicts that plants producing TiO, by the sulphate process “that cannot economically be made environmentally compliant will close or reduce production”.

Borst also highlights the change in TiOz pricing due to recessionary factors and oversupply. “Local TiOz prices have now fallen to levels which are close to or below 1980 prices on a constant currency basis”. These price reductions are despite increased costs for manufacturing and environmental

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protection.

With the global economy emerging from recession, the outlook for the TiO, industry has improved from an industry operating rate of 85% of capacity in 1992 to 90% in 1996, coupled with an increase in finished product prices to reflect the increase in operating and environmental compliance costs.

(SCM Chemical, headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland, is the world’s third-largest producer of titanium dioxide with a total capacity of 446,000 metric tons. The company operates eight TiO plants at five operating sites in the United States. the United Kingdom and Australia.) Contact: Mr Geo# Hirst, SCM Chemicals- Europe, PO Box 26, Grimsby, South Humberside, DN37 8DP, UK. Tel: +44-469- S71ooO. Fax: +44-469-571234.

PRODUCTS

Polyolef in impact modifiers

Dow Plastics in the USA is developing a family of linear ethylene-octene copolymer elastomers based on new single-site metallocene catalysts, which Dow refers to as “constrained, geometry catalyst technology”. The first of these polyolefin elastomers based on high co-monomer contents of 20-30% are due to be marketed this year (1993). Dow has shown that they may have a role as substitutes for EPR or EPDM in polypropylene-based thermoplastic elastomers.

They appear to have greater compatibility with polypropylene and better low- temperature flexibility than EPDM. They also offer greater toughening efficiency in polypropylene than does EPR. Contact: Dow Plastics, 2020 Dow Center, Midland, MI 48640, USA. Tel: +I-51 7-636 1000.

O1993 Elsevier Science Publishers Ltd