Vol. 17, No. 7, Page 4

INJECTION MOULDING A two-day international conference on this subject, sponsored by OF REINFORCED the Plastics and Rubber Institute in the UK, was held 24th-25th THERMOPLASTICS AND February 1987. Topics covered encompassed many aspects of the THERMOSETS composite manufacturing route from molecular architecture to

in-service component performance and included papers on reinforcing materials, fillers, and additives. Processing of these reinforced compounds has developed considerably and such composites are likely to continue to grow at a faster rate than the general polymers sector. A 45% growth in the use of injection moulded DMC occurred between 1983-1986, but pressure on costs, quality and technical performance will continue to be critical factors in certain application areas, such as electronics, where competition is already being felt from alternative materials.

Plast. & Rubb. Int., 1987, 12, (June), 43 -

EUROPEAN BAN ON FIRE RETARDANTS

The Green Party of West Germany has accused the Federal Ministry of delaying a ban on the use of polybrominated diphenylene ether as a flame retardant. The Party argues that the Ministry should ban the chemical because tests indicate that treated materials release considerable amounts of dioxins and furans when burned under simulated fire conditions. It is estimated that some 2,000 tons/year of this fire retardant are processed in West Germany with 20,000 tons of plastics. The fire retardant has not been made in West Germany since 1985 and users rely on imports from the US.

Euro?. Chem. News, 1987, 48, (June), 16 -

REDUCING TITANIUM Tests carried out by Degussa in West Germany have shown that up DIOXIDE IN WHITE to a third of titanium dioxide pigment can be replaced in shoe RUBBER soles and roofing sheet by EXTRUSIL, a special silica, without

adversely affecting the whiteness of the rubber. Shoe soles can contain up to 15 and roofing sheet mix up to 50 parts by weight of titanium dioxide so that considerable cost benefits can be achieved using the silica substitute.

Manuf. Chem., 1987, 58, (March), 77 -

RESINS FOR PRODUCING Dow Chemical has developed a high performance fibre grade POLYTHENE FIBRES polythene resin, designated ASPUN. The fibres are suitable for

all fibre and non-woven processes and wettability control is achieved either by using a standard surfactant coating or by an additive within the polymer. A range of grades is offered covering different melt-indices and densities. The fibres made from the resins retain their softness and strength even after sterilisation by ionising radiation.

Manuf. Chem., 1987, 58, (June), 25 -- -

ADDITIVES FOR POLVMERS

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