Conductive, elastic, and colored elastomers with high durability come to the US market:
                      H.M. Royal becomes exclusive OCSiAl distributor

• US-based H.M. Royal has emerged as the exclusive North America distributor for the Luxembourg-based OCSiAl, a global leader in graphene nanotube technologies.
• The partnership reflects growing demand for high-performance sustainable elastomers by the American market.
• Nanotubes enable a new set of properties in elastomers that are resulting in their rapid adoption by the automotive, transportation, electronics, construction, mining, and healthcare industries.

COLUMBUS, OHIO–OCSiAl, the world-leading supplier of graphene nanotube solutions, and H.M. Royal, a US chemical distributor with a 97-year history, have signed an exclusive license agreement for the US elastomer market.

“H.M. Royal is a company delivering high-quality raw materials and specialty chemicals with dependable service. Clients value our pioneering approach in supplying the market with the most advanced materials. H.M. Royal are expanding our offering to the silicones market to meet growing demand. We have a broad range of polymers, such as HCR, LSR, and RTV, and cross-linking peroxides, and now are excited to add nanotube technology to our portfolio. OCSiAl graphene nanotubes grant a unique combination of targeted conductive performance with retained elasticity, improved mechanical properties, and the ability to add color. We recognize their potential in a number of applications,” said Joseph Royal President, H.M. Royal.

The performance of TUBALL™ graphene nanotubes in elastomers is based on their ability to create a 3D conductive network inside the rubber matrix. Even low dosages starting from 0.05 wt.% grant targeted electrical conductivity without leading to drawbacks in elasticity or hardening, which are a common problem with standard conductive additives for elastomers. This no-compromise set of properties is of crucial importance in conductive vehicle components, flexible silicone electrodes and sensors, cable connectors and sleeves, printing rollers and pads, conveyor belts, car tires, and other elastomer products with high performance requirements To simplify nanotube handling, OCSiAl has designed and produces a pre-dispersed form of graphene nanotubes: TUBALL MATRIX. The usability of this solution is demonstrated by drop-in application to conventional manufacturing processes.

“H.M. Royal will market concentrates based on polymer-friendly carriers and pre-dispersed graphene nanotubes, which simplify their handling and make it possible to maintain the original compounding and molding process. Nanotube solutions for silicones are a main focus now, but we plan to extend further to other rubbers such as FKM, EPDM, NBR, and HNBR,” said Ian Fellows, CEO, OCSiAl USA.

With a growing team and market presence, OCSiAl has moved to a new office in Gahanna, Ohio. The company will continue to expand its distributor network to the coatings and composites markets.

Unique value chain collaboration “Design4Circularity” achieves first circular cosmetics packaging concept

• Giving packaging waste a second life in Personal Care applications
• Designed to be recycled again and again: colorless bottle with 100% Post-Consumer recyclate content (PCR), equipped with a printed deinkable full-body shrink sleeve
• Full sortability in current recycling infrastructures possible
• Innovation unveiled  ahead of K 2022: step-wise introduction of individual solutions like additives, PCR, and suitable inks, available directly to the market

MUTTENZ, JUNE 15, 2022 – Moving circular plastic packaging forward. In a first and unique collaboration for the Personal Care industry, Clariant, Siegwerk, Borealis, and Beiersdorf are combining expertise to tackle the challenge of creating recyclable consumer packaging, based on 100% retrieved plastic packaging waste, for cosmetics applications. The pioneering initiative, named “Design4Circularity”, is providing innovations and insights for the different design aspects to encourage others to also follow design for circularity principles.

The cross-industry collaboration is targeting the achievement of truly circular packaging by incorporating full life cycle thinking in each development step, to create a new standard for the industry. Circular packaging supports reduced plastic waste, less use of new/virgin plastic material, and reduced climate impact, which are critical challenges facing our planet.

Richard Haldimann, Chief Technology and Sustainability Officer, Clariant, says: “This collaboration was possible because all participants are dedicated to circular economy, with company-wide programs and holistic understanding of the systems involved. Achieving circularity needs a complete shift in designing product packaging and packaging raw materials, considering sortability, recycling and packaging end-of-life.”

Stefan Haep, Technology Head Brand Owner Collaboration at Siegwerk, adds: “Our initiative is a frontrunner in uniquely assessing circularity in every design parameter, from additives to bottle material to inks, mapping industry competencies, potential gaps, and feasibility proof points to open up viable, ultimately circular solutions.”

The mission was to design a packaging solution that creates a cleaner input waste stream and finds its way back into the loop in high-value applications. It should also allow for the high-quality visuals and distinctive shapes consumers associate with cosmetics packaging and brands.

To deliver on all these factors, the innovation centers on a colorless polyolefin bottle with 100% PCR content, full body sleeved in a printed deinkable shrink sleeve. All materials are technically fully recyclable with the potential to be recovered and used for the same high-value application.

Stefan Rüster, Packaging expert from Beiersdorf, continues: “We follow an ambitious Sustainability Agenda including the vision of fully circular resources. The Design4Circularity packaging solution is ground-breaking for future cosmetics applications. Through the hard work and innovation power of all collaboration partners involved, we have managed to combine the high design requirements of a cosmetic packaging with full circularity. We are very proud of this success and hope that this motivates our industry peers to follow.”

And Peter Voortmans, Global Commercial Director Consumer Product, Borealis, concludes: “Transforming to a circular economy is a team effort. Only together with like-minded partners can we shape an ‘ever mindful’ tomorrow. It starts with packaging design in combination with the right sorting and recycling infrastructure, and through collaboration we reinvent essentials for sustainable living.”

Designed to be recycled again and again

Critical design parameters included polymer and additive composition, material selection of sleeve and bottle, sortability and deinking of sleeve material, recyclability, and PCR quality.

To give packaging waste a second life the packaging material needs to retain its highest value through multiple lifecycles. Here, Borealis brought its expertise in advanced, transformational mechanical recycling technology by offering high quality PCR based on proprietary Borcycle™ M technology. Additionally, Clariant brought expertise in design for recycling additive solutions to ensure targeted additivation to protect PCR quality and protect against polymer chain breakdown at each recycling step. This delivered a suitable, high-value PCR material to repeatedly hit the high-end criteria of Personal Care-related consumer packaging. The circular solution additionally focuses on a colorless bottle option to increase PCR quality after recycling.

To achieve differentiation of the packaging despite using an uncolored bottle, the collaboration decided on a full body shrink sleeve as the ideal way to allow for the unique design of individual brands. Leading ink manufacturer Siegwerk was able to provide ink systems, which in collaboration with Beiersdorf and a sleeve manufacturer allowed printing of the sleeve to realize a full body, colored and appealing cosmetic sleeve. Additionally, the chosen new ink composition was designed to allow deinking of the sleeve within a recycling process, increasing the circularity of the packaging. The bottle/shrink sleeve combination is intended for removal at a materials recovery facility.

First sorting trials in existing recycling infrastructure proved the sortability of the full body sleeved HDPE bottle, achieving a high recovery of the bottle’s material. Additionally, the project team conducted trials with full body sleeved, transparent PET bottles and achieved similar results.

Further advancements in sorting technology are needed to achieve the ultimate goal of circular economy to give colorless bottles a second life back in colorless applications retaining their highest value. Technologies such as digital watermarking or artificial intelligence could help such sustainability goals to be reached.

Borcycle™ TRADEMARK OF BOREALIS

Thermal insulation makes an important contribution to climate neutrality

From building insulation to the cold chain

Thermal insulation of buildings and the cold chain plays a vital role in saving CO2 emissions and conserving fossil raw materials. Covestro is one of the leading raw material suppliers for one of the most efficient insulation materials used for this purpose for a long time: Rigid polyurethane (PU) foam. Given the ongoing climate change and the drastic measures required to combat it, its importance is currently growing once again.

This is reason enough for Covestro to further increase the sustainability and insulating performance of its foams and develop innovative solutions for more effective production. At the K 2022 plastics trade show, the company will present promising results that support its vision to become fully circular.

Climate-neutral raw material for insulation

For example, Covestro now offers one of the two main raw materials for PU rigid foam, methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), in a version that is climate-neutral1 from the cradle to the factory gate: On balance, no CO2 emissions are generated in the aforementioned part of the value-added cycle. This increase in sustainability is due to the use of alternative raw materials based on plant waste and residual oils, which are allocated to the products with the help of certified mass balancing according to ISCC PLUS. With such climate-neutral1 solutions, Covestro helps its customers achieve their own sustainability goals and master the transition to a circular economy. The products can be incorporated into existing process technology at construction, refrigeration and automotive industry customers without any significant changes.

Small refrigerators with plenty of interior space

In the cold chain, too, rigid PU foam has been the insulating material of choice for decades to keep food from spoiling efficiently and permanently. In the future, it will be important to not only further increase the insulation performance, but also to have the largest possible interior space in which to store a lot of refrigerated goods, and yet limited external dimensions of the refrigerator. Here, PU vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) offer an advantageous solution: they take up little space but provide efficient insulation with low energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Even at the end of their useful life, VIPs still reduce the carbon footprint: Thanks to their use, refrigerators are made from only a few different materials and can be recycled more easily.

More effective and sustainable production of insulation elements

For the production of rigid foam insulation boards and metal sandwich elements, customers have to spread a PU reaction mixture on a top layer. Covestro has developed an innovative technology using casting rakes that enables more uniform distribution of the liquid mixture, simplifying the production process but also increasing the quality of the insulation elements. Insulation Board Fastline (IBF) technology also reduces out-of-spec batches and production waste – waste that would otherwise have to be disposed of or recycled. The casting rakes can be easily integrated into the existing production.

Efficiently insulated windows

The efficient thermal insulation of doors and windows naturally makes another important contribution to reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions from buildings. While multi-pane windows made of insulating glass have proven themselves in practice, for a few years now, composite materials made of polyurethane resins in combination with glass fibers using pultrusion technology have been providing excellent insulation of window and door frames. They also give them good strength and fire resistance.

SABIC launches ISCC Plus certified PP compounds & STAMAX resins based on renewable and recycled feedstock

 SABIC, a global leader in the chemical industry, has announced that its production of a new range of SABIC® polypropylene (PP) compounds and STAMAX  PP resins based on bio-renewable and advanced recycled feedstock at Genk, Belgium, has received TÜV Nord accreditation under the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS scheme. This certified product offering aligns with SABIC’s extensive TRUCIRCLE initiative for accelerating the transition of the plastics industry to a circular economy and meets a globally growing customer demand for more sustainable material solutions.

“We are extremely proud of being the first in the industry to obtain ISCC Plus certification for PP compounds and resins produced with feedstock from renewable and recycled sources. This gives our PP customers a valid alternative for enhancing their environmental balance and achieving ambitious sustainability targets,” says Lada Kurelec, General Manager for PP & E4P[1] Business, SABIC. “The large-scale production of these new materials at our manufacturing site in Genk also ensures security of supply, while it contributes to our efforts of mitigating the impact of our products on climate change and fossil depletion.”

The ISCC Plus certification honors the implementation of a mass balance accounting system that traces the material flow across complex supply chains from the feedstock to final products. The approach allows OEMs to document and quantify the sustainability of their applications made from certified materials. Moreover, brand owners can use the certification to highlight the sustainable material content of their products, offering consumers a more responsible choice. The mass balance accounting follows predefined and transparent rules, which then define whether a product can be classified as renewable or circular.

For SABIC, this means that for each ton of renewable or circular feedstock fed into the production process to substitute fossil-based feedstock, approximately one ton of the output material can be classified as either renewable or circular.

In addition, SABIC has performed a life cycle analysis (LCA) comparing the renewable and the traditional fossil-based routes according to PAS 2050[2] methodology for biogenic carbon accounting. The results show significant Global Warming Potential (GWP) reductions, with near CO2 neutrality achieved at a renewable content of 40 percent. On cradle-to-gate and cradle-to-gate plus end-of-life levels, each kilogram of SABIC® PP compound based on certified renewable feedstock can reduce fossil depletion by up to 40 percent and lessen the carbon footprint of applications by up to 95 percent.

Certified bio-renewable based SABIC PP compounds are targeted at high-performance automotive applications, from bumpers and painted or unpainted exterior trim components to interior door panels, instrument panels and visible interior trim. Certified bio-renewable based long-glass-fiber reinforced polypropylene STAMAX resins are targeted at structural automotive applications such as front-end carriers, instrument panel carriers, tailgate structures, door modules and others.

Certified bio-renewable based SABIC PP compounds and STAMAX resins can replace corresponding SABIC fossil-based grades with no need of lengthy technical validation, as they offer the exact same level of performance and quality.

BOREALIS IS INVESTING IN GLOBAL ASSETS TO SATISFY FUTURE DEMAND FOR HIGH-QUALITY WIRE AND CABLE COMPOUNDS

• EUR 200 million investment in European compounding assets ensures future availability of high-quality insulation and semiconductive materials to enable the energy transition
• Global asset footprint further extended thanks to acquisition of DYM Solution and investments in Baystar™ and Borealis Compounds Inc.

As leading innovators and reliable partners to the Wire & Cable (W&C) industry, Borealis and Borouge are pleased to attend the 2022 WIRE trade show taking place from 20 to 24 June in Düsseldorf, Germany. In addition to presenting a wide range of innovative and more sustainable technologies and material solutions for the industry, Borealis will cast a spotlight on its global investment projects. From the Americas to South Korea, Borealis is investing to ensure future availability of high-quality compounds for the W&C industry, among others.

XLPE and semicon excellence, made in Europe
Borealis is investing around EUR 200 million to upgrade and expand its XLPE and semicon assets at existing production locations in Europe. This ambitious initiative will serve the W&C market by safeguarding the reliable supply of high-quality insulation and semiconductive materials in the long term, and particularly those required to support global offshore wind and interconnector projects. Investment focus lies on production of XLPE compounds in Stenungsund, Sweden; and on semicon compounds in Antwerp, Belgium. The products and services originating at these new centres of manufacturing excellence are subject to stringent process and quality controls.

Baystar™ and Borealis Compounds Inc. extend footprint in the Americas
The Baystar™ joint venture with TotalEnergies is bringing the Borstar 3G technology to American PE markets. Construction commenced in 2020 on the 625,000 metric ton-per-year Borstar PE unit in Texas. Once the facility comes on stream in 2022, the increased production capacity will enable Borealis, as exclusive supplier of Baystar-produced PE to W&C customers, to better fulfil growing demand for fibre optic and power cable jacketing in North, Central, and South America.

An investment study to evaluate capacity expansion at the Borealis Compounds Inc. production facility in New Jersey is nearing completion. Once the project is deemed feasible, Borealis plans to invest a significant sum to expand the XLPE facility so as to serve the steadily growing demand for medium voltage power cables in the Americas. XLPE production capacity at this facility is set to increase by 10 kta to reach a total capacity of 42 kta by the year 2024.

DYM Solution enhances the Borealis and Borouge presence in Asia and beyond
DYM Solution, the South Korea-based manufacturer of compound materials for cables, became a member of the Borealis Group in 2020. Its acquisition allows Borealis and Borouge to better serve their local customers in the region. It also expands production capacity for the sophisticated cable compounds in the portfolio, including semiconductive and halogen-free flame retardant compounds as well as crosslinkable rubber and silane compounds.

“Taken together, the size and scope of investment in our production assets is remarkable. Our growth projects are expanding our global asset footprint, yet they actually bring us closer to our local and regional customers,” says Bart Verheule, Borealis Global Commercial Director Energy. “Through customer proximity and increased production capacity, we can provide even more support to our customers in the flawless execution of major infrastructure projects, particularly in the area of renewables. The increasingly wide range of more sustainable W&C material solutions we can provide will enable the energy transition.”

Award-winner: “Smart Bratwurst” trainee project

Now it is official: with its trainee project “Smart Bratwurst”, Arburg was one of the five winners of the “Industry 4.0 Talents” competition this year. The award was presented to the trainees Nico Schoch and Nils Frey by Dr Patrick Rapp, State Secretary in the Ministry of Economics, Labour and Tourism of the State of Baden-Württemberg, at a virtual awards ceremony. The two trainees travelled to Stuttgart on behalf of the Arburg team to receive the award and present the project in the Haus der Wirtschaft…..