ARTICLES

  • The abundant supply of shale gas in North America has unleashed a wave of capital investment in the North American petrochemical industry. Besides oil and natural gas, large quantities of natural gas liquids (NGLs) such as ethane, propane and butane, major new supplies are entering the market at low costs. This low-cost feedstock has already shifted profit pools from gas producers and processors to petrochemical manufacturers. Asian petrochemicals firms, traditionally using naphtha as a raw material, are now switching to LPG, building tanks and retooling plants. US LPG works out a cheaper option for Asian users vs feedstock from the MiddleEast.  A cutback in naphtha use will hit key regional suppliers, being forced to cut the premiums on naphtha sales. This renaissance is reshaping the Latin American petrochemical industry, including investments and projects in Brazil, Mexico, and other countries in the region. Read more in US shale gas changing dynamics in petrochemical industry of Asia, Latin America, Middle East
  • The demand for lighter, flexible and durable material has helped engineering plastics to penetrate into industries such as automotive & transportation, consumer & appliances, electrical & electronics, industrial & machinery, packaging, others. Engineering plastics are primarily used as replacements of traditional materials, including metal and wood, in different end-user industries. To know about the global engineering plastics market, consumption pattern, driving and restraining factors, opportunities, challenges, end-user markets, penetration of end-user market in major region, etc, read Asia Pacific dominates global engineering plastics market estimated to cross US$79000 mln by 2018
  • Shape memory polymers are smart plastic materials that can be transformed into a temporary shape and then return to their original shape, triggered by an external stimulus such as heat or pressure. These polymers can be programmed to create highly complex shapes, but the transformations have conventionally been irreversible. In recent years, reversible shape memory has been enabled in certain polymers. Shape memory materials are vital for minimally invasive surgery, hands-free packaging, the aerospace industry, and microrobotics. Reversible shape memory polymers are particularly attractive for these fields, as they allow for highly complex shape transformations on broad length scales, and in response to a vast array of external stimuli. Read more in Strides in microrobotics, face reconstruction, minimally invasive surgery with shape shifting polymers
  • Composites are the materials in which a homogeneous matrix component is reinforced by a stiffer and stronger element that is generally fibrous but may have a particulate or other shape Fiber reinforced composites are divided into two types: carbon fiber reinforced composites and glass fiber reinforced composites. Their demand is higher due to their characteristics such as durability, versatility, weight reduction and cost effectiveness. To know about the regions that are leading demand, those in which demand is in the early stages of developments, factors likely to encourage further growth in market, sectors likely to lead growth of this market, etc, read Building & construction, automotives drive world market for CFRP composites past US$26 bln
  • Continuous Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastics (CFTs), historically used in niche applications in aerospace and defense market are finding increasing application in automotive, sporting, marine, transportation, industrial, etc. Major resins used in CFTs are PP, PA, PEEK, PPS, PEI and PEKK. CFTs, growing over the past two decades, include a variety of products, including unidirectional prepregs, fabric based prepregs, narrow tapes, commingled fibers in roving and fabric forms, sheets, and rods. To know more about the  global continuous fiber thermoplastics market including analysis of the market trend, growing applications, emerging trend and key drivers of industry growth, read Global continuous fiber thermoplastics estimated to grow at over 8% until end of decade
  • Growing demand for polymers is expected to result in increased utilization of refinery capacities which in turn is expected to drive catalyst demand. Other factors enhancing demand include favorable regulatory scenario as well as efficient and conservative manufacturing processes. Polymerization catalysts will experience the fastest growth globally, driven by healthy expansion of polymer resin production. Plastic products will continue to displace other materials in a variety of applications, while rising incomes in developing nations will also contribute to additional plastic consumption. Read more Global catalyst market expected to cross 7,803 KT by 2020, growing at a CAGR of over 3%