Polystyrene and EPS Market expected to grow at a healthy rate of 5.6% from 2010

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Polystyrene has witnessed years of eroding margins amid rising crude prices and tightening global feedstock supplies. Significant price increases compounded results by severely reducing sales volumes. As a result, many converters switched to lower-cost polypropylene. This has led to erosion in some of the traditional large-volume applications, particularly in general-purpose and high-impact resins. However, global demand for polystyrene and expandable polystyrene increased from 13 mln tons in 2000 to around 14.9 mln tons in 2010. Consumption of all grades of polystyrene is expected to grow in this decade. To know about the growing applications, consumption pattern, global demand-supply, etc, read Polystyrene and EPS market expected to grow at a healthy rate of 5.6% from 2010-2020
Growth in demand for acetic acid is in line with growth in GDP for most developed economies, as they are the harbingers of fiscal policies and consumer confidence. Global demand declined slightly due to the slump in the macro economy. As demand grows in developing countries, acetic acid manufacturers are investing in capacity expansions and new plant installations. To know about the impact of recession on the markets, current market trends, key growth drivers, leading consuming regions, applications and end uses, growing markets, factors driving growth, etc, read Global acetic acid market estimated to reach 15.5 million tons by 2020
In 2012, the world propylene oxide (PO) production volumes exceeded 7.7 mln tons. Asia, Europe and North America together produced over 7.3 mln tons of propylene oxide in 2012 out of the global production volumes of 7.7 mln tons. To know about the leading PO manufacturing countries, the leading PO consumer, consumption volumes, factors affecting growth, markets for PO derivatives and estimated growth in global output, read Propylene Oxide market to continue growing, global output predicted to override 9.5 mln tons in 2018
Rising feedstock prices and increasing consciousness for the environmental impact of packaging waste as the driving forces behind this growth. The main hurdle faced by bioplastics is the competitive pricing pressure vis a vis conventional plastics. Bioplastics are expected to have great potential food packaging - active and intelligent packaging, with temperature or quality indicators, as well as with enhanced properties and attributes, etc. These inventions could well change the way plastics are used in the packaging industry. Read more in New technologies offer great potential for bioplastics in food packaging
A research team has created an artificial bone that could be used to heal shattered limbs by using stem cells and a degradable plastic. Another team has developed a biodegradable polymer mesh to grow new bone to serve as spinal implants, to mend cracks or fill in voids in broken bones, for facial reconstruction, etc. Read more in Plastics to create rigid material to encourage real bone to regrow, gel that mimics living cells
A conducting polymer as part of a thin-film thermoelectric device that can generate electricity from the temperature difference between the fingertips and the environment has been developed. The final objective of the research is to harvest energy from human body heat. Read more in Conducting polymer can generate electricity from temperature difference between fingertips and environment