Thermoplastic compounding business is growing well in Eastern Europe. The independent sector's market supplies smaller volumes of materials and offers fast colour-matching and high levels of service to local processors. Entry barriers to this sector are low, second hand machinery is readily available and technical knowledge is relatively easy to obtain. These companies tend to be entrepreneurial businesses, resulting in rapid change; with new companies coming into existance and existing operations going out of business or being bought. Despite the increasing consolidation within the industry, there continues to be a large number of independent producers. Read more in Thermoplastic compounding business is growing well in Eastern Europe

Though the industry is shifting to green plastics, additives for bioplastics will take some time before they attain levels of respectable volumes due to many inter related factors such as availability, cost, performance and processability. Several performance enhancing additives for biopolymers have been developed in recent years and newer ones are being investigated. Read more in Performance enhancing additives for biopolymer being increasingly developed

As polypropylene is a semi-crystalline polymer, it is naturally translucent/opaque. The introduction of additives called Clarifiers, can make PP highly transparent. New clarifying and nucleating agents have been developed that offer barrier properties and better organoleptics including taste and odor. Read in New clarifying/nucleating agents provide barrier properties and better organoleptics

The Middle East is probably the most important influence on the global petrochemical industry and will remain so for many years to come. The region's unparalleled production cost advantage and the willingness of its governments to diversify their oil-based economies have fostered exponential growth of the industry. But the Middle East's success isn't unbridled. New projects in the Middle East are slowing down. Read in Global recession takes toll on petrochemical projects in the Middle East

The world's first working "invisibility cloak" has been demonstarated. The cloak deflects microwave beams so they flow around a "hidden" object inside with little distortion, making it appear almost as if nothing were there at all. By incorporating complex material properties, the cloak allows a concealed volume, plus the cloak, to appear to have properties similar to free space when viewed externally. Read more in First working invisibility cloak

The high price of naphtha as a feedstock for steam crackers is prompting the chemical industry to re-evaluate alternative approaches to securing raw material supplies. The use of synthesis gas will widen raw material base in future. This is because synthesis gas can be obtained both from the fossil raw materials oil, gas and coal and from renewable resources. Read more in A catalyst system that converts a mixture of synthetic gases

Wrinkles are a major cause of defect in extrusion winding and converting, especially with thinner films. The cause of most wrinkles is located close to the roller where the wrinkle first appears and can be identified by looking at the orientation and pattern of the wrinkle. Also, thinner films are much more wrinkle-prone than thick ones. Read in Wrinkles in film can be eliminated by simple measures

Increasing polymer prices, driven by rising crude oil prices are driving development of methods of addition of higher levels of fillers and glass fibers. Though the driving force for adding more filler remains primarily economic, the resulting improvements in quality, durability and appearance and a host of novel properties are also promoting this trend. Plastics additive suppliers and equipment manufacturers have developed new technologies. Read more in New methods of higher loading of fillers without causing dispersion related problems

Higher fuel prices have given an impetus to develop lower weight materials for aircrafts. In the quest to reduce fuel costs, airlines are scrutinizing every component of a plane for potential weight reduction. A new material- exceptionally lightweight, with a host of other desirable properties, engineered to meet customer requirements and provide overall fuel efficiency has been developed. Read more in Polyetherimide foam lowers aircraft weight to improve fuel efficiency