news
US could face tougher chemical regulations
The US Senate’s Committee on Environment and Public Works has moved forward legislation that proposes major changes to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). If the proposal is passed by the full legislature, then it would make it much more difficult to achieve federal approval of chemicals. In effect, the onus would be on the chemicals industry to prove that chemicals are safe before they are used, rather than requiring that federal environmental officials prove that a chemical is harmful before it is banned. This proposed change is similar to the REACH legislation currently being implemented in Europe. The American Chemistry Council (ACC), which had been working on a bipartisan negotiating process for TSCA reform, reacted with dismay at the decision, saying: “We are very disappointed that
the Safe Chemicals Act. “After a cursory review, we
Frank Lautenberg, US Senator for New Jersey, has been pushing for TSCA reform
Senators Boxer and Lauten- berg moved forward with a partisan mark-up of a bill that is inconsistent with the bipartisan negotiations that had just gotten underway in mid-June. We are also troubled that less than 24 hours before the mark-up Senator Lautenberg released a 174-page revised version of
believe the bill is still funda- mentally flawed in many critical areas. Specifically, the bill would establish an unworkable safety standard, and would require an enormous amount of additional government resources to implement. The bill would also dramatically increase the time it would take for the Environmental Protec- tion Agency (EPA) to review new chemicals”. The future of the bill is
uncertain as the committee’s vote was divided along party lines, with Republicans opposing the decision. It is therefore likely that its full progress would depend upon a negotiated compromise between the two political parties. The ACC’s guide to TSCA modernisation can be found at: ❙
http://bit.ly/ACCTSCA
Solvay starts up Chinese compounding
Solvay has started produc- tion at its new specialty polymer compounding plant at Changshu in China’s Jiangsu province. The €21 million facility is
producing grades of Amodel polyphthalamide (PPA), Ixef polyarylamide (PARA) and Kalix modified PARA. It is mainly serving China-based customers in the electron- ics, automotive, consumer and industrial markets. “The start-up of our
compounding plant in Changshu is an important step in the development plan of Solvay’s growing industrial base in China where the Group is committed to increase its customer base,” said Augusto di Donfrancesco, general manager of Solvay’s Global Business Unit Specialty Polymers. ❙
www.solvay.com
PlastiComp develops translucent LFT
PlastiComp has developed a translucent, long-fibre reinforced compound that it describes as a “compounding breakthrough”. The patent-pending TPU
based product contains 20-40% long glass fibres by weight. When moulded it is smooth and translucent, while still maintaining the mechani- cal properties of a standard long glass reinforced thermo- plastic compound. “Moulded structural parts
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with translucent qualities lead to unique applications that require strength and optical transparency”, said Dr. Raj Mathur, vice president and director for technology and business development at PlastiComp. Target applications include
PlastiComp has produced an LFT compound that is translucent as well as being strong
COMPOUNDING WORLD | August 2012
medical devices, pumps, filters, power tools, sporting equipment, or anything requiring a see-through part-section. ❙
www.plasticomp.com
www.compoundingworld.com
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