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NEWS


Melt process may cut cost of carbon fibres


The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research (IAP) has revealed a new technology – ComCarbon – that it claims will “make it possible in the future to produce carbon fibres at low cost for the mass market”. Although carbon fibres


are widely used for rein- forcement in lightweight composites for high-end applications, they have struggled to compete with glass and natural fibres in the automotive and con- struction industries due to high production costs. About half of this is attrib- uted to the cost of solution spinning the polyacryloni- trile (PAN) precursor fibre, which cannot be melt processed. ComCarbon is an


alternative precursor


technology, developed by Fraunhofer, that uses an inexpensive melt spinning process and special melt- able PAN co-polymers to cut precursor fibre production cost by around 60%. Once spun, they are converted to an unmeltable state and processed into carbon fibres in the same way as conventional precursors.


Melt spinning avoids the


use of solvents, which have to be recycled at high cost, so it reduces the environ- mental impact of the process. According to the Fraunhofer research team, this means all of the material can be used and significant- ly higher spinning speeds can be achieved. � www.ipa.fraunhofer.de


NEWS IN BRIEF...


Ineos Styrolution is to commission an engineer- ing study for construction of a world-scale styrene monomer plant in the US Gulf Coast, where it can access both infrastructure and low-cost feedstock and energy from shale gas. CEO Kevin McQuade said that the plan “supports our ‘Triple Shift’ growth strategy and maintains our leading position as a global styrenics supplier”. www.ineos-styrolution.com


ComCarbon melt spun PAN cuts precursor production cost by 60% New owners for recycler QCP


LyondellBasell and waste management group Suez have completed their takeover of plastics recycler Quality Circular Polymers (QCP) in the Netherlands.


LyondellBasell will add


QCP’s recycled PE and PP products to its range of virgin polyolefin materials. “Partnering with Suez allows us to contribute to the


circular economy in a way that no plastics company has before,” said LyondellBasell CEO Bob Patel. “With QCP, we have combined our respective expertise with Suez to create an innovative system that can be scaled as the circular economy grows.” QCP plans to increase


Preparation area at QCP’s PP and PE recycling facility in Geleen, Netherlands


12 COMPOUNDING WORLD | May 2018


production of recycled PP and HDPE at its facility at the Chemelot chemicals park in Geleen from 35,000 tonnes in 2018 to 100,000 tonnes by 2020. � www.qcpolymers.comwww.lyondellbasell.comwww.suez.com


Orion Engineered Carbons is to expand capacity at its facility at Ravenna in Italy by adding a new speciality carbon black line. The company said the products would target applications in growing markets, citing coatings, polymers and printing. It is expected to begin produc- tion in Q4. The total to be invested by the company was not disclosed. www.orioncarbons.com


Saudi Aramco and Total have signed a memoran- dum of understanding to build a large petrochemi- cal complex at Jubail in Saudi Arabia, that will be integrated downstream of the existing 440,000 barrels/day Satorp refinery. The $5bn complex will feature a mixed-feed steam cracker with 1.5m tpa of capacity for ethylene and related petrochemicals. Front-end engineering should start in Q3 2018. www.saudiaramco.com www.total.com


www.compoundingworld.com


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