vol. 17, No. 10, Page 15

PULLER COMPUUND~NG THE polymer compounding and masterbatch industries are currently AND MASTERBATCH enjoying higher growth rates than the plastics industry as INDUSTRIES =a whole, according to a recent study by U.S. consultancy, Kline.

SA. West European growth in these sectors in the period to 1991 is put at 4% a year against a figure of only 1.5% a year for the total plastics market, the study forecasts. The report says that compounders are responding to increased competition by specializing in higher margin proprietary compounds such as conductive, flame retardant or internally lubricated thermo- plastics. At the same time, greater competition to develop these compounds is forcing companies to increase research and development efforts for both new products and for internal cost cutting. Potential investment opportunities in the sector are outlined through a detailed profile of more than 40 of the most attractive compounding and masterbatch firms in Europe. In all, says Kline, there are more than 300 suppliers of com- pounds and masterbatch in West Europe, ranging from large inte- grated resin producers to small independent companies producing highly specialised batches. The repo~t,~~~nves~men~ Opportunities in Polymer Compounding - Western Europe': is available from Kline SA, rue Froissart 89, B-1040 Brussels. Comparison reports on polymer compounding companies in Japan and in the U.S. are also available.

NEW EPOXY CURING AGENTS

Some of the more recent curing agents developed by Anchor Chemical Co. are described, with reasons for their development. This company has specialized in epoxy curing agent manufacture and supply for some 30 years, and can offer the following types: aliphatic amines; amine adducts; aromatic amines; polyamides; cycloaliphatic amines; anhydrides; BF 3 complexes; amidoami~es; amidazoles; tertiary amines.

Pig. & Resin Tech., 1987, I6, (Aug.), 11

~XTEN~~~ SUBSTITUTE Pigment savings as high as 11X can be achieved with a synthetic FOR TITANIUM DIOXIDE sodium aluminium silicate (SSAS) extender. Developed by the

J. M. Huber Corp. Chemicals Division, the extender functions as a pigment spacer, allowing more efficient - and reduced - use of titanium dioxide.

BIOCIDES IN THE U.K. Abbott Laboratories of North Chicago has appointed Dinoval as distributor for its range of Amical Biocides in the U.K. Amical is available in liquid and powder form and is especially suited for use in water-based systems, e.g. paints, adhesives, leather and woodstains. Also being distributed by Dinoval is Cyclamic Acid, a catalyst for use in thermoset resin systems.

Cont./...,..

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