SM on 14th June 2017:	PS on 14th June 2017:
FOB Rotterdam at USD1,135	CFR China at USD1,300/MT
CFR SEA at USD1,165	CFR SEA at USD1,250/MT

 

Styrene Monomer (SM) prices galloped higher in Asia after few weeks of struggling, a steep rise of USD 115/mt from the previous month.

The price increase was backed by strong buying activity in the region together with higher benzene values. Furthermore, constrained regional product availability has pushed SM prices higher.

 

SM on 14th May 2017:	PS on 14th May 2017:
FOB Rotterdam at USD1,020/MT	CFR China at USD1,200/MT
CFR SEA at USD1,050/MT	CFR SEA at USD1,170/MT

 

 

Polyimide is known as a polymer of imide monomers. It is abbreviated as PI, and has been produced massively since 1955. Polyimides are applied in many ways for harsh organic materials such as displays (gadget screens), military tools, and other semiconductors because of their high heat-resistance. Polyimide formulations contain solvent. Instead of adhesive glue joints, polyimides are better for large surface areas. The flame resistance of polyimides make them chosen more often than other similar glue coatings. This makes polyimides safer and more accepted in trading because trade forbids flame retardants strictly. Antimony compounds and red phosphorous structures are not found in polyimides.

Polyimide coatings have sufficient adhesion to the primary surface, judging from an abrasion test. They are slightly stronger than epoxy glue joint. They are applied in many industries that produce things we use daily. For example, Polyimide is used as a coating for the image sensor in such gadgets as a digital camera and cellular phone. It has high transparency and controlled refractive index. It minimises the light loss to reach photodiode. Applications of Polyimide Coatings are also including wire covering, buffer coating, Re-Distribution Layer(RDL) or dialectic layer, and display (gadget screens).

Japan is Asia’s number one polyimides producer. One of the manufacturers creates an aromatic polyimide pioneer solution as the result of their extensive experience in polymerization and application technologies for both polyimides and photosensitive polymers. This high-heat and crack resistant polyimide coatings have excellent film elongation that avoids cracks against bending. Their excellent adhesive strength with various base materials can be achieved by adequate surface treatments. They barely reduce weight at high temperature that enables high heat resistance whose level is equal to non-photosensitive polyimides. They also have high electrical insulation and wide production line, which offers both positive and negative working types.

 

Silicones consist of a backbone of altering atoms of silicon and oxygen known as a siloxane linkage (Si-O-Si) 

and it is commonly used in paint and coating industries to ease the applications of paints. They are produced in a lot of forms including silicone fluids, resins, liquid rubbers and solid rubbers and used in a wide range of industries. Silicone plays various crucial roles in each industry and coating industry is one of them.They are used for base resins in the paints as a main component, silicone powders as additives and silane as pigments and fillers. 

 

Here are the advantages of silicones in paint and coatings to improve the quality and ease the application of your paint;

1.       Have better resistance to high temperatures

Silicone resins have better resistance to high temperatures than the organic resins. It improves the durability of paints and coatings and reduces the volumes of paint used over the lifetime.

2.       Can aid in wetting, flow and levelling

Many things can go wrong when a coating is applied and dried and in many of these cases it is due to surface tension gradients that arise from temperature and concentration gradients; these surface tension gradients are likely to cause surface imperfections upon film drying. By lowering the overall surface tension of liquid coatings, silicone additives can aid in wetting, flow, and levelling

3.       Better electrical insulation

Silicone resins are very consistent across a wide range of temperatures while organic resins decline in hot and humid conditions.

4.       Flexibility

Silicone resins are easy to apply

5.       Have excellent water resistance

In organic resins, absorbed water does not dissipate easily due to high hygroscopicity

6.       Weatherability

Silicone resins give excellent results in resistance against UV rays.

7.       Colour retention

Silicones are very useful additives to enhance the gloss and colour protection.

 

COMPONENTS OF PAINTS AND COATINGS

BASE RESINS

1.       Silicone Base Resins

1.1. Silicone Resins

Features: With excellent film-forming abilities, coatings can range from very hard to flexible.

1.2. Silicone Oligomers

Features: Can be used as coating materials or to modify organic resins.

Advantages:

Heat Resistance

Electrical Insulation

Water Repellency

Weatherability

2.       Resin Hybridization Agents

2.1. Acrylic Resins

Advantages:

Heat Resistance

Weatherability

Flexibility

Wear Resistance

Adhesion

Water Resistance

 

2.2. Polyester & Alkyd Resins

Features: Can be used as an organic resin modifier or reactive diluents

Advantages:

Heat Resistance

Weatherability

Flexibility

Wear Resistance

Adhesion

Water Resistance

 

2.3. Epoxy Resins

Features: With excellent film-forming abilities, coatings can range from very hard to flexible.

Advantages:

Heat Resistance

Weatherability

Adhesion

 

2.4. Urethane Resins

Features: Silicone fluids having reactive functional groups can be used for the modification of organic resins.

Advantages:

Flexibility

Adhesion

Slip

 

 

ADDITIVES

Surface Modifiers for Coating

1.       Silicone Powders

2.       KP Series

Advantages:

Heat Resistance

Weatherability

Levelling

Light Diffusion

Matting

Deforming

Slip

Antistatic

Hydrophilic Anti-staining

 

PIGMENTS & FILLERS

Surface Modifiers for Pigments & Fillers

1.       Alkoxy Silanes

Features: Alkoxy groups act to improve adhesion to inorganic materials and modify the surface energy of the substrate

2.       Silane Coupling Agents

Features: While alkoxy groups improve adhesion to inorganic materials, reactive functional groups improve adhesion to organic materials

3.       Spherical Silica Fine Particles

Features: Monodisperse, less aggregation. Highly adhesive to various powders. Improves flowability. 

 

 

SM on 12th May 2017:	PS on 12th May 2017:
FOB Rotterdam at USD1,020	CFR China at USD1,200
CFR SEA at USD1,060	CFR SEA at USD1,170/MT

 

On 10^th May, Styrene Monomer (SM) prices inched down again. Prices fell mainly of lack buying interest in major markets coupled with a fall in upstream benzene rates.

Benzene prices assessed down at USD700/MT FOB Korea, decline USD10/MT from 9^th May. The price falls due to dull demand across the Asian region.

 

Ample product availability, weaker upstream energy and benzene rates coupled with bearish cues from the Asian SM values, forced sellers to reduce their prices sharply lower across the European & Asian regions. Weak downstream product demand and pricing trends further supported the price fall.

 

SM on 13th April 2017:	PS on 13th April 2017:
FOB Rotterdam at USD1,135/MT	CFR China at USD1,310/MT
CFR SEA at USD1,255/MT	CFR SEA at USD1,330/MT

 

Production News

·         DFE Chemical delays the restart of PS plant

DFE Chemical has postponed the restart of polystyrene (PS) plant until next month. A Polymerupdate source in Philippines informed that the company has delayed the restart of the plant until mid-June 2017. Earlier, the plant was expected to be back online in mid-May 2017. The plant was shut for maintenance in first half April 2017. Located in Manila, the Philippines, the plant has a production capacity of 30,000 mt/year.

·         Taiwan’s Kaofu Chemical to shut HIPS line   

According to sources close to the company, Taiwan’s Kaofu Chemical Corporation will shut its 50,000 tons/year HIPS line at the end of May due to a planned maintenance that is expected to last for 2-3 weeks. The company’s PS plant has a production capacity of 50,000 tons/year of GPPS and 50,000 tons/year of HIPS while both lines are currently operating at 60% capacity.

·         Asahi Kasei to shut Mizushima cracker 

Asahi Kasei, Japan is likely to undertake a maintenance turnaround at its cracker today. A Polymerupdate source in Japan informed that the company is expected to shut the cracker for maintenance on May 10, 2017. The cracker is slated to remain offline until early July 2017. Located at Mizushima, Japan, the cracker has an ethylene production capacity of 570,000 mt/year

·        China's Zhejiang Yisheng shuts PTA plant in Ningbo

According to market sources, China’s Zhejiang Yisheng Petrochemical had to shut its 650,000 tons/year No 2 PTA line at Ningbo on May 5 due to poor margins.

Also, the company’s 650,000 tons/ year No 1 PTA line has reportedly been offline for many years. The company, however, has two other PTA plants at the same location with a combined capacity of 2.2 million tons/ year, one of them which is planned to be shut in the middle of May due to a maintenance that will last for 10-15 days.

 

·         China’s BP Zhuhai to take PTA plant offline 

 

According to market sources, China’s BP Zhuhai Chemical Co. Ltd. Is planning to take its PTA plant offline in June due to a scheduled maintenance which is expected to last for three weeks. The plant has a production capacity of 1.25 million tons/ year of PTA.

·      Production updates on S. Korean Hanwha and Lotte's styrene plants

According to market sources, South Korea’s Hanwha Total Petrochemical resumed its styrene production at its 400,000 tons/year No 1 styrene plant at Daesan after a planned maintenance that lasted for twenty days.

Meanwhile, South Korea’s Lotte Chemical will shut its 580,000 tons/year styrene plant at Daesan next week due to a scheduled maintenance which is expected to last for a month.

·         Indonesia’s Polychem takes MEG plant offline

Market sources reported that Indonesia’s Polychem shut its No 1 MEG plant in Merak due to a scheduled maintenance at the end of April. How long the maintenance at the 96,000 tons/year plant will last is not yet known. The company also has another MEG plant with a capacity of 145,000 tonnes/year, which will be running normally during the maintenance period.

·         PVC producers in China preparing for shutdowns in May-June

A source from an acetylene based PVC producer in China reported the schedule of maintenance shutdowns at several PVC plants in May-June 2017.

Yibi Tianyuan’s acetylene-based PVC plant with a production capacity of 380,000 ton/year of PVC was shut on May 3 for 7 to 10 days.

Yangmei Hetong shut its acetylene-based PVC plant with 300,000 tons/year for maintenance on May 5 while it is expected to restart on May25.

Qilu Petrochemical will shut its 250,000 tons/year ethylene based PVC plant on May 15 for 40 days.

Baotou Haipinmian’s 400,000 tons/year acetylene based PVC plant will be shut in mid-May.

Yidong Dongxin will shut its acetylene-based PVC plant with 300,000 tons/year capacity for maintenance in mid-May.

Henan Lianchun’s 300,000 tons/year acetylene based PVC plant will be shut in late May.

Hebei Shenhua will shut its acetylene-based PVC plant with 260,000 tons/year capacity for maintenance in late May.

There are also several maintenance shutdowns that will take place in May; however, further details regarding the start of shutdowns and the durations are yet to be known.

Xinjiang Shenxiong will conduct maintenance at its acetylene-based PVC plant with 500,000 tons/year production capacity while Inner Shanlian will also shut its acetylene based PVC plant with a production capacity of 300,000 tons/year.

Inner Mongolia Yihua’s 300,000 tons/year capacity acetylene based PVC plant will be shut in May while Xinjiang Zhongtai will also shut its acetylene based PVC plant with 1.6 million tons/year capacity in the same month.

Sichuan Jinlu’s 240,000 tons/year acetylene based PVC plant will be shut in May along with the Yili Chemical’s 500,000 tons/year acetylene based PVC plant.

Meanwhile, the maintenance shutdown at Anwei Huasu’s acetylene-based PVC plant with a production capacity of 460,000 ton/year was postponed to June from May. 

*Source from Polymerupdate & Chemorbis*