Polyolefins

First Biobased PE for Rotomolding
A. Schulman launches first biobased PE rotomolding compound.

Prices of All Resins Surge
Despite a faster-than-expected recovery from Hurricane Harvey, the industry still faces challenges on the way to ‘getting back to normal.’

DowDuPont Starts Up World-Scale Ethylene & PE Facility
New integrated, world-scale production facility started up for ethylene monomer and Elite enhanced polyethylene in Freeport, Texas.

Hurricane Lifts Resin Prices Across the Board
Length of Hurricane Harvey’s impact on feedstocks and resins is still uncertain.

How to Prevent Stress Whitening in PP Copolymers
A look at causes, detection, and prevention.

DowDuPont Realigns Portfolio
The new merger makes adjustments within two of its three intended independent companies.

Commodity Resin Prices Generally Flat
The exceptions are PS and PET, though they may have bottomed out last month.

New ASTM Standard Expected to Boost PP Piping Systems
Borealis’ PP random copolymer showing up in the first North American plumbing and industrial PP piping projects.

PE Flat, PP Moving Up; PS, PVC, PET Flat-to-Down
Resin and monomer production disruptions halted further price decreases, but there’s still downward potential.

Additives: Polyolefin Discoloration
There’s a growing demand for PE films with lower initial color and improved color stability, as well as better retention of physical properties. New stabilizer systems address these and similar concerns for molded PE and PP parts.