February 27, 2018 – world of chemicals

AkzoNobel adds colour to the new 2018 McLaren Formula 1 car

The 2018 McLaren Formula 1 racing car, MCL33 was launched with AkzoNobel’s new Papaya Spark – an eye-catching primary colour developed by AkzoNobel in conjunction with McLaren-Honda. Reflective of McLaren’s racing heritage, Burton Blue and Cerulean Blue also feature on the new F1 car. McLaren first used Papaya in 1968 – the decision of founder Bruce McLaren. The McLaren team relies on AkzoNobel’s coatings technology to provide colour, protection and performance – all essential elements for F1 racing. Read more

Indian chemical industry – Will M&A be a game changer?

The chemical industry in India is the third largest producer in Asia and sixth largest in the world. According to the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, as of 2017, the domestic chemical industry’s size is pegged somewhere between $150-155 billion, accounting for 2.1 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) but only a little more than 3.4 percent of the global chemical market. With more than 80,000 chemical products being developed for either direct or indirect consumption for almost all the other sectors, the chemical sector is highly diversified. Read more

LDPE to emerge preferred material for cubitainers

Cubitainers are standalone containers that are flexible and easy-to-handle. Along with the significant performance, it also offers cost and environmental benefits for transport, storage and dispensing of liquids. Cubitainer is witnessing demand, on the back of factors like changing food habits, lifestyle pattern, cost-efficiency and it’s environmentally friendly nature as it is reusable and recyclable. Cubitainers are majorly being manufactured using Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE), according to a report by Transparency Market Research. Read more

New method could help quantify untapped natural gas reservoirs

More than 30 states have shale formations that harbour natural gas underground, according to the Energy Information Administration. But industry experts can’t agree on exactly how much fuel is inside. That’s because natural gas and other hydrocarbons lie inside nano-scale, difficult-to-measure pores in shale rocks, which have properties that are not yet understood. “If you want to estimate the storage capacity of shale gas, you need to understand materials that store them,” said Yun Liu, an affiliated associate professor of chemical engineering at the University of Delaware. Read more