Corporate, financial news.

J.M. Huber has announced its decision to seek a strategic buyer for its Engineered Carbons Division. The division operates three plants in Texas that produce carbon black. The plants are located in Borger, Baytown and Orange. The division also operates a bulk packaging transfer station in Lenior City, TN and a marketing office in Dallas, TX. The division has about 300 employees. It is anticipated that the company will continue to operate uninterrupted during the sale process and with the successor company.

Major league baseball player Joe Carter of the Toronto Blue Jays teamed up with polymer researchers from The University of Akron to create a new product that gives baseball and softball players a better grip while batting. Made entirely of polymers, Tack Tube is a foam rubber shell coated internally with a tacky polymer which is applied to the handle of aluminum or wood bats by twisting the unit from side to side. It is said to give players a better grip that is an alternative to the pine tar traditionally used. The polymer product, for which patent coverage has been sought, was unveiled by Carter during a press conference at UA's College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering. Tack Tube will be marketed by Carter's Edmond, OK-based Joe Carter Enterprises.

Dunlop Tire announced that its V/Z-rated ultra high performance all-season SP Sport 4000 A/S has been selected as original equipment on the 1995 Toyota Camry and Avalon. Dunlop's D60 A2 H speed-rated performance radial was selected as original equipment on the 1995 Toyota Paseo sport performance coupe.

General Tire was chosen as an original equipment supplier by Toyota for its flagship car, the Avalon.

Witco announced that its Oleochemicals/Surfactants Group will raise prices of all grades of fatty acids by six cents per pound and industrial amines, quatenary ammonium compounds, and mining and asphalt products by between four and seven cents per pound, effective October 1. Witco's Polymer Additives Group announced it has increased prices of sodium and ammonium thiocyanates, aluminum chloride, mixed-metal and phosphite heat stabilizers, and all primary amides by between three to nine cents per pound.

Novacor Chemicals polypropylene business announced that prices on all grades of Adpro polypropylene and TPO resins will increase five cents (U.S.) per pound, effective October 1.

Air Products and Chemicals will increase off-list prices of its Dabco silicone surfactant product line and several Dabco amine catalysts for polyurethane markets, effective October 15, or as contracts permit. Dabco silicone surfactants will increase 15 cents per pound, while the selected Dabco amine catalysts will increase 5%.

Du Pont will increase off-list prices of 1,4 butanediol (BDO), tetrahydrofuran (THF) and Terathane polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG) effective October 1, or as contractual agreements permit. The prices will increase by $.03/1b. for BDO, $.04/1b. for THF and $.05/1b. for Terathane PTMEG.

Dow Corning STI, a compounder of silicone rubber, announced a price increase averaging 6% on dimethyl gums, bases and compounds, as well as additives, modifiers and color masterbatches. Production capacity has been doubled at the firm's East region plant, and increased by 50% in the Midwest.

The Polymers Division of Miles increased the price of its engineering thermoplastic resins by 4 to 6 percent. The increase affects Makrolon polycarbonate resins, Apec high-heat polycarbonates, Bayblend PC/ABS blends and Makroblend PC/PET blends.

Ciba Polymer Division increased prices for its polyamide and amidoamine curing agents. Prices were raised by $.03 per pound on amidoamines and $.05 per pound on polyamides.

Himont U.S.A., a producer of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, announced a $.05 per pound increase on all 1900 UHMW PE products for stock shapes and general market applications.