Prices keep marching upward.* Despite a brief retreat in polyethylene polyethylene (pŏl'ēĕth`əlēn), widely used plastic. It is a polymer of ethylene, CH2=CH2, having the formula (-CH2-CH2-)n prices, the dominant direction is up, up, up. New hikes for PE, PP, PVC PVC: see polyvinyl chloride. PVC in full polyvinyl chloride Synthetic resin, an organic polymer made by treating vinyl chloride monomers with a peroxide. , PS, thermosets thermosets, materials that can not be softened on heating. In thermosetting polymers, the polymer chains are joined (or cross-linked) by intermolecular bonding. Thermosets are usually supplied as partially polymerized or as monomer-polymer mixtures. , and TDI TDI - Transport Driver Interface were announced for May and June June: see month. . PE prices dip--briefly Polyethylene prices dropped in March and April, canceling out the 4 cents/lb increase in January January: see month. . However, the 5 cents/lb hike that was pushed back from Feb. 1 to May 1 is very much alive. Some suppliers removed TVAs on May 1 while others reissued the increase for June 1. Two HDPE HDPE abbr. high-density polyethylene producers split the hike into 3 cents/lb in May and 2 cents in June. Contributing factors: PE demand was down 4% in the first quarter compared with 2003. Suppliers attribute this to strong prebuying at the end of last year. But market demand started to turn upward early in the second quarter, and some suppliers project growth as high as 6% by year's end. Plant utilization rates are already approaching 90%, and there's no new capacity on the horizon. "Once utilization reaches 92% to 93%, things get tight," warns one supplier. Meanwhile, ethylene ethylene (ĕth`əlēn') or ethene (ĕth`ēn), H2C=CH2, a gaseous unsaturated hydrocarbon. It is the simplest alkene. monomer monomer (mŏn`əmər): see polymer. monomer Molecule of any of a class of mostly organic compounds that can react with other molecules of the same or other compounds to form very large molecules (polymers). prices have moved upward. March contracts rose to 31.5 cents/lb and an increase of 2 cents appeared likely for April. Energy costs continue to exert further pressure on resin resin, any of a class of amorphous solids or semisolids. Resins are found in nature and are chiefly of vegetable origin. They are typically light yellow to dark brown in color; tasteless; odorless or faintly aromatic; translucent or transparent; brittle, fracturing prices. Another PP hike emerges New efforts to raise polypropylene polypropylene (pŏl'ēprō`pəlēn), plastic noted for its light weight, being less dense than water; it is a polymer of propylene. It resists moisture, oils, and solvents. prices were in the works in early May. BP and its affiliate Arco Polypropylene announced a 3 cents/lb increase while Basell issued a 4 cents increase, all effective June 1. These are in addition to the previously announced hikes totaling 15 cents/lb in the first five months of 2004. So far, suppliers have implemented 10 cents to 11 cents of that total, which roughly equals the rise in propylene propylene /pro·pyl·ene/ (pro´pi-len) a gaseous hydrocarbon, CH3CHdbondCH2. propylene glycol a colorless viscous liquid used as a humectant and solvent in pharmaceutical preparations. feedstock feed·stock n. Raw material required for an industrial process. Noun 1. feedstock - the raw material that is required for some industrial process raw material, staple - material suitable for manufacture or use or finishing tabs. Contributing factors: Suppliers cite a 40% increase in feedstock prices this year, as well as natural gas prices that have risen to levels above $6/MM Btu and crude oil prices approaching $40/barrel. Propylene monomer prices were up a total of 9 cents/lb through March. April contracts were expected to move up by 5 cents/lb, and May contracts could rise another 3 cents. PVC specialties tighten In specialty PVC copolymers and blending and dispersion dispersion, in chemistry dispersion, in chemistry, mixture in which fine particles of one substance are scattered throughout another substance. A dispersion is classed as a suspension, colloid, or solution. resins resins, n.pl complex, insoluble, sticky substances secreted by plants. Used as astringents, antimicrobials, and antiinflammatories, and are burned as incense. Can cause oral ulcers and epidermal irritations. , the small group of players--mainly Formosa Formosa, province, Argentina Formosa, province (1991 pop. 404,367), 27,825 sq mi (72,067 sq km), N Argentina. The city of Formosa is the capital. Formosa, former name for Taiwan Formosa: see Taiwan. , OxyChem Oxychem (more formally called Occidental Chemical Corporation) is the chemicals division of the Occidental Petroleum Corporation. It is based in Dallas, Texas and is a major producer of commodity chemicals such as potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide, as well as plastics , and Colorite--are raising prices sharply. OxyChem said copolymer copolymer: see polymer. flooring resin would go up 5 cents in May after 3 cents increases in January and April. Blending and g-p copolymers were also slated to rise 5 cents in May, on top of an earlier 3 cents hike. Meanwhile, PVC producers also aim to lift suspension resin tabs another penny in May. Contributing factors: Buyers of specialty resins had resisted announced price increases this year until an explosion at Formosa's 410-million-lb/yr plant in Illiopolis, Ill., on April 24 took the biggest supplier of these resins out of the market indefinitely in·def·i·nite adj. Not definite, especially: a. Unclear; vague. b. Lacking precise limits: an indefinite leave of absence. c. . Formosa has said it will find a way to rebuild the plant, but hasn't has·n't Contraction of has not. hasn't has not hasn't have given a timetable. Formosa can supply some dispersion homopolymer ho·mo·pol·y·mer n. A polymer composed of identical monomeric units. resins from another plant in Delaware Delaware, state, United States Delaware (dĕl`əwâr, –wər), one of the Middle Atlantic states of the United States, the country's second smallest state (after Rhode Island). City, Del., but not dispersion copolymers for flooring. European European emanating from or pertaining to Europe. European bat lyssavirus see lyssavirus. European beech tree fagussylvaticus. European blastomycosis see cryptococcosis. and South American American, river, 30 mi (48 km) long, rising in N central Calif. in the Sierra Nevada and flowing SW into the Sacramento River at Sacramento. The discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill (see Sutter, John Augustus) along the river in 1848 led to the California gold rush of suppliers are stepping up exports to the U.S. Meanwhile, pipe demand remains stable and is expected to support the 1 cent increase. PS up another 3 cents In mid-May n. 1. the middle part of May. Noun 1. mid-May - the middle part of May period, period of time, time period - an amount of time; "a time period of 30 years"; "hastened the period of time of his recovery"; "Picasso's blue period" , PS producers were pushing through a 3 cents/lb increase pending since March 1. A 4 cents hike announced for May I won't won't Contraction of will not. won't will not won't will bite large buyers until June or July. Contributing factors: Demand in packaging and cutlery cutlery, various types of implements for cutting, preparing, and eating food. In addition to different kinds of knives and the steels to sharpen them, the term usually encompasses forks and spoons. remains steady and benzene benzene (bĕn`zēn, bĕnzēn`), colorless, flammable, toxic liquid with a pleasant aromatic odor. It boils at 80.1°C; and solidifies at 5.5°C;. Benzene is a hydrocarbon, with formula C6H6. feedstock prices remain very high at $2.28/gal for May. Engineering resins up Solvay Advanced Polymers raised its Amodel polyphthalamide (high-heat nylon nylon, synthetic thermoplastic material characterized by strength, elasticity, resistance to abrasion and chemicals, low moisture absorbency, and capacity to be permanently set by heat. After 10 years of research E. I. ) 3% to 6% on May 17. Ticona hiked Celanex PBTs and Impet PET compounds by 6 cents/lb and Vectra LCPs by 23 cents. Ticona's Celstran long-fiber compounds, Riteflex TPE TPE Thermoplastic Elastomer TPE Terminal de Paiement Electronique (French) TPE Total Power Exchange TPE Twisted Pair Ethernet TPE Tampines Expressway (Singapore) TPE Therapeutic Plasma Exchange , and Vandar alloy alloy (ăl`oi, əloi`) [O. Fr.,=combine], substance with metallic properties that consists of a metal fused with one or more metals or nonmetals. went up 6 cents to 10 cents/lb. Thermosets & PUR up, too Unsaturated unsaturated /un·sat·u·rat·ed/ (un-sach´ur-at?ed) 1. not holding all of a solute which can be held in solution by the solvent. 2. denoting compounds in which two or more atoms are united by double or triple bonds. polyesters and vinyl esters Vinyl Ester, or Vinylester, is a resin produced by the esterification of an epoxy resin with an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid. The reaction product is then dissolved in a reactive solvent, such as styrene, to a 35 - 45 percent content by weight. from most suppliers (Reichhold, AOC AOC, n an acronym for the Aromatherapy Organizations Council. , CCP (Certified Computer Professional) The award for successful completion of a comprehensive examination on computers offered by the ICCP. See ICCP and certification. . 1. (language) CCP - Concurrent Constraint Programming. 2. , Interplastic, and Eastman) went up 4 cents/lb on June 1. Dow's hike was June 15. Interplastic raised gel coats 4 cents, but CCP added an extra penny. Meanwhile, Dow (Direct OverWrite) See magneto-optic disk. and Resolution Performance Products hiked epoxies--Dow by 8 cents to 15 cents/lb on June 1 and Resolution by 4 cents to 8 cents or 5% to 6% on May 1. Dow also boosted TDI by 8 cents/lb on June 1.
Market Prices Effective Mid-May (a)
RESIN GRADE (b) cents/LB cents/CU IN (c)
ABS
MED IMPACT 62-82 2.4-3.1
HI IMPACT 72-85 2.7-3.2
X-HI IMPACT 82-105 3.1-3.9
HI HEAT 85-95 3.2-3.6
PIPE 58-62 2.2-2.3
SHEET 75-90 3.0-3.7
TRANSPARENT 125-165 4.9-6.4
FITTINGS 65-78 2.4-2.9
PLATING 95-105 3.5-3.9
FLAME PET 105-135 4.6-5.9
STRUCT FM 83-97 3.6-4.3
10% GLASS 125-140 5.0-5.6
30% GLASS 116-136 5.3-6.3
ABS/PC ALLOY 135-165 5.6-6.8
ABS/PVC ALLOY 130-135 5.8-F.1
ABS/NYLON ALLOY 190 7.3
ACETAL
HOMOPOL 130-147 6.7-7.3
20% GLASS 160-220 9.0-12.4
COPOLYMER 133-137 6.8-7.0
25% GLASS 160-215 9.2-12.3
ACRYLIC
G-P 72-102 3.0-4.3
IMPACT 130-191 5.4-7.9
ACRYLONI-
TRILE COPOL
EXTRUSION 78-110 3.3-4.7
INJECTION 130-191 5.4-7.9
ALKYD 65-74 4.9-5.5
CELLULOSICS
ACETATE 187 8.6
CAB 184 7.9
CAP 184 7.9
DAP (G-P) 251-497 16.3-34.7
EPOXY
G-P RESIN 116-126 NA (d)
COMPOUNDS
C/B/T (e) 123-166 9.4-12.9
R/C/D (f) 208-271 15.3-20.1
SEMICONDUCTOR
NOVOLAC 193-228 13.1-15.9
ANHYDRIDE 188-268 13.9-19.2
EVA
INJECTION 46-52 1.5-1.7
FILM EXTRU 42-49 1.4-1.6
EVOH 265 11.3
FLUORO-
POLYMER
CTFE 4500 346.6
ECTFE 1400-1600 108.3-123.8
ETFE 1100-1600 73.6-107.1
FEP 925-1400 71.3-107.9
PFA 1700-2400 131.6-185.8
PTFE 450-900 34.8-69.7
PVDF 650-800 41.4-50.9
IONOMER
PACKAGING 127-166 4.3-6.0
INDUSTRIAL 150-244 5.0-8.3
LIQUID-
CRYSTAL
POLYMERS
INJECTION
MIN FILLED 690-1035 44.2-72.1
GLASS FILLED 695-895 40-52
CARBON FILLED 1700-2000 83.2-138.6
UNFILLED 1000-1200 58-70
EXTRUSION
UNFILLED 1200-2200 60.5-110.9
MELAMINE
COMPOUND 90-94 5.5-5.6
MELAMINE/
PHENOLIC
COMPOUND 75-83 4.5-5.0
NYLON
TYPE 6 124-144 5.0-5.9
MIN FILLED 119-132 5.9-6.6
30% GLASS 135-160 6.6-7.8
TYPE 66 140-155 7.4-8.2
MIN FILLED 140-148 7.4-7.8
30% GLASS 130-180 6.3-8.8
TYPE 69 250-276 9.7-10.7
TYPE 6/10 286-313 12.4-13.6
TYPE 612 400 15.30
30% GLASS 309-311 14.70
40% GLASS 309 14.70
TYPE 46 295 12.60
TYPE 11 329-341 13.6-14.1
30% GLASS 331-350 15.0-15.8
40% GLASS 347-360 17.7-18.5
TYPE 12 318-341 12.1-13.0
30% GLASS 327-350 14.7-15.8
50% GLASS 295-340 15.6-17.8
TRANSPARENT
AMORPHOUS 247-360 10.3-15.0
PHENOLIC
MOLD COMP 55.5-87.5 2.8-4.0
REINFORCED
GRADES 100.5-267.5 6.0-15.9
POLYAMIDE-
IMIDE (g)
UNFILLED 2310-3045 124.7-164.4
30% GLASS 2250-2985 130.4-173.0
30% CARBON FIB. 3260-3950 173.6-210.5
KEY: Colored areas indicate pricing activity. An arrow (')
indicates direction of price change. (a) Truckload, unless
otherwise specified. (b) Unfilled, natural color, unless
other specified. (c) Based on typical or average density.
(d) Not applicable. (e) Novolac and anhydride grades for coils,
bushings, transformers. (f) Novolac and anhydride grades for
resistors, capacitors, diodes. (g) In quantities of 20,000
lb. (h) 19,800-lb load.
Market Prices Effective Mid-May (a)
RESIN GRADE (b) cents/LB cents/CU IN (c)
POLYARYLATE 200-280 8.8-12.3
POLYARYL-
SULFONE 440 21.8
POLYETHYLENE
G-P 94-96 3.1
FILM 88-91 2.9
PIPE
COLD WATER 116-120 3.9-4.0
HOT WATER 162-166 5.5-5.6
POLYCAR-
BONATE
INJECTION 138-165 5.9-7.0
20% GLASS 177-190 7.6-8.2
30% GLASS 178-217 7.6-9.3
EXTRUSION 127-145 5.4-6.2
BLOW MOLD 140-170 6.0-7.3
STRUCT FOAM 149-181 6.4-7.8
20% GLASS 235--255 10.1-11.0
FR 166-197 7.1-8.5
CD 82-100 3.5-4.3
POLYESTER (TP)
PBT TYPE
UNFILLED 143-150 6.9
HI-IMP 154-165 7.6
30% GLASS, FR 165-187 10.0
STRUCT FOAM 159-165 NA (d)
PET
BOTTLE (RAILCAR) 74-79 3.6-3.7
MOD PET
30% GLASS 132-143 7.4
55% GLASS 148-155 9.8
30% GLASS,
FLAME RET 147-157 9.2
PETG COPOL 114-124 5.2-5.6
POLYESTER
THERMOSET
G-P ORTHO 65-72 [up arrow] NA (d)
ISOPHTHALIC 88-98 NA (d)
BIS-A 123-153 NA (d)
PEEK 4400 231
30% GLASS 3300 173
POLYETHER-
IMIDE 641-646 29.3-29.5
30% GLASS 526-531 24.0-24.2
POLYETHER-
KETONE (PEK) 2950 130.1
30% GLASS 2600 153
POLYETHER-
SULFONE 350-400 17.2-19.7
30% GLASS 425-525 21-25.9
POLYETHYLENE
(RAILCAR)
LDPE
G-P MOLDING
& EXTRU 64-66 [down arrow] 2.1 [down arrow]
INJECTION 64-66 [down arrow] 2.1 [down arrow]
LID RESIN 65-67 [down arrow] 2.1-2.2 [down arrow]
LINER 63-65 [down arrow] 2.1 [down arrow]
CLARITY 62-64 [down arrow] 2.1 [down arrow]
EXTRU COATG 64-66 [down arrow] 2.1 [down arrow]
BLOW MOLD 65-67 [down arrow] 2.1-2.2 [down arrow]
LLDPE,
BUTENE-
BASED
G-P MOLDING 50-52 [down arrow] 1.7-1.8 [down arrow]
FILM 52-54 [down arrow] 1.8 [down arrow]
ROTOMOLD 54-56 [down arrow] 1.8-1.9 [down arrow]
LLDPE,
HAO-BASED
G-P MOLDING 56-59 [down arrow] 1.9-2.0 [down arrow]
LID RESIN 62-65 [down arrow] 2.1-2.2 [down arrow]
LINER FILM 57-59 [down arrow] 1.9-2.0 [down arrow]
HDPE
G-P INJ MOLD 52-54 [down arrow] 1.7-1.8 [down arrow]
FILM 60-62 [down arrow] 2.0 [down arrow]
BLOW MOLD 54-56 [down arrow] 1.8-1.9 [down arrow]
HMW-HDPE
BLOW MOLDING 62-64 [down arrow] 2.1-2.1 [down arrow]
FILM 64-66 [down arrow] 2.2 [down arrow]
PIPE 68-70 [down arrow] 2.3 [down arrow]
UHMW-PE 100-125 3.6-3.7
PPE/PPO-
BASED RESIN
INJECTION 180 6.8
20% GLASS (h) 283 12.3
30% GLASS (h) 291 13.3
EXTRUSION (h) 242 9.2
STRUCT FM 231 NA (d)
PPS
40% GLASS 340-385 20-23
55% GLASS/
MINERAL 275-295 16.2-17.4
65% GLASS/
MINERAL 215-260 11-14
POLY-
PROPYLENE
(RAILCAR)
G-P HOMOPOL
INJECTION 59-61 1.9-2.0
EXTRUSION
FIBER 56-58 1.8-1.9
PROFILES 60-62 1.9-2.0
RANDOM COPOL
BLOW MOLDING 64-66 2.0-2.1
FILM 62-64 2.0-2.1
INJECTION 61-63 1.9-2.0
IMPACT COPOL
MED IMP 74-77 2.4-2.5
HI IMP 77-79 2.5
POLYSTYRENE
(RAILCAR)
G-P CRYSTAL 62-69 [up arrow] 2.3-2.6 [up arrow]
HI HEAT 61-68 [up arrow] 2.3-2.5 [up arrow]
HIPS 62-70 [up arrow] 2.3-2.6 [up arrow]
SUPER HI IMP 72-78 [up arrow] 2.7-2.9 [up arrow]
FR 87-98 3.2-3. [up arrow]
STRUCT FM (FR) 91-93 NA
EPS
UNMODIFIED 80-83 NA (d)
MODIFIED 81-85
POLYSULFONE 432-512 19.3-22.9
10% GLASS 607-612 27-27.3
30% GLASS 557-562 24.9-25
POLYURE-
THANE (TP)
ESTER TYPE 185-255 8-11
ETHER TYPE 245-295 10.6-13
PU
ISOCYANATES
POLYMERIC MIDI 105-115 NA (d)
80/20 TDI 110-120 NA (d)
PVC RESIN
(RAILCAR)
G-P HOMOPOL 41-41 [up arrow] NA (d)
PIPE 39-42 [up arrow] NA (d)
FILM 51-53 [up arrow] NA (d)
COPOLYMER
FLOORING 57-59 [up arrow] NA (d)
DISPERSION
HOMOPOLY 58-74 [up arrow] NA (d)
COPOLYMER 71-75 [up arrow] NA (d)
CPVC PIPE
COMPOUND 119 NA (d)
PVDC
EXTRUDABLE 162 NA (d)
SILICONES
MOLD. COMP 581-640 38.1-39.3
SPECIALTY GR. 891-3148 NA (d)
SILICONE/EPOXY 339-343 22.5-22.8
STYRENE-
ACRYLIC 108-112 3.7-4.0
SAN (G-P) 66-74 2.5-2.8
STYRENE
MALEIC
ANHYDRIDE
G-P 110-115 4.2-4.3
HI IMP 130-140 4.2-4.5
FR 175-183 6.7-7.0
TP ELASTOMERS
OLEFINIC 70-76 2.4
POLYAMIDE 287-337 10.4-12.3
POLYESTER 200-310 8.8-13.6
STYRENIC 83-237 2.9-8.3
UREA MOLDING
COMPOUND
BLACK & BROWN 67-78 3.6-4.1
WHITE & IVORY 72 3.80
VINYL ESTER
COR RES 147 NA (d)
HEAT & COR RES 161 NA (d)
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