The Research Association of Nano Structured Polymer recently held the 12th TPE Technology Institute Open Seminar, which was host to lectures on three topics. First to present was Sadaharu Hashimoto, R&D manager at Zeon Corp.’s (TYO:4205) R&D Center. His presentation, titled “Development of Novel Elastic Materials: Asymmetric Triblock Styrene Copolymer,” previously received an award from the Society of Polymer Science,...
Industry
Bridgestone Americas to Sell All Shares of Speedco
Bridgestone Americas Inc. (BSAM), the U.S. subsidiary of Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108), announced on Sept. 15 that it will sell all shares of its wholly owned subsidiary Speedco Inc. to U.S.-based Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores Inc. The sale price was not disclosed. Speedco provides automotive lube, maintenance and other services to the trucking industry, and owns 52 stores in...
Carbon Black Association Releases Updated Demand Estimates for 2017
The Carbon Black Association of Japan has released a mid-year update to its estimates of 2017 demand for carbon black. Demand including exports is now projected to rise 0.5 percent from last year to a total of 750,785 tons. While demand in tons has been downwardly revised from the previously projected 753,115 tons, the new figures indicate higher expected growth...
ISO Issues New Standards to Determine Biobased Content of Rubber Products
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has issues new international standards for the determination of biomass-based (biobased) content of rubber and rubber products based on a proposal filed by Japan. Aiming at the popularization of rubber products derived from biomass raw materials to decrease environmental burdens and reduce the consumption of petroleum resources, the standards are expected to contribute to...
Bridgestone and Kuraray Give for US Hurricane Relief
Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108) and chemical products manufacturer Kuraray Co. Ltd. (TYO:3405) have announced that they will donate aid to the victims of the recent hurricanes in the U.S. Bridgestone, and its U.S. subsidiary Bridgestone Americas Inc., will donate $1 million to the American Red Cross in order to support those affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Meanwhile, Kuraray will donate...
Mitsubishi Chemical and Air Liquide Subsidiary Partner on Butadiene Technology
Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. signed a cooperation agreement on Sept. 7 with Air Liquide Engineering & Construction, a subsidiary of French firm Air Liquide SA. Under the agreement, Air Liquide E&C will license Mitsubishi Chemical’s process for manufacturing butadiene from n-butene. The aim is to develop a technology licensing business by packaging together Mitsubishi Chemical’s butene to crude butadiene production technology...