Polymer Businesses in Several Global Chemical Companies

 In a previous blog, I showed the reporting segment names used by 38 global chemical companies.  (Click here to see that blog.)   Five of the 38 companies have polymer in one of their reporting segments names (Evonik, Lanxess, Lyondellbasell, Solvay, and Wacker).   

In this blog, I provide brief descriptions in the table below on those five companies’ (Evonik, Lanxess, Lyondellbasell, Solvay, and Wacker) polymer businesses.  I also reviewed the annual reports of the other 33 companies as to what polymer businesses they have, even though they have no polymer reporting business segments.  The other companies that indicate polymer businesses are also presented in the table, along with brief descriptions of their polymer businesses based on my review of the companies’ annual reports.  Altogether, 25 of the 38 companies indicate polymers businesses, and 13 of the 38 companies report no polymer businesses and are not listed in the table below. 

 

company	polymers businesses
arkema	high performance polymers for uses in foot ware, technical fabrics, batteries, additive manufacturing, etc.	polyamide and pvdf fluoropolymer recycling	biobased polymers	electroactive polymers
asahi kasei	membrane and separation technologies polymers
basf	biodegradability of biopolymers	polyamides
celanese	high performance, engineering polymers	liquid crystal polymers	emulsion polymers	ethylene vinyl acetate polymers	specialty polymers
chemours	fluoropolymers
clariant	biopolymers
covestro	high-tech polymers	biopolymers	polycarbonates	polyurethanes
dow	silicone polymer systems	biobased polymers	polymer recycling	polyurethanes	functional polymers
dsm	polymers for use in personal care	biomedical polymers
dupont	polymer-based, high performance materials	thermoplastic and thermoset engineering polymers	biopolymers
eastman	polyester polymers	specialty polymers
evonik	high performance polymers such as polyamide 12	pharmaceutical polymers	biodegradable polymers
huntsman	epoxy, acrylic and polyurethane, and acrylonitrile butadiene-based polymer formulations
kemira	polymers used in water treatment
lyondellbasell	polymer solutions such as polypropylene compounds	advanced polymers	polymer recycling
mitsui	functional polymers used in automobiles, smart phones, semiconductor manufacturing, and packaging	performance polymers	polypropylene products	biobased polymers
nitto denko	polymer function control technology	polymer analysis and evaluation technology
shin-etsu	super absorbent polymers	functional polymers	silicone-based polymers	polycarbonate sheets
solvay	high performance, specialty polymers such as pvdf	aromatic polymers	high-barrier polymers	fluoropolymers
sumitomo	liquid crystal polymers	polyethylene and polypropylene	mma polymers	polyether sulfone (pes)	polymer oled materials
toray	high performance polymers such as abs, nylon, pbt, pps, and liquid crystals	biomass polymers	polymer recycling	polymer films
tosoh	polyethylene polymers
trinseo	styrene-butadiene rubber products	copolymers such as abs, san, and pc
wacker	polymer binders	polymer powders	construction polymers	polymer additives
westlake	polyethylene

  

The high percentage of the 38 companies pursuing polymer businesses (25 of 38 companies; 66%) suggests the importance and the demand for polymer technologies and polymer materials in the economy.   The brief descriptions in the table indicate the views of many chemical companies on the importance of polymers as innovative performing materials, materials that are needed if technology breakthroughs are going to be commercially successful.  The descriptions also show that many chemical companies are pursuing biobased raw materials in producing polymers, reducing the reliance of fossil fuels in producing polymers.

Adhesives Businesses in Several Global Chemical Companies

 In a previous blog, I showed the reporting segment names used by 38 global chemical companies.  (Click here to see that blog.)   Two of the 38 companies have adhesives in one of their reporting segment names (Arkema and Covestro).   

In this blog, I show in the table below details on what those two companies (Arkema and Covestro) indicate in their annual reports about their adhesives businesses.  I also reviewed  the annual reports of the other 36 companies as to what adhesives businesses they have, even though they have no adhesives reporting business segments.  The other companies that indicate adhesives businesses are also presented in the table, along with what these companies indicate in their annual reports about their adhesives businesses.  Twenty-four of the 38 companies report no adhesives businesses and are not listed in the table below. 

 

company	adhesives businesses
arkema	hot melt adhesives	pressure sensitive adhesives	thermo bonding adhesive films	micro-bonding adhesives
celanese	acetyl-based adhesives
clariant	recyclable adhesives
covestro	aliphatic and aromatic isocyanates for adhesive production
dow	silicone-based adhesives	tile adhesives	pressure sensitive adhesives	acetyl-based adhesives
dsm	recyclable adhesives for carpets
dupont	silicone-based adhesives	elastic adhesives
eastman	adhesive resins	pressure-sensitive adhesives
evonik	silicone-based adhesives	silica-based adhesives
nitto denko	adhesive tapes for packaging	adhesive film	transdermal patch adhesives	medical adhesive tapes	insulating adhesive tape
sekisui	adhesive tapes in electronics  manufacturing
solvay	composite and metal adhesives
trinseo	SB latex adhesive for carpet and artificial tuft fibers
wacker	silicon-base adhesives

 

The number of companies pursuing adhesives businesses suggest the wide-spread need for adhesives.  The adhesives businesses listed in the table show the variability of functions adhesives are used for.  Two companies (Clariant and DSM) have recyclable adhesive businesses.  Further adhesive developments are likely, as the usefulness of adhesives in many applications continue to grow.

Chemical and Metal Shortage Alert – February 2021

The purpose of this blog is to identify chemical and metal shortages reported on the Internet.  The sources of the information reported here are primarily news releases issued on the Internet.  The issue period of the news releases is February 2021. 

Section I below lists those chemicals and metals that were on the previous month’s Chemical and Metal Shortage Alert list and continue to have news releases indicating they are in short supply.  Click here to read the January 2021 Chemical and Metal Shortage Alert list. 

Section II lists the new chemicals and metals (not on the January alert).  Also provided is some explanation for the shortage and geographical information.  This blog attempts to list only actual shortage situations – those shortages that are being experienced during the period covered by the news releases.  Chemicals and metals identified in news releases as only being in danger of being in shortage status are not listed. 

Section I.   

• Shipping containers:  global; supply not keeping up with demand
• Steel:  global; production not keeping up with demand 

Section II.   Shortages Reported in February not found on the Previous Month’s List 

• Aluminum:  Europe; supply not keeping up with demand
• Construction materials:  United States; production not keeping up with demand
• Copper:  global; supply not keeping up with demand
• Lumber:  United Kingdom; supply not keeping up with demand
• Polyethylene:  United States; production not keeping up with demand
• Pyrallux AP laminate:  global; production not keeping up with demand
• Silicon:  Europe; supply not keeping up with demand
• Tin:  global; supply not keeping up with demand
• Titanium scrap:  global; supply not keeping up with demand 

Reasons for Section II shortages can be broadly categorized as:  

• Mining not keeping up with demand: none
• Production not keeping up with demand: construction materials; polyethylene; pyrallux AP laminate
• Government regulations: none
• Sources no longer available: none
• Insufficient imports:  none
• Supply not keeping up with demand:  aluminum; cooper; lumber; silicon; tin; titanium scrap