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RELEASED ON 12/04/13 (DD/MM/YY)
Taiwan’s Dairen Chemical Corp (DCC) has delayed the start of commercial production at its new 350,000 tonne/year plant on Jurong Island, Singapore, to May from the latter half of April, according to sources close to the company.
“Dairen will start commercial production… and will supply in May,” a southeast Asia-based buyer, without providing a reason for the delay.
DCC is a joint venture between Chang Chun Group (Chang Chun Petrochemical and Chang Chun Plastics) and Nan Pao Resins. The company operates two other VAM plants in Mailiao, Taiwan with a combined production capacity of 650,000 tonnes/year.
SOURCE Icis News
Taiwan’s Dairen Chemical Corp (DCC) has delayed the start of commercial production at its new 350,000 tonne/year plant on Jurong Island, Singapore, to May from the latter half of April, according to sources close to the company.
“Dairen will start commercial production… and will supply in May,” a southeast Asia-based buyer, without providing a reason for the delay.
DCC is a joint venture between Chang Chun Group (Chang Chun Petrochemical and Chang Chun Plastics) and Nan Pao Resins. The company operates two other VAM plants in Mailiao, Taiwan with a combined production capacity of 650,000 tonnes/year.
SOURCE Icis News
| Cancer and flu powered Roche to an impressive 13% increase in U.S. pharma sales for the first quarter--and 6% growth in overall sales. The effects of a nasty flu season may wear off quickly, but two newly launched breast cancer drugs should help to keep the oncology increases coming. Two of Roche's ($RHHBY) established cancer meds, Herceptin and Avastin, gave its cancer sales the biggest boost. Both drugs delivered 11% growth, ending the quarter with 1.572 billion francs and 1.527 billion francs, respectively. (That's about $1.69 billion and $1.64 billion.) Herceptin benefited from growth in testing for HER2 expression, the hallmark of tumors targeted by the drug, plus growing use in HER2-positive gastric cancer, the company said. Avastin, for its part, is making inroads in ovarian cancer in Europe, where the use was recently approved, as well as broader use in colon cancer. The drug is almost back up to 2010 sales levels, prior to its loss of the breast cancer indication in the U.S. "The wash-out of the breast cancer indication is now behind them," Helvea analyst Olie Rundquist told Bloomberg. "Thanks to strong uptake in their two new indications, ovarian cancer and treatment across multiple lines in metastatic colorectal cancer, it will probably continue to have a good growth rate." Herceptin could soon face generic competition, particularly in India, where the government is considering a compulsory license to force low-cost copies onto the market. But biosimilar rivals in major markets are still some years off, and in the meantime, Roche's newer HER2 drugs will be gathering speed: Perjeta, intended to be used in combination with Herceptin, and Kadcyla, the armed antibody drug some call Super-Herceptin. Perjeta won E.U. approval and Kadcyla got the FDA nod earlier this year. Roche's top seller, MabThera--sold as Rituxan in the U.S., and used to treat inflammatory conditions as well as cancer--powered forward in the first quarter, too, with 6% growth to 1.7 billion francs, or $1.8 billion. Percentage-wise, by far the biggest increase was in sales of Zelboraf, the company's new targeted melanoma drug, which brought in 84 million francs, an increase of 154%.
"We got off to a very good start in 2013," CEO Severin Schwansaid in a release. "The launch of two new cancer drugs, Kadcyla in the United States and Perjeta in Europe, will help to further improve our leading market position in oncology. Based on the first-quarter results, I am confident we will meet our full-year targets." - read the Roche statement - get the Bloomberg story - check out FierceMedicalDevices' takeon Roche Diagnostics Related Articles: With nod, Roche's Kadcyla should quickly become blockbuster Roche's Avastin gets another indication approval India to hit Roche, BMS with compulsory licenses on 3 cancer drugs Roche looks to earn even more from Perjeta with EU nod Read more about: Roche back to top |
RELEASED ON 09/04/13 (DD/MM/YY)
Roche will release study data on Tamiflu for independent analysis after it had long refused to provide all the available results for its antiviral drug, Reuters said citing an e-mail by the Swiss drug maker to researchers organisation Cochrane Collaboration.
The company has carried out 74 trials on the efficiency of Tamiflu but published only a small part of their results. Researchers have been seeking access to the full data for years suspecting that Roche withholds less positive results.
The Swiss drug maker now agreed to transfer all the data to British Medical Journal. The information is to be published in the next few months.
Roche has made revenue of about USD 12 billion (EUR 9.22bn) from Tamiflu since 2002. Cochrane Collaboration, which independently assesses benefits and side effects of therapies, doubted the efficacy of the drug already in 2009. The main question was whether Tamiflu can really prevent complications such as lung complications.
SOURCE SeeNews Switzerland
Roche will release study data on Tamiflu for independent analysis after it had long refused to provide all the available results for its antiviral drug, Reuters said citing an e-mail by the Swiss drug maker to researchers organisation Cochrane Collaboration.
The company has carried out 74 trials on the efficiency of Tamiflu but published only a small part of their results. Researchers have been seeking access to the full data for years suspecting that Roche withholds less positive results.
The Swiss drug maker now agreed to transfer all the data to British Medical Journal. The information is to be published in the next few months.
Roche has made revenue of about USD 12 billion (EUR 9.22bn) from Tamiflu since 2002. Cochrane Collaboration, which independently assesses benefits and side effects of therapies, doubted the efficacy of the drug already in 2009. The main question was whether Tamiflu can really prevent complications such as lung complications.
SOURCE SeeNews Switzerland
RELEASED ON 05/04/13 (DD/MM/YY)
South Korea’s Yeochun NCC (YNCC) will extend the turnaround of its 240,000 tonne/year butadiene (BD) plant by one week because of poor market conditions and for safety audit, a company source said on Friday.
The BD unit, at Yeosu in South Korea, will shut down from 8 May to 4 June for maintenance, a week longer than its original schedule from 8 May to 28 May, the source said.
SOURCE Icis News
South Korea’s Yeochun NCC (YNCC) will extend the turnaround of its 240,000 tonne/year butadiene (BD) plant by one week because of poor market conditions and for safety audit, a company source said on Friday.
The BD unit, at Yeosu in South Korea, will shut down from 8 May to 4 June for maintenance, a week longer than its original schedule from 8 May to 28 May, the source said.
SOURCE Icis News
RELEASED ON 05/04/13 (DD/MM/YY)
A new study from energy analysts GBI Research indicates that the shale gas boom in the USA is resulting in an increased reliance on butadiene imports. The gap between butadiene output and demand will increase in the
next few years as the USA switches from crude oil and naphtha to low-cost natural gas. US butadiene amounted to 1.9 M tonnes in 2012, while output stood at 1.6 M tonnes. GBI Research expects butadiene demand to reach 2.4 M
tonnes by 2020 and butadiene output to increase at a slower rate, hitting 1.9 M tonnes by the end of 2020. Butadiene imports in 2012 totalled 329,118 tonnes. Imports are projected to reach 524,916 tonnes by 2020.
SOURCE Icis News
RELEASED ON 05/04/13 (DD/MM/YY)
Phinergy, an Israeli startup, has demonstrated an aluminium-air battery that is capable of powering an electric vehicle for up to 1,000 miles (1,609km). Unlike other metal-air batteries that we’ve written about in the past, such as IBM’s lithium-air battery, Phinergy’s Al-air battery actually consumes aluminium as a fuel, allowing for an energy density that far surpasses conventional battery technologies and even begins to rival gas and diesel. Phinergy says it has signed a contract with a global automaker for “production volumes” of the battery, starting in 2017.
SOURCE NTS-AT Advanced Technology
Phinergy, an Israeli startup, has demonstrated an aluminium-air battery that is capable of powering an electric vehicle for up to 1,000 miles (1,609km). Unlike other metal-air batteries that we’ve written about in the past, such as IBM’s lithium-air battery, Phinergy’s Al-air battery actually consumes aluminium as a fuel, allowing for an energy density that far surpasses conventional battery technologies and even begins to rival gas and diesel. Phinergy says it has signed a contract with a global automaker for “production volumes” of the battery, starting in 2017.
SOURCE NTS-AT Advanced Technology
RELEASED ON 03/04/13 (DD/MM/YY)
Tongsuh Petrochemical is likely to take its No. 2 acrylonitrile (ACN) plant off-stream for maintenance. A Polymerupdate source in South Korea informed that the plant is likely to be shut in October 2013. It is likely to remain off-stream for around two weeks.Located at Ulsan in South Korea, the No. 2 ACN plant has a production capacity of 70,000 mt/year.
SOURCE Icis News
Tongsuh Petrochemical is likely to take its No. 2 acrylonitrile (ACN) plant off-stream for maintenance. A Polymerupdate source in South Korea informed that the plant is likely to be shut in October 2013. It is likely to remain off-stream for around two weeks.Located at Ulsan in South Korea, the No. 2 ACN plant has a production capacity of 70,000 mt/year.
SOURCE Icis News
RELEASED ON 25/03/13 (DD/MM/YY)
German company Evonik Industries expanded the production capacity of the speciality methacrylate Visiomer Iboma by 20% in Germany due to the rising demand for coatings with reduced content of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The main raw material of isobornyl methacrylate originates from renewable raw materials and is primarily used for the manufacture of environment-friendly high-solid transparent coatings in the automotive industry. Other applications are in the segment of reactive resin systems for adhesives, sealants and composites.
SOURCE Farbe und Lack
German company Evonik Industries expanded the production capacity of the speciality methacrylate Visiomer Iboma by 20% in Germany due to the rising demand for coatings with reduced content of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The main raw material of isobornyl methacrylate originates from renewable raw materials and is primarily used for the manufacture of environment-friendly high-solid transparent coatings in the automotive industry. Other applications are in the segment of reactive resin systems for adhesives, sealants and composites.
SOURCE Farbe und Lack
Batscap, filiale du groupe Bolloré, a livré vendredi 5 avril ses deux premières Bluecar à des particuliers, hors Ile-de-France. Le prix : 500 euros TTC par mois, tout compris.
Publication :
05/04/2013 à 16:16
Vendredi 5 avril, sur le site de l'entreprise Batscap à Ergué-Gabéric, Patrice Bardin a remis à Nathalie Dorval sa Bluecar.
Par Matthieu Gain
L’usine Batscap du groupe Bolloré, à Ergué-Gabéric, abrite la production de batteries électriques Lithium Metal Polymère (LMP) de la Bluecar. Vendredi 5 avril, c’est sur ce site que Nathalie Dorval et son mari, Gildas, sont venus chercher leur nouvelle voiture.
Le couple qui habite à Ergué-Gabéric fait partie des deux premiers locataires bretons de la Bluecar. « Tous les jours, je passais devant l’usine quand elle était en train de sortir de terre, confie Nathalie Dorval. Lorsque nous avons envisagé de changer l’une de nos deux voitures, nous avons voulu privilégier l’économie locale. »
C’est elle qui sera au volant de la Bluecar pour se rendre quotidiennement à son travail à Châteaulin. « Nous avons effectué la pré-réservation en février 2012. Je ne l’avais jamais essayée avant aujourd’hui, poursuit-elle. Je suis surprise par sa puissance et le silence quand elle roule. »
Le prix a également été un facteur déterminant, ajoute Gildas Dorval. « Nous avons opté pour un contrat de location de 20 mois renouvelables. Il s’élève à 500 euros tout compris, c’est-à-dire l’entretien et l’assurance. Il n’y a donc pas de surprise. » Le domicile de la famille Dorval a par ailleurs été équipé du matériel nécessaire au rechargement des batteries électriques.
Un millier de Bluecar livré en 2013
Actuellement, une cinquantaine de particuliers roulent déjà en Bluecar en Ile-de-France. Mais Batscap affiche ses ambitions pour ce marché. « En 2013, nous avons pour objectif de livrer un millier de Bluecar, indique Patrice Bardin, le directeur du service clients. Que ce soit en contrat de location longue durée ou à la vente. » Pour rappel, le prix d’achat se situe autour de 12 000 euros après la déduction du bonus écologique (à hauteur de 7 000 euros). « Pour atteindre cet objectif, poursuit Patrice Bardin, nous comptons nous appuyer sur les réseaux d’auto-partage Autolib’ en région parisienne et à Bordeaux. »
En parallèle, Batscap continue à démarcher les professionnels. Cette semaine, Patrice Bardin a notamment signé plusieurs contrats de location en Finistère avec la préfecture (pour un véhicule), les entreprises Armor-Lux (pour 2 véhicules) et Cornouaille intérim (pour un véhicule), la chambre de métiers et de l’artisanat du Finistère (pour 2 véhicules). « Je dois aussi rencontrer Roger Le Goff, le maire de Fouesnant , ajoute Patrice Bardin. Je suis enfin en contact avec un garagiste de l’île d’Ouessant qui projette de louer 5 Bluecar. »
Pour l’heure, poursuit Patrice Bardin, une seule entreprise a acheté une Bluecar. Il s’agit de Pascal Bellocq paysages à Quimper. Enfin, Batscap a noué des partenariats avec la concession Peugeot Nédélec à Quimper pour la maintenance, l’assistance et le dépannage des Bluecar. Les réparations sont confiées au garage Renault Lautridou, d’Ergué-Gabéric.
Ergué-Gabéric, France
Tokyo, Japan, April 1, 2013 ---
Teijin Limited announced today that it will establish a specialized department to accelerate materials business incubation through technology acquisitions and alliances from April 1.
The new Technology Alliance Development Department, established under Teijin's New Business Development Group, will strategically grow materials-related businesses by identifying promising partners and M&A opportunities. Alliances are envisioned for undertakings ranging from R&D to business model creation.
To enhance its capabilities to provide optimal solutions to customers, Teijin strives to strengthen its downstream technologies and leverage alliances in line with the group's medium- to long-term management vision. Downstream technologies include value-added processing technologies such as the proprietary film-coating technologies that Teijin used to develop LIELSORT , innovative separators that enhance the performance of lithium-ion secondary batteries.
Teijin has both broadened and deepened the polyester technologies that it originally acquired from ICI of the U.K. in 1956, enabling the company to create diverse solutions incorporating fibers, films and resins.
"We are pursuing technology alliances particularly in the fields of environment, energy and electronics, where new demands are emerging, and in healthcare, where we are applying our materials technologies," said Kazuo Imose, Teijin Group Corporate Officer and General Manager of the New Business Development Group. "We will continue to create new value by providing needed solutions and by rapidly creating new businesses that benefit society."
About the Teijin Group
Teijin (TSE 3401) is a technology-driven global group offering advanced solutions in the areas of sustainable transportation, information and electronics, safety and protection, environment and energy, and healthcare. Its main fields of operation are high-performance fibers such as aramid, carbon fibers & composites, healthcare, films, resin & plastic processing, polyester fibers, products converting and IT. The group has some 150 companies and around 17,000 employees spread out over 20 countries worldwide. It posted consolidated sales of JPY 854.4 billion (USD 9.1 billion) and total assets of JPY 762.1 billion (USD 8.1 billion) in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012.
The new Technology Alliance Development Department, established under Teijin's New Business Development Group, will strategically grow materials-related businesses by identifying promising partners and M&A opportunities. Alliances are envisioned for undertakings ranging from R&D to business model creation.
To enhance its capabilities to provide optimal solutions to customers, Teijin strives to strengthen its downstream technologies and leverage alliances in line with the group's medium- to long-term management vision. Downstream technologies include value-added processing technologies such as the proprietary film-coating technologies that Teijin used to develop LIELSORT , innovative separators that enhance the performance of lithium-ion secondary batteries.
Teijin has both broadened and deepened the polyester technologies that it originally acquired from ICI of the U.K. in 1956, enabling the company to create diverse solutions incorporating fibers, films and resins.
"We are pursuing technology alliances particularly in the fields of environment, energy and electronics, where new demands are emerging, and in healthcare, where we are applying our materials technologies," said Kazuo Imose, Teijin Group Corporate Officer and General Manager of the New Business Development Group. "We will continue to create new value by providing needed solutions and by rapidly creating new businesses that benefit society."
About the Teijin Group
Teijin (TSE 3401) is a technology-driven global group offering advanced solutions in the areas of sustainable transportation, information and electronics, safety and protection, environment and energy, and healthcare. Its main fields of operation are high-performance fibers such as aramid, carbon fibers & composites, healthcare, films, resin & plastic processing, polyester fibers, products converting and IT. The group has some 150 companies and around 17,000 employees spread out over 20 countries worldwide. It posted consolidated sales of JPY 854.4 billion (USD 9.1 billion) and total assets of JPY 762.1 billion (USD 8.1 billion) in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012.
PR Newswire
PHILADELPHIA, April 3, 2013
PHILADELPHIA, April 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- FMC Corporation (NYSE:FMC) is pleased to announce the acquisition of pectin-related intellectual property developed by Vigido AG, a subsidiary of UniPektin Ingredients AG and the former exclusive marketer of the pectin products of Pectine Italia S.p.A., a company whose pectin business FMC acquired last year.
The acquisition of Vigido AG's pectin know-how and customer data significantly strengthens FMC's pectin portfolio with expertise in marketing and R&D knowledge. Vigido AG products previously marketed under the brand name VIDOPECTINE will now be available from FMC BioPolymer.
"This acquisition enriches our expertise and capabilities in natural-based food ingredients," said Mary T. Clarke, General Manager, Food Ingredients, FMC BioPolymer. "For our pectin business, Vigido's pectin market and application knowledge and formulation experience complements our existing strength in manufacturing and our more than 65 years of experience in the food industry, to solidify our position in the pectin market."
Adding the Vigido know-how to FMC's newly acquired pectin business provides FMC BioPolymer with:
About FMC
FMC Corporation is a diversified chemical company serving agricultural, industrial, environmental and consumer markets globally for more than a century with innovative solutions, applications and quality products. In 2012, FMC had annual sales of approximately $3.7 billion. The company employs approximately 5,700 people throughout the world and operates its businesses in three segments: Agricultural Products, Specialty Chemicals and Industrial Chemicals. For more information, visit www.FMC.com.
SOURCE FMC Corporation
PHILADELPHIA, April 3, 2013
PHILADELPHIA, April 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- FMC Corporation (NYSE:FMC) is pleased to announce the acquisition of pectin-related intellectual property developed by Vigido AG, a subsidiary of UniPektin Ingredients AG and the former exclusive marketer of the pectin products of Pectine Italia S.p.A., a company whose pectin business FMC acquired last year.
The acquisition of Vigido AG's pectin know-how and customer data significantly strengthens FMC's pectin portfolio with expertise in marketing and R&D knowledge. Vigido AG products previously marketed under the brand name VIDOPECTINE will now be available from FMC BioPolymer.
"This acquisition enriches our expertise and capabilities in natural-based food ingredients," said Mary T. Clarke, General Manager, Food Ingredients, FMC BioPolymer. "For our pectin business, Vigido's pectin market and application knowledge and formulation experience complements our existing strength in manufacturing and our more than 65 years of experience in the food industry, to solidify our position in the pectin market."
Adding the Vigido know-how to FMC's newly acquired pectin business provides FMC BioPolymer with:
- Enhanced ability to serve a wide range of low pH food applications
- A broader product line with which to provide customized food ingredient solutions
- Easier access to many customer applications for the pectin produced in our Milazzo™ pectin facility in Italy
About FMC
FMC Corporation is a diversified chemical company serving agricultural, industrial, environmental and consumer markets globally for more than a century with innovative solutions, applications and quality products. In 2012, FMC had annual sales of approximately $3.7 billion. The company employs approximately 5,700 people throughout the world and operates its businesses in three segments: Agricultural Products, Specialty Chemicals and Industrial Chemicals. For more information, visit www.FMC.com.
SOURCE FMC Corporation
Polarizer Market to Grow to $14 Billion by 2016
The polarizer market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6% until 2016 to $12 billion in 2013 and to $14 billion in 2016. In 2012, the market amounted to $11.2 billion, up 9% year on year, according to “Polarizer Market and Industry Trend Analysis” published by Displaybank, recently acquired by IHS Inc. (NYSE: IHS). Polarizers used for large size TFT-LCDs, such as TV, monitors, and laptops, made up 77% of the market, amounting to $8.6 billion, and this figure is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4% to $9.9 billion in 2016. However, the TFT-LCD segment will lose its share of the market, falling to 71% in 2016, as manufactures scale up their smartphones and other mobile devices and increase their volume.
Total Polarizer Market Forecast (2011-2016)
(Source: Displaybank, “Polarizer Market and Industry Trend Analysis – H1 2013”)
The polarizer market can be characterized by the three powers: Nitto Denko, LG Chem, and Sumitomo. The biggest characteristic is that each company has different applications in which they excel at according to their own technical skills, competitiveness of securing component supplies, and production capacity. By major application, the LCD TV market has the largest share, with the manufacturing leaders being Nitto Denko (33%), Sumitomo (28%), and LG Chem (27%). These three companies combined make up 88% of the market for polarizers used in TVs. In the laptop segment that highly requires for thin panels, Sumitomo leads with 53%, with Cheil Industry and Nitto Denko taking the next two spots with 14% each. In the monitor segment, where prices matter, LG Chem leads with a 43% market share, and CMMT, Cheil Industry, and BQM are on its heels with 16%, 15%, and 11%, respectively. Polarizers for tablet PCs are getting the spotlight these days, and Nitto Denko is dominant in that segment with 62%, being the exclusive supplier to Apple for the iPad series. Next to Nitto Denko, LG Chem is the runner-up with a 24% share.
The “Polarizer Market and Industry Trend Analysis” report analyzes the polarizer market forecast until 2016; production line status of polarizer maker; supply chain; and pricing trends. The report also analyzes polarizers’ sub-film market—TAC, PVA, PET protective film, release film, anti-reflective film, and replacement film—for a better understanding of the polarizer market where the competition for high value added film production has become more intense.
Source: Display Bank
RELEASED ON
04/04/13
(DD/MM/YY)
Jubail Chevron Phillips has restarted early this week after undergoing maintenance that lasted more than a month, its parent firm the Saudi Industrial Investment Group (SIIG), said late on Wednesday.
“The Jubail Chevron Phillips (JCP) project has resumed operations after completing the required maintenance work on 03 Apr 2013,” SIIG said in a filing to the Saudi Stock Exchange.
The JCP facility located in Al-Jubail, which was taken off line on 18 February, produces 777,000/year tonnes of styrene and 320,000 tonnes/year of benzene. The facility also produces ethylbenzene and propylene.“The company is currently working on gradually increasing production till the regular plant production capacity is reached,” SIIG said.
JCP is a 50:50 joint venture between Arabian Chevron Phillips Petrochemical Co – a wholly-owned subsidiary of US’ Chevron Phillips Chemical – and SIIG .
SOURCE Icis News
Jubail Chevron Phillips has restarted early this week after undergoing maintenance that lasted more than a month, its parent firm the Saudi Industrial Investment Group (SIIG), said late on Wednesday.
“The Jubail Chevron Phillips (JCP) project has resumed operations after completing the required maintenance work on 03 Apr 2013,” SIIG said in a filing to the Saudi Stock Exchange.
The JCP facility located in Al-Jubail, which was taken off line on 18 February, produces 777,000/year tonnes of styrene and 320,000 tonnes/year of benzene. The facility also produces ethylbenzene and propylene.“The company is currently working on gradually increasing production till the regular plant production capacity is reached,” SIIG said.
JCP is a 50:50 joint venture between Arabian Chevron Phillips Petrochemical Co – a wholly-owned subsidiary of US’ Chevron Phillips Chemical – and SIIG .
SOURCE Icis News
RELEASED ON 04/02/13 (DD/MM/YY)
Electric cars have still got it tough in the German marketplace. They are too expensive and their range is too short. This is an opportune time for a breakthrough in efficient and low-cost lithium-sulfur batteries.
There are currently over 40 million cars on Germany’s roads. Only a fraction of them are powered by electric energy – around 6,400 vehicles according to the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development. The comparatively short range of electric cars doesn’t help their popularity, with drivers often having to start the search for a charging station after a mere 100 kilometers, not to mention the high price of the batteries, which cost several thousand euros. Remedying this situation has researchers looking at new options in developing more efficient technologies. An extremely promising avenue of research is the lithium-sulfur battery, which is significantly more powerful and less expensive than the better-known lithium-ion battery. Although their short lifespan has made them unsuitable for use in cars before now, this may be about to change in the foreseeable future.
Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS in Dresden have developed a new design that increases the charge cycles of lithium-sulfur batteries by a factor of seven. “During previous tests, the batteries scarcely crossed the 200-cycle mark. By means of a special combination of anode and cathode material, we have now managed to extend the lifespan of lithium-sulfur button cells to 1,400 cycles,” says Dr. Holger Althues, head of the Chemical Surface Technology group at IWS, who is delighted with his team’s breakthrough. The anode of the team’s prototype is not made from the usual metallic lithium, but from a silicon-carbon compound instead. This compound is significantly more stable, as it changes less during each charging process than metallic lithium. The more the structure of the anode changes, the more it interacts with the liquid electrolyte, which is situated between the anode and the cathode and carries the lithium-ions. This process causes the liquid to break down into gas and solids and the battery to dry out. “In extreme cases, the anode “grows” to reach the cathode, creating a short circuit and causing the battery to stop working altogether,” explains Althues.
The interplay between anode and cathode is the critical factor determining the performance and lifespan of a battery. In the lithium-sulfur model, the cathode is composed of elemental sulfur. The advantage here is that unlike cobalt – the main cathode material used in lithium-ion batteries – sulfur is available in almost unlimited quantities and is therefore cheaper. The problem remains, however, that sulfur also interacts with the liquid electrolyte, which impairs the performance of batteries and, in the worst case, causes them to lose capacity entirely. The IWS researchers are using porous carbons to slow down this process. “We have precisely altered the pores to allow the sulfur to lodge there, slowing down the rate at which it combines with the electrolyte,” clarifies Althues. He and his colleagues have developed a method of manufacturing these special cathodes.
The experts at IWS measure the capacity of a battery in watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg). Over the long term, they expect lithium-sulfur batteries to reach an energy density of up to 600 Wh/kg. For comparison: the maximum energy density of the lithium-ion batteries currently in use is a mere 250 Wh/kg. “In the medium term, figures around the 500 Wh/kg mark are more realistic. In practical terms, this means you can drive twice as far with the same battery weight,” says Althues. This of course implies that significantly lighter battery models are possible – an interesting prospect not only for automakers but for smartphone manufacturers too. After all, the overall weight of smartphones would be greatly reduced if they had lighter batteries. “Lithium-sulfur technology might even make electric flying a realistic possibility. Although such progress is still a long way off,” adds Althues.
The researchers are currently working on further optimizing the material and using it in larger battery models. They are also turning their attention to suitable manufacturing methods. And with good reason, as this is the only way the technology will reach a mass market, leading to a significant increase in the number of electric cars on Germany’s roads.
SOURCE Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
Electric cars have still got it tough in the German marketplace. They are too expensive and their range is too short. This is an opportune time for a breakthrough in efficient and low-cost lithium-sulfur batteries.
There are currently over 40 million cars on Germany’s roads. Only a fraction of them are powered by electric energy – around 6,400 vehicles according to the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development. The comparatively short range of electric cars doesn’t help their popularity, with drivers often having to start the search for a charging station after a mere 100 kilometers, not to mention the high price of the batteries, which cost several thousand euros. Remedying this situation has researchers looking at new options in developing more efficient technologies. An extremely promising avenue of research is the lithium-sulfur battery, which is significantly more powerful and less expensive than the better-known lithium-ion battery. Although their short lifespan has made them unsuitable for use in cars before now, this may be about to change in the foreseeable future.
Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS in Dresden have developed a new design that increases the charge cycles of lithium-sulfur batteries by a factor of seven. “During previous tests, the batteries scarcely crossed the 200-cycle mark. By means of a special combination of anode and cathode material, we have now managed to extend the lifespan of lithium-sulfur button cells to 1,400 cycles,” says Dr. Holger Althues, head of the Chemical Surface Technology group at IWS, who is delighted with his team’s breakthrough. The anode of the team’s prototype is not made from the usual metallic lithium, but from a silicon-carbon compound instead. This compound is significantly more stable, as it changes less during each charging process than metallic lithium. The more the structure of the anode changes, the more it interacts with the liquid electrolyte, which is situated between the anode and the cathode and carries the lithium-ions. This process causes the liquid to break down into gas and solids and the battery to dry out. “In extreme cases, the anode “grows” to reach the cathode, creating a short circuit and causing the battery to stop working altogether,” explains Althues.
The interplay between anode and cathode is the critical factor determining the performance and lifespan of a battery. In the lithium-sulfur model, the cathode is composed of elemental sulfur. The advantage here is that unlike cobalt – the main cathode material used in lithium-ion batteries – sulfur is available in almost unlimited quantities and is therefore cheaper. The problem remains, however, that sulfur also interacts with the liquid electrolyte, which impairs the performance of batteries and, in the worst case, causes them to lose capacity entirely. The IWS researchers are using porous carbons to slow down this process. “We have precisely altered the pores to allow the sulfur to lodge there, slowing down the rate at which it combines with the electrolyte,” clarifies Althues. He and his colleagues have developed a method of manufacturing these special cathodes.
The experts at IWS measure the capacity of a battery in watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg). Over the long term, they expect lithium-sulfur batteries to reach an energy density of up to 600 Wh/kg. For comparison: the maximum energy density of the lithium-ion batteries currently in use is a mere 250 Wh/kg. “In the medium term, figures around the 500 Wh/kg mark are more realistic. In practical terms, this means you can drive twice as far with the same battery weight,” says Althues. This of course implies that significantly lighter battery models are possible – an interesting prospect not only for automakers but for smartphone manufacturers too. After all, the overall weight of smartphones would be greatly reduced if they had lighter batteries. “Lithium-sulfur technology might even make electric flying a realistic possibility. Although such progress is still a long way off,” adds Althues.
The researchers are currently working on further optimizing the material and using it in larger battery models. They are also turning their attention to suitable manufacturing methods. And with good reason, as this is the only way the technology will reach a mass market, leading to a significant increase in the number of electric cars on Germany’s roads.
SOURCE Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
RELEASED ON 02/04/13 (DD/MM/YY)
DuPont’s vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) plant in Texas has restarted after a few weeks of planned maintenance in March, a source close to the plant said on Tuesday.
A company spokesman would not comment on the turnaround, but sources at a recent industry conference said the 335,000 tonne/year plant in LaPorte would be finished by the end of last week.
SOURCE Icis News
DuPont’s vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) plant in Texas has restarted after a few weeks of planned maintenance in March, a source close to the plant said on Tuesday.
A company spokesman would not comment on the turnaround, but sources at a recent industry conference said the 335,000 tonne/year plant in LaPorte would be finished by the end of last week.
SOURCE Icis News