2012.04.25

Research and Analysis on the Development of the Rubber Additives Industry in China in 2012

With the recovery of the global economy, the demand for rubber products has significantly increased, leading to a corresponding rise in the demand for rubber additives. The rubber additive industry in China is also thriving, gradually establishing itself as a major player in the global market for rubber additives. Currently, there are over 200 rubber additive production enterprises in China, with a production capacity of approximately 150,000 tons per year and an annual output of about 140,000 tons. There are around 60 enterprises with an annual production capacity exceeding 1,000 tons, and the total industrial output value of the entire industry is 2.2 billion yuan per year, with an export volume of about 10,000 tons per year. The main varieties include rubber antioxidants 4010, 4010NA, 4020, RD, DNP; rubber accelerators M, DM, CBS, NS, TMTD, NOBS, TETD, NA-22, and other processing aids. Among these, rubber antioxidants account for 50%, rubber accelerators for 40%, and others for 10%. The consumption structure is as follows: tires account for 65%, industrial products 18.5%, footwear 6%, latex 4.5%, and wires and cables 1%. With the global economic recovery and the expansion of domestic production capacity, the net export volume of rubber additives significantly increased in 2010, and the export unit price also saw a certain rise. According to relevant data, the total export volume of rubber antioxidants and rubber accelerators reached 39,047 tons, an increase of 80.2% year-on-year, with the export unit price also showing an increase. The average export unit price for rubber antioxidants was 2,166 yuan per ton, a year-on-year increase of 29.2%; for rubber accelerators, the average export unit price was 2,817 yuan per ton, up 12.1% year-on-year. In 2011, the production of rubber additives in China increased by 14.

2012.04.24

The spot rubber prices mostly fell, and the supply of Thai RSS3 is tight.

According to news from Singapore on April 24, the prices of spot rubber in Asia mostly fell on Tuesday, following the decline in TOCOM futures. The price of Thai RSS3 rubber remained on the rise due to tight supply; however, in reality, most Thai traders are unable to sell RSS3 rubber for immediate delivery because they cannot obtain enough raw materials for production, according to a major exporter. The Indonesian SIR20 rubber for June shipment was traded at about $3,580 per ton, on an FOB basis. The Thai RSS3 rubber for May/June shipment was reported at 380-385 cents per kilogram, compared to 380-382 cents per kilogram in the previous trading day. The Thai STR20 rubber for May/June shipment was reported at 370-371 cents per kilogram, down from 372-374 cents per kilogram in the previous trading day. The Indonesian SIR20 rubber for May/June shipment was reported at 359-360 cents per kilogram, down from 360-362 cents per kilogram in the previous trading day. The Malaysian SMR20 rubber for May/June shipment was reported at 369-370 cents per kilogram, down from 370-371 cents per kilogram in the previous trading day.

2012.04.24

The uncertainty of the European debt crisis puts pressure on Japanese rubber, leading to a decline in prices.

The Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM) rubber index fell on Tuesday due to uncertainties surrounding the European debt crisis and increased supply putting pressure on the rubber market. However, stable oil prices and a positive outlook for demand continue to support rubber prices. The TOCOM October rubber settlement price dropped by 2.1 yen, reporting at 305.1 yen per kilogram. Thai officials indicated that Thailand may restart its stockpiling plan, aiming to push the spot price of natural rubber to 120 Thai baht per kilogram in the near term, and further increase the rubber price to 150 Thai baht per kilogram in the second half of the year. In the first quarter, the Shenyang region exported 333 batches of tires totaling 140,000 units, with a value of 26.13 million USD, equivalent to nearly 170 million RMB, marking a 105% increase compared to the same period last year. Tire products were exported to 41 countries and regions, including the United States, Canada, Japan, Indonesia, and Pakistan. Poor economic data from Europe has once again raised market concerns, with Germany's April manufacturing PMI falling short of expectations, marking the fastest contraction in three years; Italy's April consumer confidence index hitting a new low since 1996; and Spain's economy contracting by 0.4% in the first quarter, entering a second recession. Shanghai's natural rubber futures weakened on the 24th, with the main contract 1209 closing at 26,810 yuan/ton, down 410 yuan/ton. Due to weak manufacturing data from Europe and China, and the political situation in France and the Netherlands raising concerns about potential further turmoil in the Eurozone, excluding weather-related speculation, global supply is expected to peak, while end factories are showing signs of slowdown in both domestic and export sales, making substantial improvement difficult in the short term.

2012.04.24

A brief introduction to commonly used rubber antioxidants.

The process by which rubber and its products gradually degrade and lose their original physical and mechanical properties during long-term storage and use due to the effects of heat, oxygen, ozone, variable metal ions, mechanical stress, light, high-energy radiation, as well as other chemical substances and mold, is called aging. As the aging process progresses and develops, the performance of rubber and its products will gradually decline until they completely lose their usability. To extend the service life of rubber products, it is necessary to incorporate substances that can inhibit the aging process into the rubber, thereby prolonging the storage period and service life of rubber and its products. These substances are known as rubber antioxidants. There are many types of rubber antioxidants, each with different functions. Based on their main functions, they can be divided into heat and oxygen aging inhibitors, ozone inhibitors, harmful metal ion inhibitors, fatigue inhibitors, ultraviolet absorbers, and crack inhibitors, among others. However, since each protective function is often not exclusive to a single rubber antioxidant, most rubber antioxidants can act on several aging factors, albeit to varying degrees. Below is an introduction to commonly used rubber antioxidants in the wire and cable industry. 1. Rubber Antioxidant D: This product is a light gray powder, with the pure product being a white powder, and is flammable. Its specific gravity is 1.18, and its melting point is not lower than 105°C. It is easily soluble in acetone, ethyl acetate, carbon disulfide, and chloroform; soluble in ethanol and carbon tetrachloride; and insoluble in water and gasoline. It gradually turns gray-black in air and sunlight, but this does not affect its protective effect. Rubber Antioxidant D is a general-purpose rubber antioxidant for natural and synthetic rubber. It has good resistance to heat, oxygen, bending cracking, and general aging factors.

2012.04.24

Five Important Considerations for Using Rubber Antioxidants

Due to the limitations of each type of rubber antioxidant and the fact that the aging of rubber products in practical use is influenced by various factors, the following points should be noted when selecting rubber antioxidants: (1) Each rubber antioxidant has different characteristics, and the aging performance of different rubber formulations varies. Therefore, the most effective antioxidant for one rubber product may be ineffective or even harmful to another rubber product. Thus, the selection of rubber antioxidants must be based on the aging performance of various rubber materials, the requirements for aging resistance, and the characteristics of various antioxidants, ensuring a comprehensive and rational choice. (2) When a single rubber antioxidant is insufficient to meet the requirements, two or more antioxidants should be used in combination to create a synergistic effect, ensuring effective aging resistance. (3) Some rubber antioxidants can cause discoloration and contamination of the rubber. Generally, phenolic rubber antioxidants have poor protective effects but cause little or no contamination. In contrast, amine-based rubber antioxidants, which have higher protective effects, tend to cause significant contamination and discoloration of the rubber. These contradictions should be carefully considered during selection. (4) The dosage of rubber antioxidants should not exceed their solubility in rubber to prevent blooming and contamination of the rubber surface quality. (5) Amine-based rubber antioxidants can have adverse effects on rubber scorch; phenolic rubber antioxidants can delay vulcanization, so this should be taken into account during selection.

2012.04.20

In 2015, the global demand for rubber additives was 1.4 million tons.

According to the latest research report from the Fridonia Group, global sales of rubber additives are expected to continue growing at an average annual rate of 4.7% over the next three years, with demand reaching approximately 1.4 million tons by 2015. The report also indicates that the demand for rubber additives in the Asia-Pacific region will lead global growth, particularly in China. The demand for rubber additives in the Asia-Pacific region is projected to grow rapidly at an average annual rate of 8.1%, exceeding 575,000 tons by 2015. In contrast, the average annual growth rate of rubber additive demand in the United States, Western Europe, and Japan is expected to be less than 1% in the coming years. The demand for rubber antioxidants is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 4.6%, while the demand for rubber accelerators is projected to exceed 415,000 tons by 2015, and the demand for processing aids and tackifiers is expected to reach nearly 130,000 tons. Overall, the demand for rubber additives will significantly increase by 2015.

2012.04.20

Analysis of the Influencing Factors on the Development of China's Rubber Accelerator Industry from 2011 to 2015

In recent years, China's rubber accelerator industry has entered a stage of stable development. Below is a brief analysis of the factors affecting the development of China's rubber accelerator industry from 2012 to 2015: 1. Favorable Factors (1) In the long term, the rubber industry will continue to develop. With the continuous growth of the global automotive industry, high-speed rail, and aerospace sectors, the demand for rubber products will remain strong, and the rubber industry will maintain a sustained development trend. (2) The eastward shift of the international rubber industry has driven the development of the domestic rubber additive industry. As the international rubber industry moves eastward, China's rubber additive industry has gained rapid development opportunities. In recent years, many international rubber accelerator production enterprises have continuously shut down their production facilities, providing greater development space for the domestic industry. China's rubber additive industry is increasingly becoming dominant in the global market. (3) Environmental governance further promotes industry consolidation, and the market competition pattern is becoming more standardized. At the end of 2007, the State Council organized the first national pollution source census, and the country has since formulated more effective pollutant emission control plans, strengthening the regulation of heavily polluting industries. It is foreseeable that the consolidation of the domestic rubber accelerator industry is inevitable. Large-scale rubber accelerator enterprises with high environmental governance levels and strong capabilities in developing new rubber additive products will gain greater market space. 2. Unfavorable Factors (1) Domestic industry competition is becoming more intense. Currently, there are more than 200 domestic rubber additive production enterprises. With the rapid development of the domestic rubber additive industry in recent years, large-scale enterprises are expanding their own production.

2012.04.18

Non-toxic rubber additives have become mainstream.

In recent years, there has been increasing international attention on the issue of certain accelerators generating harmful nitrosamines during the rubber processing. Research on the generation and effects of nitrosamine compounds has become a hot topic in the global rubber accelerator field. Studies have shown that N-nitrosamines are generated from the reaction of secondary amines with nitrogen oxides. During the vulcanization process of rubber compounds, sulfur curing accelerators based on secondary amines (such as morpholine, diisopropylamine, etc.) decompose to produce secondary amines, which then react with nitrogen oxides in the air or from additives to form N-nitrosamines. The resulting nitrosamines can alkylate DNA, potentially leading to carcinogenesis. In contrast, primary or tertiary amines have difficulty forming stable nitrosamines with nitrogen oxides. Many countries abroad have long identified major types of sulfur curing accelerators, such as sulfonamide secondary amines, thiuram compounds, dithiocarbamate salts, and sulfur donors, as subjects of research for potential nitrosamine generation, analyzing their mechanisms of nitrosamine formation and alternatives. In light of this, many restrictive regulations have been introduced globally. For instance, Germany enacted regulations as early as 1982 to control nitrosamine content. The United States, Japan, France, and the United Kingdom have also actively developed new types of sulfur curing accelerators that do not produce nitrosamines and have subsequently ceased the use of those that do. In 1997, the Beijing Rubber Research and Design Institute analyzed and determined that traces of morpholine residues could no longer be detected in tires from Europe and the United States, confirming that some accelerators that produce nitrosamines are no longer used in these countries. The 21st century is the era of green chemistry, and environmental protection will be particularly crucial in future chemical production. The rubber additives in our country...

2012.04.18

2012 China Rubber Conference

2011 was a very difficult year for the rubber industry in our country. In 2012, the increasing uncertainties in the global economy posed even greater challenges for the rubber industry in China. The largest international exhibition in the world, the 2012 China Rubber Annual Conference and China Rubber Industry Exhibition, hosted by the China Rubber Industry Association, will be held from March 19 to 22 at the Shangri-La Hotel in Qingdao, with the theme "Facing Challenges, Strengthening Cooperation, Technological Innovation, and Green Development." The conference will focus on how the Chinese rubber industry can seize opportunities and respond to challenges. This exhibition will still adopt a three-dimensional exhibition model with one main venue, seven sub-venues, and one exhibition site. The conference will invite experts from the State Council Development Research Center, relevant domestic and foreign associations, and key domestic and foreign enterprises to give wonderful reports around the theme, providing a detailed analysis of the development trends of the rubber industry in China and the world in 2012, as well as how to seize opportunities and respond to various challenges. Compared to the previous session, this conference has a more prominent theme, richer and more compact content, and a more diverse and international format. The main venue reports will cover topics such as: China's macroeconomic policies in 2012 and the impact of the global economy on China, the opportunities, challenges, and strategies faced by the Chinese rubber industry under the new situation, the current status of China's automotive industry in 2011 and trend analysis for 2012, the supply and demand of global synthetic rubber in 2011 and recent advancements in synthetic rubber technology, fluctuations in natural rubber prices and corporate responses, and the production and operation situation of China's rubber industry in 2011.

2012.04.17

Trends in the Development of Rubber Additive Technology in Our Country

The rubber additive industry in our country has already established a certain foundation for research and development. In the future, it is necessary to conduct collaborative research among enterprises, research institutes, and universities based on market demand to promote technological progress in the industry. 1. Accelerate the industrialization and product diversification of processing aid systems. The processing aid systems in our country started relatively late and have few varieties, so it is necessary to increase development efforts. Although the usage of processing aid systems is small, they are diverse and complex, with a relatively high technical content, playing an important role in improving processing technology, enhancing production efficiency, and product quality in the rubber processing industry. Uniform agents are used to improve the mixing uniformity of rubber with different polarities and viscosities. Companies like Germany's S&S and Rhein Chemie have developed a series of products to meet market demand, but domestic production has not yet been scaled up. S&S's 40MSF series of dark aromatic hydrocarbon resin mixtures are suitable for NR, SBR, BR, EPDM, NBR, etc., and can improve the mixing uniformity of different polar rubber while promoting the rapid dispersion of fillers. Their 60NSF series of light aliphatic hydrocarbon resin mixtures are suitable for light-colored rubber compounds. It is evident that to meet the strong specificity requirements, it is necessary to produce a series of products. Tackifying resins are particularly suitable for multi-layer rubber composite products. Although we have industrialized some varieties in recent years, there are still gaps. For example, BASF's Koresin super tackifying resin series, a tert-butyl phenol acetylene resin, can maintain the surface tackiness of rubber for several weeks, but it still needs to be imported. In the area of adhesive aids for tire cord rubber, American Cytec offers a wide range of products, including a recently launched single-component, low...