Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108) recently announced that it has developed a new polymer, the first of its kind, using advanced synthetic technology for macromolecular conjugates. By combining rubber and resin at a molecular level, Bridgestone has become the first in the world to develop what it calls High Strength Rubber (HSR), a hybrid material able to freely exhibit the superior capabilities...
Asahi Kasei Corp. (TYO:3407) recently announced that it plans to increase the prices of its synthetic rubber and thermoplastic elastomer, among other products, starting from shipments on April 16. Prices per kilogram are set to rise by at least 25 yen ($0.24) for butadiene rubber, styrene–butadiene rubber, styrenic thermoplastic elastomer and hydrogenated styrenic elastomer. Meanwhile, the company’s clear styrenic block...
The Chemical Society of Japan (CSJ) has selected synthetic rubber created using monovinyl acetylene (MVA) as one of three historical chemical developments to be newly deemed “chemical heritage”. The MVA production method for synthetic rubber was invented by the late Junji Furukawa, a professor emeritus from Kyoto University’s Faculty of Engineering. Synthetic rubber made using the method successfully completed industrial...
Rubber sheet manufacturer Tigers Polymer Corp. (TYO:4231) recently released strong business results for the first half (April–September) of the fiscal year ending March 2018. Robust results in the company’s rubber sheet business were evidenced by a nearly double-digit increase in revenue year-on-year. Demand from Tigers Polymer’s main customers in the civil engineering, construction and automotive industries was sluggish in the...
Two large synthetic rubber manufacturers, JSR Corp. (TYO:4185) and Zeon Corp. (TYO:4205), recently released their business results for the first quarter of fiscal 2017. Both companies saw a significant increase to their elastomer division profits for the quarter, including profits for synthetic rubber. This profit growth is caused by an increase in the spread between elastomer material costs and selling...
Zeon Corp.’s (TYO:4205) synthetic rubber business is doing well at present. As for specialty rubber not used in tires specifically, rising operation rates of oil wells thanks to renewed shale gas production have been a boon for hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) and nitrile rubber (NBR). Zeon is opening the Asia Technical Support Laboratory (ATSL) in Singapore this month to...
