Operational problems at several ethanolamine plants have been resolved, bringing an end to allocations that have beset buyers. Nevertheless, sources say the market has undergone fundamental changes that will cause availability of these popular corrosion inhibitors to remain tight for the foreseeable future. Mono-, di- and triethanolamines are used in a variety of applications, including metalworking fluids and other industrial lubricants where they help prevent rust. Monoethanolamines are also u...

Malaysias national petroleum company last month joined the flock of companies hitching themselves to Chinas economic engine. Petronas formed a subsidiary in the southeastern city of Shenzhen to begin selling lubricants and other oil products. In terms of lubricants, a spokeswoman said Petronas Marketing China Co. will focus on sales of engine oils for passenger cars and motorcycles. Petronas already had a toehold in China, thanks to a subsidiary selling petroleum products in Hong Kong and a liqu...

Costs for lubricant additives continue to rise as several more chemical suppliers announced markups last week. All based their actions on higher costs for energy and raw materials. Great Lakes Chemical Corp. eliminated price protection mechanisms on flame retardants on July 6, and simultaneously imposed a worldwide increase of 30 cents per kilogram on any phosphate esters containing phenol. The company, which is headquartered in Indianapolis, said its actions were due to unprecedented price incr...

Crompton Corp. says its plant in Elmira, Ontario, has resumed normal operations after repairing damage caused by a June 11 fire. The incident damaged a wastewater treatment tank and therefore forced the company to curtail operations that required much wastewater treatment. The chemical company issued a statement yesterday saying production of alkylated diphenylamine antioxidants is back to full scale. Crompton sells the materials under the Naugalube brand name and only in May had increased the E...