Chemical Research News

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) will reorganize its research and development structure. The reorganization initiative calls for the creation of a new Research & Development Center consolidating the five currently existing Research & Development Centers. According to MHI, the move is targeted at shifting to a cross-organizational system based on companywide business units, timed to coincide with the company's transition from its earlier structure of business segments to its current systems of business domains and strategic business units (SBU). By consolidating its research and development operations, MHI anticipates new synergies in technologies and skills, enhanced development of human resources and greater efficiency in work performance and facility utilization, the company said.

China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) has acquired China National Chemical Construction Corp (CNCCC), Xinhua reported. No further details were provided. Xinhua cited CNOOC general manager Fu Chengyu as saying that the acquisition will enable CNOOC to sharpen its competitiveness by using CNCCC's skills in fertilizer production, chemical research, engineering design and international trade.

Recently, the use of certain environmental-friendly waxes or "semi-hard coatings", used by barge fabricators to protect the internal void walls and floors of marine double-hulled steel barges from corrosion, have fallen under scrutiny by some barge owners/operators. It is believed that certain paraffin wax coatings act as a food source for certain living corrosive microorganisms. These single-celled organisms are associated with a phenomenon known as Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) that can cause localized pitting and eventually leaks in steel barge voids. This following examines the biological and chemical research that has recently been performed on the Jotun Paints, Inc, "beeswax" coating by two independent laboratories.