The polyurethanes, performance products, advanced materials and textile effects segments manufacture and supply organic chemicals, while the pigments segment produces inorganic chemicals.

FORBES: Premature Sell-Off Creates Significant Buying Opportunity For Chemical Maker

Once or twice a week, Sukemi struggles aboard an overloaded bus (the family's decrepit minivan is too expensive to keep on the road) and she heads into Tanah Abang textile market, where she can purchase her materials more cheaply.

CNN: CRISIS COMES HOME

Materials scientist Dr. Walid A. Daoud and textile scientist Dr. John Xin, both from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), used nanotechnology -- whereby the tiniest particles available to man are used -- to come up with the concept.

CNN: Washing no longer dirty work