Huntsman makes chemicals used in a variety of industries such as plastics, autos, footwear, paints, construction, furniture and packaging.

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That means that a whole range of polymers which do not conduct electricity (such as most common plastics) can be brought into play.

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Indeed, plenty of big consumers of plastics, such as carmakers, already know the futures markets well, having traded metals.

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Organochlorines are contained in many familiar products, such as in solvents, pesticides, plastics, disinfectants, forms of packaging and bleached pulp and paper products.

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Dr Schmidt says that various firms are now testing his feather-based plastics for use in such things as biodegradable nappies and home insulation.

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Mrs Norman-Ross said such items should not be put in bring banks as they can prevent other more valuable plastics being recycled.

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Unlike traditional semiconductors, which are crystals of elements such as silicon and germanium, organic semiconductors are more complex versions of the chemicals from which plastics are made.

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