Ball lenses Spherical ball lenses are commonly used for laser collimating and focusing, laser-to-fiber coupling, fiber-to-fiber coupling, and fiber-to-detector coupling. Larger spheres are easier to handle and ease the sensitivity of translational alignment. However, smaller spheres fit into smaller packages. Sapphire and Ruby ball lenses are both made from Al203. Ruby or Ruby-Doped sapphire owes its red color to traces of chromium oxide (chromium content for ruby balls is typically >0.5%). While their physical and chemical properties are basically the same, their optical properties are somewhat different. Sapphire has superior optical transmission qualities. Ruby Balls are easier to see and therefore easier to handle for physical applications.      Ball Lens                    Half-Ball Lens Specification of our ball lens: Sapphire Ball Lens,2 Mm Sapphire Ball Lens,Sapphire Half-Ball Lens,Sapphire Glass Ball Lens China Star Optics Technology Co.,Ltd. , https://www.csoptlens.com
    
*Material:BK7 or other optical glasses,optical crystal materials
*Diameter:1mm - 40mm Â
*Dimension Tolerance:+/-0.005mm Â
*Surface Quality:40-20Â Â
*Sphericity:0.005mm
*Coating:optional
Butadiene prices in April may further decline
Butadiene prices in April may continue to fall due to a combination of oversupply and weak demand. Currently, the lower operating rates of downstream synthetic rubber producers have led to an increase in butadiene supply, creating market imbalances. At the same time, demand in China did not meet expectations, forcing some traders who had previously purchased inventory to sell at lower prices, further driving down the market.
In March, Asian butadiene prices fell by 28.6% within just one month, according to industry sources. As of March 22, spot butadiene prices in Asia dropped to $1,500 per ton, down from $2,100 per ton on March 1—marking a sharp decline of $600 per ton. This drop has raised concerns about further price declines in the coming months.
A local butadiene trader noted that several downstream synthetic rubber producers have either shut down their facilities or reduced production capacity, leading to an oversupply of butadiene in China. This excess supply is expected to put additional pressure on prices. Major players such as Huayu Rubber, Yanshan Petrochemical, Shandong Huayu, and Fuxing Chemicals have reportedly cut their operating rates to as low as 50%.
The drop in production from these key players has resulted in a surplus of butadiene, causing prices to fall sharply. According to ICIS Anxis data, Chinese butadiene prices fell to between 10,800 and 11,500 yuan per ton on March 25, a decrease of 3,500 to 4,000 yuan per ton since March 1.
Additionally, some naphtha crackers, including the Korea Lichuan Naphtha Cracking Center and Formosa Petrochemical in Taiwan, have reduced their operating rates to 90%, with further cuts expected in April. This reduction in production could help stabilize supply and prevent further sharp declines in butadiene prices.
However, weak demand remains a major concern. After the Lunar New Year holiday, which ran from February 9 to 15, the Chinese butadiene market was closed. Traders had anticipated a strong rebound in purchases following the break, leading some to stock up on inventory, which temporarily pushed prices higher. However, demand failed to recover as expected, and traders were forced to sell at lower prices to clear their inventories.
Looking further downstream, uncertainty in the market and a global downturn in the auto industry have made tire manufacturers cautious. This has suppressed buying activity in the butadiene market. Synthetic rubber, a key component in tire production, relies heavily on butadiene as its primary raw material. With Asia being the world’s largest tire manufacturing hub, companies like Goodyear, Bridgestone, Michelin, Kumho, and Toyo Tire all operate in the region.
A downstream producer expects that with weak rubber demand, manufacturers will be reluctant to build up butadiene stocks. Additionally, with a large number of butadiene cargoes available for sale, traders may need to reduce prices further to offload their inventory, potentially leading to more declines in April.