polymerguru

Scientists under the direction of ETH Zurich have created a minor sensation in synthetic chemistry. They succeeded for the first time in producing regularly ordered planar polymers that form a kind of "molecular carpet" on a nanometre scale. At ETH Zurich in 1920, the Chemist Hermann Staudinger postulated the existence of macromolecules consisting of many identical modules strung together like a chain. For this he was initially rewarded with mockery and incomprehension in professional circles. But Staudinger was to be proved right: today the macromolecules described as polymers are known as plastics, and by 1950 one kilogram of them was already being produced per capita worldwide. Today, more than ninety years after Staudinger's discovery - for which the chemist was honoured with the Nobel Prize in 1953 - about 150 million tons of plastics are manufactured every year. A gigantic industry developed, without whose products our daily life is no longer imaginable. A research

ClikTech Inc., Buffalo Grove, Ill., one of the leading manufacturers of dental sensor and x-ray film holders, has launched the industry's first thermoplastic rod for dental x-ray holder systems. The company's new Litening Rods™ , made of Radel® polyphenylsulfone ( PPSU ) resin from Solvay Specialty Polymers USA, LLC, replace metal rods which are labor intensive and more costly. The new product made of Radel®  PPSU  is light, autoclavable, reusable, and less costly. ClikTech will make the product introduction at the Chicago Dental Society's 2012 Mid-Winter Meeting Feb. 23-25 at McCormick Place in Chicago. Metal rods have been used for decades in dental offices. Although effective, they are costly and prone to breakage, according to Thomas Gillen, president of ClikTech Inc. Metal rods require labor-intensive manufacturing steps including steel forming, bending, and pin insertion. "We have reached a time when we can combine both new and old technologies to produce the

Ajinomoto Co., Inc. ("Ajinomoto") and Toray Industries, Inc. ("Toray") have entered into an agreement to begin joint research for manufacturing the nylon raw material 1,5-pentanediamine (1,5-PD) from the amino acid lysine produced from plant materials by Ajinomoto using fermentation technology, and commercializing a biobased nylon made from this substance. Biobased nylon is a type of nylon manufactured by polymerizing chemicals produced from plant materials. The biobased nylon that Ajinomoto and Toray will research and develop is produced from plant materials by decarbonating the amino acid lysine through an enzyme reaction to make 1,5-PD, which Toray then polymerizes with dicarboxylic acid. The amino acid lysine is a core product of the Ajinomoto Group produced using fermentation technology. This biobased nylon fiber made from 1,5-PD is not only sustainable because it is plant-based, but also shows promise for development into highly comfortable clothing. For exa

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued strong final standards requiring facilities that produce polyvinyl chloride and copolymers (PVC) to reduce harmful air emissions, which will improve air quality and protect people's health in communities where facilities are located. Exposure to toxic air pollutants, like those emitted from PVC facilities, can cause respiratory problems and other serious health issues, and can increase the risk of developing cancer. In particular, children are known to be more sensitive to the cancer risks posed by inhaling vinyl chloride, one of the known carcinogens emitted from PVC facilities. The final standards are based on currently available technologies and will reduce emissions of air toxics, such as dioxin and vinyl chloride. Facilities will have the flexibility to choose the most practical and cost-effective control technology or technique to reduce the emissions. Facilities will be required to monitor emissions at certain points

The launch of Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner passenger plane marks another step forward in aviation technology, the latest in a century-long history of dramatic advancements. Over the last half-century, many of these advancements have resulted from innovations in plastics technology-and today plastics are helping create state-of-the-art airplanes that offer unparalleled durability, comfort, and fuel-efficiency. The use of plastics in aircraft began in World War II. Remember in the film It's a Wonderful Life when Sam Wainwright offers George Bailey a "chance of a lifetime" making plastics from soybeans-and the angel Joseph later says that Sam "made a fortune in plastic hoods for planes" during World War II? Plastics also were used to construct the housing for radar equipment (since they don't impede the radar waves), they replaced rubber in airplane wheels, and they even were sprayed on fighter planes to protect against corrosion from salty seawater. Over t

Toray Industries, Inc. and Toray Medical Co., Ltd. (head office: Urayasu-shi, Chiba; President: Motonaga Tanaka; hereinafter referred to as "TMC") announced recently that they have decided to build a new plant to manufacture artificial kidneys at Toray Medical (Qingdao) Co., Ltd. (TMQ), which was established in Jimo City, Qingdao, Shandong Province, in July 2011. TMQ was established by Toray and TMC as joint venture with Qingdao Jifa Group Co., Ltd. (head office: Jimo Qingdao, China; President: Chen Yulan, General Manager: Yang Weidong (General Manager); hereinafter referred to as "Jifa") for manufacture and sales of dialysis machines. The plant for manufacturing of the dialysis machines is currently under construction and is expected to begin operations in the first half of 2012. The company expects to start selling the products at about the same time. Toray and TMC are planning to build a plant for manufacturing artificial kidneys at a site adjacent to the dialys

Binani Industries Limited, the holding company of USD 1.6 billion Braj Binani Group, recently announced the acquisition of 3B - The Fibreglass Company ('3B'), a Europe-based major in  fiberglass  products and technologies. Binani Industries Limited is one of India's leading global diversified business houses, with interests in cement, zinc,  glass fiber,  composites and ready-mix concrete. The Braj Binani Group has acquired a 100% equity interest in 3B from Platinum Equity. This acquisition is part of Braj Binani Group's strategy to expand its footprint in the global  fiberglass market. It further augments the Group's technological and marketing capabilities in the fiberglass business. Mr. Braj Binani, Chairman, Binani Industries Limited, said, "The acquisition, costing us €275 million, will strengthen our group's core operations at a global level. The group is present in fast-growth business segments, of which fiberglass is one. We are among one of th