polymerguru

  Victrex  is leading a consortium of companies and institutions pursuing innovation in 3D printing (additive manufacturing or AM). As part of its key role, Victrex will develop new grades of high-performance  polyaryletherketone (PAEK)  polymer based on innovative chemical formulations that are specifically designed to work in additive manufacturing processes. Although utilized in some AM applications today, current PAEK materials were originally developed for use in injection molding or extrusion manufacturing process.  The new grades are targeted in particular at the aerospace industry, which is the consortium’s main focus, but will also consider applications in other areas, notably medical. Possessing intellectual property covering the new polymers being developed, Victrex was awarded funding from the UK's agency for innovation, Innovate UK, to help drive the project forward. Members of the consortium are other industry leaders such as Airbus Group Innovations, EOS e-Manufa

Adwen and LM Wind Power have partnered to take a large step forward towards lowering the cost of energy in offshore, putting their respective technology expertise together to present the longest blade in the world. The huge component of 88.4 meters has been specifically designed for Adwen's AD 8-180 wind turbine model, with 8MW nominal capacity and 180 meter rotor diameter. The first of these huge blades has just been manufactured at LM Wind Power's factory in Lunderskov (Denmark) and will be transported to a facility in Aalborg in the following days, where it will commence rigorous testing in the framework of Adwen's extensive product validation plan. The engineering teams of both companies have been working together for months to design and integrate a blade that represents an important step forward in the race to lower the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCoE). With the largest rotor in the industry (180 meters), the AD 8-180 has the highest annual energy production (AEP) of

Spanish-based Enebe Padel has launched its 2016 range of paddle  tennis paddles  featuring its top-of-the-line Spitfire  TeXtreme® – manufactured using  TeXtreme® carbon fiber fabrics . TeXtreme® is a unique carbon fiber material that differs from conventional carbon fiber materials as a result of its proprietary production processes. The company’s history of contributing to successful product releases – for companies including Bauer Hockey, Prince Tennis, Cobra Puma Golf, Stiga Table Tennis and Bell Helmets – stands proof to the real-world performance improvements achieved using TeXtreme® technology. Pilar Osca, Chief Marketing Officer of Enebe Sports Group, says, “Using  TeXtreme® carbon fiber fabrics  in our paddles has contributed to increased durability along with improvements in strength while achieving ultra-light weight. This fiber is definitely lighter than the carbon fiber generally used and resulted in a measurable increase in power and shot accuracy. Our technical team

THE NETHERLANDS --  DSM Dyneema , the manufacturer of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber, branded as Dyneema®, announced that ROBIN Radar Systems has selected industry-leading Dyneema® Crystal Technology for the radome of its new Elvira® drone detection system. Protection Benefits of Dyneema® Crystal Technology for Elvira® drone detection system With near-zero signal loss it helps Elvira® detect drones and classify them It distinguishes drone detection system from birds or other flying objects It differentiates drone systems from traditional radar systems even at longer distances It helps in detecting larger fixed-wing drones at a range of nine kilometers and smaller multi-rotor drones at up to three kilometers Offers electromagnetic transparency Provides superior protection to sensitive equipment in harsh outdoor environments  Results in extreme weight reduction which aids easy transport Elvira® radomes are produced by DSM Dyneema’s partner Airbrone.

Stop-motion animation has a unique appeal. When employing the technique, twenty-four frames equal one second of animation. Each frame must be meticulously set up with puppets and props incrementally altered in small movements. An entire movie is compiled from the individual motionless scenes, captured by a digital camera. LAIKA, the US-based animation studio, has produced three Oscar®-nominated animated films: The Boxtrolls (2014), ParaNorman (2012) and Coraline (2009). Their use of 3D printing in animation garnered them a Scientific and Engineering award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science. The studio's fourth feature, Kubo and the Two Strings, will open in theaters this year. In order to produce the puppets facial expressions, LAIKA designs, models, animates and paints the faces in the computer, then uses color 3D printers to produce tens of thousands of slightly different facial expressions. LAIKA pioneered this technique on its inaugural film Coraline and has c

In response to the growing market in the US for lower-waste product packaging, driven by consumers who are making environmentally-conscious purchasing decisions eatsafe offers an earth-friendly renewably-sourced PLA shrink film for your tamper-evident packaging process, called ecoSafe. Origin of ecoSafe Film: ecoSafe is a biodegradable polylactic acid film, commonly referred to as PLA.  ecoSafe is derived from annually renewable resources, and it is manufactured using plant sugars to create a proprietary polylactide polymer. Advantages of ecoSafe Film : This material is far superior environmentally to oil-based PET, polyethylene, PVC and polypropylene films, which use 20-250% more non-renewable energy during production and produce 4-6 times more greenhouse gases during their life cycle. Properties of ecoSafe Film: eatSafe’s ecoSafe PLA film has several eco-friendly end-of-life choices which are environmentally-superior to all other plastics.  ecoSafe can be composted in industrial f

Following four years of successful sales of ATBC in North America, the chemical company Proviron has decided to commission a bulk storage tank of ATBC (Proviplast® 2624) at its operations facility in Friendly, WV. To increase support for ATBC plasticizer customers in North America, Proviron has installed a permanent storage tank for its Proviplast® 2624 (ATBC) plasticizer, which is now fully operational. The bulk tank located in the Mid-Ohio Valley will result in shorter lead times and delivery times, and a very reliable supply of our Proviplast® 2624 (ATBC) to our customers in the Nafta region. Proviplast® 2624 (ATBC) is a bio-based general purpose plasticizer ideal for use in food contact applications such as stretch film or seal closures and numerous medical and pharmaceutical applications. Because of its excellent solvating characteristics it can also be incorporated in plastisols for flooring and coatings. “Proviron is showing its commitment to the US market and has uniquely posi