Lasers throw vital beams on thermoplastics

To ease up and automate the processing of raw materials used in automotive, aviation and aerospace industries, Fraunhofer researchers are now using laser technology. The infrared laser melts the surface of the fiber-reinforced thermoplastic components. When compressed at fluid stage and then hardened, the result is a strong and stable bond. During the tape placement, carbon fibers are integrated into long strips of resilient thermoplastic resin. Multiple laminate layers are stacked on top of each other by means of lasers. Tape strips cool down and fuse with each other quickly.

Not only small components, even bulky components made of fiber-reinforced plastic can be joined together strongly. Laser-made components can find their applications in the form of airplane fuselages, load-bearing structures for cars, components of boat hulls, rocket tanks, aircraft components and rotary blades.

Thin-walled LEDs for mobile phones

he Japanese plastic converter Nissei Industries Ltd. has produced the thinnest low-profile side view light-emitting diodes (LEDs) specially designed for thin-profile mobile phones. This ultra-thin LEDs are 0.4mm high and are made from a 22% mineral filled, light-stabilized, high-reflectivity polyphthalamide (PPA) material supplied by the Belgian material producer Solvay Advanced Polymers i.e. Amodel™ A-4422 LS WH118. This grade allows to fill very thin walls and runs in high-cavity molds up to 264 cavities. It has a fast crystallization rate and offers higher flow, faster cycles, lower flash and greater overall performance than conventional glass fiber reinforced polyamide-9T materials. The PPA ultra-thin LED reflector cups are injection molded onto the lead frame by Nissei Industries and supplied to a Taiwanese packaging company that produces LEDs for the mobile phone industry.

Automotive interiors combining natural fiber aesthetic and Class A finish

The innovative automotive interiors specialist Johnson Controls Interiors (JCI) has developed a concept car for the small-vehicle market that was unveiled on the occasion of the 2009 North American International Auto Show. This concept vehicle, namely ‘re3’ (for Rethink the interior through innovative engineering, Renew with sustainable solutions, Respond by generating consumer appeal) is both fuel-efficient and eco-friendly by design. It features the use of visible natural fibers in the vehicle interior thanks to the so-called “Exposed Natural Material” technology, which complies with the stringent requirement for Class A finishes: a wood fiber mat with acrylic resin binder i.e. Fibrowood™ material or a moldable mat made of polypropylene (PP) and natural fibers that can be formed and covered in a one-step process i.e. EcoCor™ have been used to produce the instrument and door panels, the Class A surface being obtained by applying a thin, transparent film onto the panels. This technology offers authentic and natural aesthetics for the interior while providing up to 30% weight saving compared with conventional laminated solutions.

Now chain criminals with thermoplastic vulcanized hand cuffs!

To ease up the process of maintaining law and order, law-enforcement agencies can now use ‘Cobra cuffs’ while doing mass arrests or controlling the crowd on a large scale. Milspec, an Asheville NC-based thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPV) manufacturer has introduced these police cuffs, that are made of Sarlink 3100 with 45 shore D grade. Because this TPV shows neutral colorability, Cobra cuffs can be made available in various colors choices of: black, orange, yellow, red, pink, and blue. This also makes color coding possible, thus enhancing safety and processing detainees according to criminal charges.

This grade features high flexural fatigue endurance, heat resistance, impact strength, 250 pounds of tensile strength and good abrasion strength. Sarlink combines the performance characteristics of thermoset rubber, with the ease of plastic processing. Sarlink is a thermoplastic vulcanisate based on dynamically vulcanized ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber particles dispersed in a polypropylene (PP) matrix. Sarlink TPVs are also used in various other applications, such as wires and cables, pipe seals and under the hood.

study on PC Biodegradation

http://www.omnexus.com/resources/articles/article.aspx?id=25107&lr=mom10137&li=61011662

Structural polyurethanes: Bearing bigger loads

http://www.compositesworld.com/articles/structural-polyurethanes-bearing-bigger-loads

Arkema and Toyobo to Start Alliance on High Temperature Biobased Polyamides

COLOMBES CEDEX, France -- Arkema and Toyobo have decided to form a strategic partnership to develop high-temperature polyamides made from renewable resources. Under this collaboration, Arkema and Toyobo will promote a new generation of high-temperature polyamides, with improved technical properties and lower environmental footprint.
The new products initially consist of two ranges with melting points around 250°C and 315°C, with a very low moisture pick up and a biobased content up to 70%. Their unique properties make them particularly suitable for highly technical metal replacement applications in consumer electronics and automotive applications, when high-temperature resistance and dimensional stability are requested and where plastics could not be used before.
Arkema recently launched Rilsan® HT, a flexible HTPA to replace metal and save costs in highly technical automotive applications.

New PET bottle design for wine

The packaging manufacturer Artenius PET Packaging Europe (APPE) has announced that it has developed a new design for its PET bottle for wine. This new bottle that will be available under the trade name “Project Santiano”, is a multi-layer bottle using the APPE proprietary active barrier technology namely BindOx. It weighs only 50g while conventional glass bottles weigh 600g or more and its design allows it to accept thermoplastic closure as well as traditional cork closure tanks to a re-designed bottle neck. More than 80% of the wine bottle market is dominated by cork closures. These new bottles will be first introduced in the North-American market.

Royal Plastic Unveils A New High Temperature Laser Sintering Capacity

Royal Plastic Mfg. announced the purchase of one of EOSINT P 800 systems from EOS, a manufacturer of laser-sintering equipment. Royal will use the P 800 to manufacture high-performance thermoplastic products out of EOS' unique PEEK HP3 material.

"Laser-sintered EOS PEEK HP3 components have outstanding heat- and corrosion-resistant properties that make them ideal for aerospace," said Bob Evans, Area Sales Manager - Central Region at EOS of North America. "The P 800 purchase is just one more example of how Royal explores and advances new technologies with, and on behalf of, their customers."

EOS PEEK HP3 is a high-performance polymer, belonging to the group of polyaryletherketones - with a melt point of 372°C/702°F. It is widely known for its outstanding material properties, including flame and temperature resistance, chemical resistance, high tensile strength, light weight, biocompatibility and sterilizability - properties that make it attractive for aerospace, medical, automotive and industrial applications. PEEK HP3 from EOS is the only PEEK-type polymer available for laser-sintering.

The sintering platform, an enhanced EOS P800, boasts a large build volume measuring (700x380x550)mm. The additive nature of the process, in which parts are melted or sintered together from many thin layers of powdered material, lends itself to design complexities that are not manufacturable through traditional machining or injection molding processes.

Royal acquired the EOSINT P 800 as part of an ongoing project funded by the United States Air Force and Navy. The company has worked closely with two of the largest air defense contractors on the project and is adding to existing military guidelines for laser-sintering by developing specifications for PEEK HP3. Aircraft parts manufactured with the thermoplastic will include ducts for cooling and heating avionics, and clips and brackets for attaching fuel systems or wiring.

Royal will attend SME RAPID 2010 (May 18-20, Anaheim, CA) and will speak about the EOSINT P 800, both at the show and at EOS' annual North America User Day one day prior to, and in the same location as, RAPID. EOS is the presenting sponsor of the show and will be exhibiting at Booth 301.