polymerguru

The current T-model in the E-Class from Mercedes has an especially large fuel filler flap, since it is intended to accommodate variable fueling options. This flap has recently been converted to the new Ultramid® TOP 4000 from BASF, a mineral-filled semi-aromatic polyamide ( PA 6/6 T). The conductive engineering resin is an improved version of the Ultramid TOP 3000 introduced in 2007 and offers primarily greater stiffness and dimensional stability. Just like its predecessor, the new material is also suitable for online painting. This means: plastic components made from Ultramid TOP 4000 can, without additional effort or costs, withstand the various baths and painting operations to which the rest of the body is subjected. This material thus represents one more step towards the lightweight plastic automobile body thus enabling further reduction of fuel consumption and emissions. In the course of development, the BASF Verbund once again demonstrated its capabilities, as t...

As a joint venture with the Swedish government, Delhi plans to convert biogas generated at Keshopur sewage treatment plant to CNG. The fuel will be used to power buses owned by the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC). Headed by the local Efficiency and Renewable Energy Management Centre, it is the first such initiative undertaken in the country and is expected to begin by September this year. Last Friday, Swedish experts made a final presentation before Delhi’s Environment department, and the project has been in principle approved. According to Indian Express , Delhi government will get 50 per cent of funding from Swedish Development Corporation Agency and will support the rest of the cost. Delhi began talks with the Swedish government last December, when Swedish experts completed a three-month study of four sewage treatment plants in Delhi (Dwarka, Keshopur, Coronation Park and Okhla). “If Keshopur project is successful, we will replicate it in all 17 plants of the C...

iFrogz introduces the Soft Gloss case which will provide your iPhone 4 with a decent amount of protection and a fairly eye-catching visual design. But there's little else to distinguish this utilitarian iPhone 4 case. The Soft Gloss uses a thermoplastic polyurethane wrap to cover up the back and sides of your iPhone 4. A ridge over the front edge of the phone keeps your iPhone 4 from coming into contact with any surfaces if you set it down with the screen facing down. In a way, the Soft Gloss is like the jellied wrap portion of another iFrogz case, the Swerve, although the openings on the former's top and side are slightly different. Both cases feature the same spiral design with dots circling around the Apple logo on the phone's back side. The Soft Gloss has a small opening on the side for accessing the ring/silent switch. On AT&T-model iPhones, the Soft Gloss fits perfectly. But the opening doesn't line up exactly for Verizon phones, so the switch r...

Researchers at Isfahan University of Technology have developed a poly (ether ether ketone) /silica polymeric nanocomposite in powder form by mechanical alloying for aerospace industry applications. They claimed PEEK as advanced engineering polymer with excellent chemical resistance and high favorable erosive and frictional behavior. Scientists revealed that the main objective of this project was to develop a method for the synthesis of polymeric base nanocomposites so that the product is prepared in powder form. However, extremely low solubility in common solvents and high melting temperature (about 340° C) created problems for them to use common methods which, lead to the discovery of new procedure. Reinforcing nanoparticles were distributed and dispersed into the polymeric matrix by means of solid state processing and high energy ball milling (for 15 hours). One of the research team members, Mehdi Hedayati concluded that molecular destruction won't evolve in the p...

Symphony Environmental Technologies, specialists in controlled-life, Oxo-biodegradable plastic technology has welcomed the announcement by the EU Environment Commissioner, Janez Potocnik to investigate the problem of plastic waste in the environment. The announcement, which came at a meeting of EU Environment Ministers in Brussels, included the intention of the Commission to launch an impact assessment and "the possibility of a Europe-wide ban on plastic bags". In response to the announcement, Michael Stephen, Deputy Chairman of Symphony, said: "We welcome the Commissioner's intent to look into "all options", because the EU currently has no policy for plastic waste which gets into the land or sea environment and cannot realistically be collected for recycling or anything else. We look forward to introducing him to d 2 w Oxo-biodegradable technology as a valuable tool for future policy. d 2 w is no more a solution to plastic waste than catalytic ...

Xiphos™ posterior interbody medical devices from Austin, Texas-based minimally invasive spinal implants supplier DiFUSION Technologies Inc. has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). Xiphos™ device is made using Zeniva® polyetheretherketone ( PEEK ) resin from Solvay Advanced Polymers. The modulus of this biomaterial is kept quiet close to that of natural bone and offers chemical inertness, toughness, fatigue resistance and possesses radiolucent properties for X-ray; Zeniva® PEEK in medical implants can also be used as an alternative to metals such as titanium. The PEEK rod is used with supplemental internal fixation of thoracolumbar spine. Xiphos comes in variety of implant shapes and sizes as per patient anatomy and surgical need. The company plans to use Zeniva PEEK for future non-antimicrobial products too.