polymerguru

With 50 million tons of waste produced worldwide every year, electronics (smartphones, tablets, computers, etc.) are now a serious problem for the environment. To reduce the impact of the so called e-waste, a new contribution has arrived in the form of the revolutionary  bioplastics  designed by bio-on: this polymer (100% naturally biodegradable in water and soil) can be used as a substrate for electrical circuits. When combined with suitable nanofillers, it can act as an electricity conductor, with extraordinary, as yet unexplored potential. "In this way it's possible to build electronic devices with a reduced environmental impact - Marco Astorri, CEO and co-founder of bio-on, explained during Maker Faire Rome — but the use of  bioplastics  will not be restricted to smartphones and tablets. We can extend it to highly advanced technological sectors, thanks to the multiple features of our bioplastics, their outstanding technical performance and excellent biocompatibility.

BMW has started series production of the BMW i3 urban vehicle, which features a passenger cell made from carbon  fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP). BMW says this is the first time that CFRP has been used in high volume automotive production. The i3 is being assembled at BMW’s plant in Leipzig, Germany, where some €400 million has been invested in new structures and machinery for the production of BMW i models and 800 new jobs have been created.      The production network for BMW i also sees key components manufactured at BMW Group plants and joint venture facilities at Moses Lake in the USA and Wackersdorf, Landshut and Dingolfing in Germany.      The company has invested a total of around €600 million in the BMW i production network and generated over 1500 jobs. Deliveries of the BMW i3 to customers in Germany and other European countries will begin in November, with the car’s launch in the USA, China and other markets to follow in early 2014.      “Today represents a mile

BOEING has completed its first 787-9 Dreamliner, the second member of the 787 family. The aircraft was moved to the flight line, where teams are preparing it to fly shortly.      The Boeing 787 Dreamliner’s construction is 50% composite materials. At 20 ft (6 m) longer than the 787-8, the 787-9 will extend the 787 family in both capacity and range, carrying 40 more passengers and has an  additional range of 300 nautical miles (555 km).  ( The ÿrst 787-9 rolled out of Boeing’s Everett, Washington, factory on 24 August.)      The second and third 787-9s are in assembly. First delivery to launch customer Air New Zealand is set for mid-2014.      At the Paris Air Show earlier this year, Boeing launched the 787-10 Dreamliner, the third and largest member of the 787 family. Source:www.boeing.com

Avantium has made another breakthrough with its PEF (or polyethylene furanoate). It has demonstrated that PEF can also be used to make fibers, and even that PEF bottles can be recycled into PEF fibers. These PEF fibers from recycled PEF bottles have been processed into 100% biobased T-shirts. The PEF fiber spinning and fabric weaving and dyeing was performed by the Institute of Textile Technology at RWTH Aachen University, using conventional polyester processing technology and equipment. The fiber market is an important recycling outlet for today's  PET  packaging, and the results presented today show similar end-of-life solutions that can be applied for PEF. During the World Cup 2010 in South Africa, shorts and jerseys made from recycled petroleum-based  PET  bottles were introduced by Nike for the national soccer teams of Brazil, Japan, England, the Netherlands and Team USA, saving petroleum based raw materials and reducing energy consumption by an estimated 30%. PEF T-shir

Arkema has always been involved to propose innovative bio-based  polyamides  for highly demanding markets. Continuing the successful story of Rilsan® Clear G830 Rnew, the first bio-based transparent  polyamide , Arkema presents at the Optical fair (booth at 1C-G06) from November 6th to 8th two new grades — Rilsan® Clear G850 Rnew and Rilsan® Clear G120 Rnew — for specific customer needs. Rilsan® Clear G850 Rnew has been especially designed for injection molding application (i.e.: optical and electronic), to give maximum freedom to designers. It has higher temperature resistance compared with G830 Rnew, which allows broader decoration techniques use. At the same time, its high fluidity offers perfect solution for thin-wall injected parts and is therefore ideally suitable for eyeglass frames. Rilsan® Clear G850 Rnew owns a broad spectrum of performance properties and benefits for eyeglass frames: Excellent flexibility and fatigue resistance Outstanding optical properties and tr

NatureWorks now offers three new Ingeo high performance biopolymer grades designed for injection molding and extrusion applications. They will allow formulations comparable in performance to engineering thermoplastics at a cost lower than any previous high-biobased content polymers on the market. These new Ingeo grades allow faster cycle times and production rates, a 15°C improvement in heat deformation temperature, and a three-to-four fold increase in bulk crystallization rate. NatureWorks expects to see these new high performance Ingeo grades in applications such as consumer durable and semi-durable products as well as food service ware such as cutlery and hot cup lids. Compounders can use their expertise to introduce durables with the highest bio content ever achieved on this cost-effective commercial scale. "Commercializing these new grades follows the very positive market feedback NatureWorks received from customers during pilot sampling over the last year," said Fra

Bridgestone Americas Inc. (BSA) today announced the completion of the Agro Operations Guayule Research Farm in Eloy, Ariz. The research farm will supply guayule biomass for rubber production at the company's BioRubber Process Research Center, which is currently under construction in Mesa, Ariz. "At Bridgestone, we are committed to helping ensure a healthy environment for current and future generations. Because the demand for tires is expected to increase in the long term, we are investing in identifying ways not only to diversify our natural rubber source beyond the hevea rubber tree, but also to explore other innovative methods to make our products more sustainable," said Bill Niaura, director of new business development, BSA. "Guayule fits the profile perfectly — as it's both domestic and renewable — and the completed Agro Operations site is a critical piece to delivering on our commitment." Agro Operations includes a dedicated 281-acre research farm,

Solvay Specialty Polymers has announced a major extension of its Kalix® high-performance  polyamide  (HPPA) product line, launching a new portfolio of bio-based high-performance  polyamides  offered for use in smart mobile devices such as smart phones, tablets, laptops, and other smart mobile electronics. The introduction includes the Kalix® HPPA 3000 series, the first bio-based amorphous polyphthalamides (PPAs), and the Kalix® 2000 series, a family of bio-sourced semi-crystalline  polyamide  grades that provide outstanding impact performance. Solvay unveiled the new materials at K 2013. The Kalix® 3000 series breaks new ground as the industry's first bio-based amorphous  PPA  which delivers exceptional processability. The two new grades — Kalix® 3850 and Kalix® 3950 — provide less warp, reduced shrinkage, and low to no flash. This improved processability results in tighter dimensional tolerances and more cost-effective manufacturing due to fewer secondary operations such as de

Putnam Plastics Corporation, among the leaders in advanced extrusion for minimally invasive medical devices, reports increased interest in integrated catheter components made by medical device companies. These components leverage continuous manufacturing to combine sub-component processes, eliminate assembly steps and reduce manual labor, thus allowing device companies to reduce overall costs. "Industry reports in 2009 suggested double digit compound annual growth rates for the interventional cardiology devices. By 2012 some industry reports adjusted this growth rate down into the single digits," said Jim Dandeneau, Putnam Plastics Chief Executive Officer. "However, this more likely reflects competitiveness and cost reduction pressures on devices rather than decreased innovation." Over a ten year period beginning in 2003 there was a steady decline in these patents issued until 2008, where it bottomed out at 168. Since then, there has been a strong increase in ca

BASF is now globally offering Ultramid® S Balance in a version for monofilament applications. The high performance  polyamide 6.10,  partly based on renewable resources, is available in various viscosities. The bio-based sebacic acid, which is used to produce Ultramid® S Balance, originates from the castor oil plant. In compounded and glass-fiber reinforced versions, BASF has already introduced the material in different commercial applications, e.g. in a design lamp or automotive quick connectors. "The demand for bio-based raw materials is increasing worldwide", says Hermann Althoff, Senior Vice President of the Global  Polyamide  and Intermediates Business Unit. “The introduction of Ultramid® S Balance for monofilament applications is another contribution of BASF to support this trend." Polyamide 6.10  offers unique mechanical properties such as higher dimensional stability and softness compared to  polyamide 6  or polyamide 6.6.  Many of the benefits arise from l