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Currently, most  bioplastics  are produced using renewable biomass resources, such as vegetable fats, oils, and sweet potatoes, which readily decompose once they are buried in the ground. However, these materials lack the necessary strength and flexibility required to extend the life of plastics in the packaging and electronic industry. New Discovery in Plastics : To date, there have been limited successes in inventing new solvents to dissolve cellulose for commercialization usage. Also, the increase in toxicity associated with current dissolution techniques has made cellulose less attractive for use in the plastic industry. But, Tuskegee University researchers have discovered a new method that can be used to suspend tiny particles of cellulose in an organic solvent that is commonly used in the plastic industry. This technique could remove the current limitations and allow for the creation of a new kind of biodegradable cellulose-based plastic. This product can be used in the prod

The idea behind the seminal Breathing Skins showroom is to use the outer envelope of buildings to variably adapt the indoor climate to the needs of the occupants. The project centers around a breathing facade skin using  transparent  solid sheets of the  polycarbonate  Makrolon®. This is modeled on a natural, organic skin.  Covestro  recently won the innovation award of the European Polycarbonate Sheet Extruders Organization (EPSE) for this development. It was the eighth time the organization had held the Best Polycarbonate Projects Competition to recognize outstanding applications with polycarbonate sheets.  Controllable Permeability: Tobias Becker’s proprietary development makes it possible to infinitely vary the permeability of facades and thus adapt the indoor climate to the user’s specific requirements. Germany’s Federal Minister for the Environment Barbara Hendricks and Maria Krautzberger, president of the German Federal Environment Agency, have now presented Tobias Becke

RESINEX has recently added STYRON™ 2678 MED, a biocompatible polystyrene from Trinseo, to its portfolio of polymers.  ISO Compliant Biocompatible PS: This general purpose injection molding grade has undergone testing based on ISO 10993 standards and is suitable for use in approved medical applications.  It combines the versatility of polystyrenes with the specifically high reliability of supply needed in this industry, and it meets extended demands in terms formulation lock, notification of change and lot traceability.  Typical applications include clear rigid packaging, diagnostic components, petri dishes and housings for test kits. Special Characteristics: Beyond the general advantages of polystyrene, such as outstanding transparency, high stiffness, rigidity and heat resistance, STYRON™ 2678 MED also provides further special characteristics required for medical devices including chemical resistance to fight infection.  The material can be sterilized by ethylene oxide (EtO) and

Foster Corporation has introduced Nanomed MAX® compounds for medical device components that require high strength, yet cannot use metals or traditional reinforced plastics.  These compounds, based on an alloy of meta-xylene diamine polyamide (MX nylon), are United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Class VI tested and suitable for reusable instruments or components that must withstand gamma, e-beam and ethylene oxide sterilization. Need of Nano Reinforced Nylon Alloys: Minimally invasive procedures are increasingly used throughout the healthcare industry. New procedures require instruments, fixtures and components that do not interfere with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computerized axial tomography (CAT), fluoroscopy, and x-ray imaging. Metals are not suitable and plastics often require reinforcing additives, such as glass fiber, to provide sufficient strength for structural components.  However, these traditional additives are too large for molding or extruding intricate device component

What: free online webinar When: December 14th at 16:00 GMT Registration:  http://bit.ly/PolymerWebinarRegistration You are invited to join this informative and interactive webinar on December 14th with Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Czech Republic. You will hear from the staff and students of the university and you can also submit your own questions! Guarantee a promising career by specialising in Polymer Engineering at one of the most prestigious Universities in Czech Republic! Special attention is paid to both the life cycle of products and plastic waste recycling. Students are familiarized with new trends and innovations in the field of "green polymers" and sustainable development. Are you ready to have a promising career by specialising in Polymer Engineering? Start by joining the free webinar taking place December 14th!  Save your spot by registering for the webinar here:  http://bit.ly/PolymerWebinarRegistration

At the 21st Plastic Materials Congress, entitled “Chiedilo alla Plastica” [Turn to Plastics], held on 17 November in Varese, Italy, RadiciGroup Performance Plastics introduced its latest innovation, a new blow-molding-grade polyamide capable of standing up to continuous exposure to hot air at temperatures of up to 230°C.  The material was developed for, and in collaboration with, Röchling Automotive. Such a high level of heat resistance opens up new opportunities in the metal replacement field, where parts are subjected to severe environmental conditions. Polyamide Engineering Thermoplastics The new material belongs to RadiciGroup’s RADILON® range of polyamide engineering thermoplastics, products that have a wide variety of uses in the automotive, electrical/electronics, industrial goods and consumer goods sectors. The RADILON® range includes both traditional formulations and, as in the case of the Röchling Automotive partnership project, specialties with high innovative content, such

  Total  and  Corbion  have joined forces to develop  bioplastics  by creating a 50/50 joint venture to produce and market  polylactic (PLA)  polymers. The two partners plan to build a world-class PLA polymerization plant with a capacity of 75,000 tons per year at Corbion's site in Thailand that already has a lactide (PLA monomer) production unit that will become part of the joint venture. Corbion will supply the lactic acid necessary for the production of the PLA and the lactide. Total/Corbion – Bioplastic JV The new company will be based in the Netherlands and will launch operations in the 1st quarter of 2017, subject to regulatory approvals. Bernard Pinatel, President of Total Refining & Chemicals, commented: “I’m very pleased with this joint venture, which aims to become a major player in the growing bioplastics market. This investment is consistent with our One Total ambition of expanding in biofuels and bioplastics, in addition to our more traditional oil- and gas-base

KraussMaffei will be demonstrating the production of an automotive fiber composite structural component with metal inlays under series production conditions at K2016. Frames for the roof shell of the Roding Roadster R1 sports car will be created several times a day at the trade show booth. The individual steps prove how complex the process is while being cycle-time-optimized at the same time. The four sub-preforms and the aluminum and steel insert are first positioned on a gauge. This is followed by riveting the steel insert with one of the sub-preforms. A handling robot then positions the aluminum bracket and the preassembled hybrid components in the T-RTM mold. Here, the caprolactam is injected and the subsequent chemical reaction tales place in which the material cures into the thermoplastic Polyamide 6. After the reaction time expires, the handling robot removes the finished component. The use of what is called the near net shape approach, which takes the part close to its fin

RACPLA Plastic sheet which is incorporated with Silver antimicrobial technology to eliminate micro-organisms. I think it is one time investment for many years and it's cost effective as well for long term basis. 1. Racquet Plastics, Belgium (Plastic sheet makers for all Hospitals) Website:  http://www.racquet-plastics.eu/index.html ISO 22196 / JIS Z2801 Certified ANTIMICROBIAL PLASTIC SHEET to eliminate MRSA-HOSPITAL BUG ,E-COLI,SALMONELLA and MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCLOSIS,Algae,Fungi and others. Combination sheets: Special sheets to be made to eliminate tuberculosis bacteria, algae, fungi, and MRSA,Ecoli, salmonella bacteria.And can be used this sheet in Operation Theater,Patient ward,ICU ,Laboratory,and corporate office. Also this can be used in the following areas: Wall lining in meat processing unit and poultry farms. Wall lining animal operating theatre (horse, etc) Wall line Quarantine tables Wall lining Brewery Egg incubator system, mobile lab, stationary lab. TB:

SGL Group has celebrated the inauguration of the production line for precursor at its FISIPE site in Lavradio, near Lisbon in Portugal. Precursor is a polymer-based fiber which is used as the main raw material for the production of carbon fibers. The production line has been set up by converting and enhancing parts of the existing production facility in Lavradio.  Investment of 30 Mn for Precursor Production Line: The build-up has been completed last month following four years of research and development, construction work and qualification procedures. Over this period, in total, 30 million euros have been invested in Lavradio into different elements of the precursor production including the spinning line. As part of the global production network of SGL Group, the precursor from Portugal is being used as of September for the production of our new generation of high-end industrial SIGRAFIL carbon fibers in Moses Lake, Washington State (USA) and Muir of Ord (Scotland). The carbon fibers

Metal-replacing Gravi-Tech™ density modified materials from PolyOne give packaging designers and brand owners a means to convey quality and sophistication. Luxury cosmetics closures made using Gravi-Tech formulations give customers the texture and weight of metal, while also providing more design freedom than metals. Design Freedom for Cosmetic Packaging Designers Cosmetics brand owners are increasingly seeking new ways to engage consumers by appealing to their senses through luxury packaging. Consumers are exposed to an ever-increasing number of choices, In order to stand out, brand owners want to interact with buyers earlier in their consideration process, and packaging design can help to foster that connection. Darcy Meyers, global marketing director of packaging at PolyOne, said: “A product’s package has the ability to connect with customers in a way that can communicate a brand’s value and quality. Sensory branding is so powerful that it evokes an anticipation of experience, esse

3A Composites has won qualification from Airbus for its AIREX® R82.80 rigid high performance core, which is well-suited for aerospace sandwich applications. Composites for Aerospace Industry AIREX® R82.80 receives Airbus prerequisite due to: Outstanding fire resistance, Exceeding most stringent flammability and smoke density, Exceeding heat release and toxic gas emission requirements such as FAR 25’853. AIREX® R82.80 follows lower density than AIREX® R82.60 in obtaining Airbus qualification. Eric Gauthier, President of Global Key Accounts at 3A Composites Core Materials said: “We are excited to continue expanding our relationship with Airbus and delivering solutions to the aerospace industry”.  Properties of AIREX® R82 Thermoplastic rigid foam  Exhibits outstanding strength and stiffness to weight ratios High impact resistance Excellent dielectric properties Very low moisture absorption All of these make AIREX® R82 an exceptional thermoformable core material for

Solvay inaugurates a carbon fiber production line at its U.S. Piedmont Facility, South Carolina, doubling production capacity of a key raw material to make carbon fiber reinforced composite materials and meeting increasing demand for lightweighting composite materials in the aerospace industry. The new production line has won qualification by The Boeing Company to manufacture secondary structures such as wing movable flaps and engine nacelles, as well as interior applications. The expansion covers the facilities and equipment to convert acrylonitrile monomers into standard modulus carbon fibers. This type of fiber is used to manufacture composite materials which have been pre-impregnated for use in applications on commercial and military planes. “Through this strategic capacity expansion we offer our customers greater supply capabilities and contribute to their increased needs for reinforced composite materials to reduce weight and fuelconsumptionandto reduce assembly costs by i

Germs are everywhere! They are unavoidable, and aren’t all bad. However, excessive germs combined with a compromised immune system can spell C-O-L-D…or worse. From stomach viruses to flesh eating disease, germs are living organisms that can thrive, multiply and mutate, given the right circumstances. Here are 10 jaw-dropping statistics that will put you in the know about germs. Learn how to keep your family healthy, and what you need to do to keep your home as germ free as possible. Why You Need to Keep Your Hands to Yourself #1- Around 70% of common illnesses are spread by hands that have touched everyday surfaces. #2- Every 3 minutes, a child brings his or her hands to their nose or mouth. Washing one’s hands in warm soapy water, for 20 seconds, seems to be the number one recommendation for avoiding viruses and bacteria. That would be the same amount of time as singing “Happy Birthday” twice. But once the washing is over, you still aren’t finished. You will need to rinse you