New plastic composite materials for 3D printing

3D printing company EOS is now offering European distribution of three polymers for additive manufacturing (AM) from ALM, a wholly owned subsidiary of the company.

The following fiber reinforced materials are now available:

ALM HP 11-30, a carbon fiber-reinforced polyamide 11 material with high strength, impact resistance, and an increased elongation at breakThe material is suitable for components subject to mechanical wear that require a minimum level of toughness, including automotive industry applications, particularly for motorsport. 

ALM PA 640-GSL, a polyamide 12 material filled with lightweight glass microspheres, providing practically the same properties as a normal glass filled polyamide, but with reduced weight (component density: 0.82g/cm³). With a microsphere and carbon fiber filling, ALM PA 640-GSL is suitable for applications that require extremely low weight, high strength, and rigidity in one product. It also features increased thermal resistance and improved surface quality. Application fields include the aerospace, shipping, sports, model making, and motorsport sectors.

ALM FR-106, a flame-retardant polyamide 11 suitable for use in the aerospace industry, is also available.

New polymer nanoparticle shows potential to find and kill breast cancer cells

One major problem in treating cancer is identifying the location of small tumors and treating them before they metastasize.

In an effort to overcome that problem, researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center have developed a fluorescing nanoparticle capable of finding tumors, lighting up upon arrival and being activated with light to generate heat to destroy the cancer cells.

A study in which these nanoparticles – Hybrid Donor-Acceptor Polymer Particles, or H-DAPPs – successfully located and killed breast cancer skills in mice is published in the current issue of the journal ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces.

"An unexpected result was how efficiently the nanoparticles localized to the tumors without any targeting agent," said the study's lead author, Nicole Levi-Polyachenko, Ph.D., associate professor of plastic and reconstructive surgery at Wake Forest School of Medicine, part of Wake Forest Baptist. "Achieving high enough levels of H-DAPPs within the tumor to allow it to be seen provides an advantage for knowing exactly where light should be applied to generate heat and kill the cancer cells."

Other investigators have developed nanoparticles to detect tumors or carry drugs, and Levi-Polyachenko's team has created polymers that strongly absorb infrared light and generate heat. Regarding the new nanoparticle, she said, "It was exciting to figure out the step for combining a heat-generating polymer with a light-emitting polymer to allow for detection and on-demand heat treatment."

H-DAPPs are made of electrically conductive polymers and are smaller than 100 nanometers (0.00000393701 of an inch) in diameter. Their small size and soft composition makes it easy for them to travel through the bloodstream to the tumor.

"There is much more research needed to ensure that H-DAPPs can safely be used in humans," Levi-Polyachenko said. "But we are enthusiastic about exploring the use of H-DAPPs with other cancer types and eventually in patients."

First Nanodiamond-enhanced Filaments for 3D Printing by Carbodeon & Tiamet 3D

Nanodiamonds Boost 3D Printed Polymer Performance

The Carbodeon/Tiamet 3D filaments are based on a jointly-patented technology which significantly improves the mechanical and thermal properties of 3D printed items. 

Mr Reid Larson, CEO of Tiamet 3D, said:

“By joining forces we’ve already developed filaments with a 100 percent increase in tensile strength, improved printability, and better thermal properties. Printing also runs more quickly and more reliably with the addition of Carbodeon polymer-tailored nanodiamonds.”
Carbodeon CEO Dr Vesa Myllymäki, said:
“Nanodiamonds offer the potential to make 3D printed components that perform as well as or better than comparable injection molded components, but with massive cost reductions and production speed improvements, especially for prototype, on-demand and short run production.”
3D Printed Items with Improved Properties
3D printing using improved-performance thermoplastics has potential in almost all manufacturing environments, but especially in electronics, automotive and aerospace industries. As well as improving thermal management, conductivity and tensile strength of the base polymer, nanodiamonds can increase the glass transition temperature of the end product or component to achieve more robust and reliable polymer products, suitable for more challenging environments.
PLA-based 3D Filaments:
The first Carbodeon/Tiamet 3D filaments will be PLA (polylactic acid) based, with further development focused on higher-performance thermoplastics. The companies have signed a strategic partnership agreement on joint filament development, along with an agreement for Carbodeon to supply nanodiamond materials to Tiamet 3D. 
Dr Vesa Myllymäki said:
“Product development partnerships with innovative companies like Tiamet 3D are a key part of Carbodeon’s global growth strategy.”The newly developed PLA filament product will be available both from Carbodeon and Tiamet 3D. Carbodeon filament products will be sold under its uDiamond® brand.
Source: Carbodeon
For more polymer news,pls visit http://polymerguru.blogspot.in

ANTIBACTERIAL PLASTIC SHEET AVAILABLE IN INDIA

 Racquet Plastics-A Belgium based company which produces antimicrobial plastic sheets for hospitals (operation theatre,ICU)and other industries to eliminate bacteria within short span of time. RACPLA Plastic sheet which is incorporated with Silver antimicrobial technology to eliminate micro-organisms. I think the sheet 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,LEGIONELLA,LISTERIA and MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCLOSIS 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: Combi sheets which can eliminate Mycobacterium Tuberclosis (TB)bacteria in short period. Regarding TB there's not much what the supplier have, but if you understand the value of their Institute of Tropical Medicine, you will realize the certificate is powerful. http://www.itg.be/itg/generalsite/Default.aspx?WPID=689&MIID=674&L=E Attached the test certificate on Belgium's company plastic sheets for TB. These sheets can be place on ceilings,walls and flooring for long term performance against TB and other bacteria. Manufacturer Name:Racquet Plastics (Belgium) A single sheet size :1000 x 1500 mm Min Order:1 Ton Pls let me know if you need of some pics for better understanding of the product and the installed projects.Now we have stocks of sheets in Chennai. Antibacterial sheets AVAILABLE in INDIA: We have installed First time RACPLA SHEETS in India now.The sheets are installed in phlebotomy room in the Bioline Laboratory in Chennai.There are other 5 projects are pipeline in India which will be completed by end of May 2018.It is the right time you can promote it to your known hospitals and other applications in India.   

For contact:

 Muthuramalingam Gruntech Polymer Consultants India Mob+91-9884895802 Email:rosaram211@gmail.com My Linkedin page:http://in.linkedin.com/pub/muthuramalingam-krishnan/8/4b4/5a4

Indorama to buy M&G’s Brazil PET plant

Indorama Ventures Public Co. Ltd. (IVL), has entered into an agreement to acquire M&G Polimeros Brazil SA in Ipojuca Brazil for an undisclosed amount.

In a March 16 statement, Bangkok-based IVL said the plant is the largest PET facility in Brazil, with capacity of 550,000 metric tons per year.

According to IVL, the plant is strategically located and benefits from virtual integration with a manufacturer of purified terephthalic acid (PTA), a key feedstock to PET.

The transaction is expected to be completed in second quarter of 2018, subject to regulatory approvals.

The acquisition in Brazil follows a series of takeovers and investment in recent months by IVL, which claims to be the world’s No. 1 PET player.

M&G parent M&G Group of Italy and U.S. unit M&G Polymers USA of Houston both filed for bankruptcy in October. M&G in February sold a PET plant in West Virginia and an R&D center in Ohio to Taiwanese materials firm Far East New Century Corp.

Indorama was a supplier of raw materials to M&G and is owed almost $60 million, according to court documents. M&G also is seeking a buyer for its massive unfinished PET facility in Corpus Christi, Texas. Cost overruns on the Corpus Christi project played a major role in M&G’s bankruptcy filing.

IVL has set a growth strategy focusing on expanding its global footprint in key markets with high growth potential.

South America is an important emerging market with domestic demand for PET growing at around 5 percent, according to IVL.

“Today’s per capita consumption of PET [in Brazil] is comparatively low at 2.8 kilograms and has great potential for growth,” the company added.

Commenting on the acquisition, Aloke Lohia, group CEO of Indorama Ventures, said the company “now has unrivaled scale and global reach, being present in five continents.”

“We look forward to capitalizing on this new market and opportunities for cross-selling to immediately deliver greater value to existing and new customers, while delivering profitable growth and enhanced shareholder value,” he added.