Fredahl Rydéns Launches Burial Coffin Saga Using Recyclable Biocomposite Material

OrganoClick has, by using its innovative fiber modification technology and production process, developed a 100 %bio-based, recyclable and fully biodegradable biocomposite material, OrganoComp®. The biocomposite is made of 3D-moulded biofibers, wheat bran, and food waste.

3D-molded Biocomposite Made of Wheat Bran and Biofibers

Fredahl Rydéns, the Nordics largest supplier of funeral products launches the burial coffin Saga made of OrganoComp®. The strength of the biocomposite enables a 50 %reduction of raw material, reducing the weight from 40 to 20 kg compared with a traditional coffin.

Replace Hard Plastics

The launch of the burial coffin Saga marks the next step in a journey that started 10 years ago when the development of OrganoComp® was initiated. By using OrganoClick’s patented technology for modification of biofibers, a unique biocomposite has been developed, based on modified cellulose fibers, wheat bran, and biopolymers from food waste such as orange peels and shrimp shells. With OrganoClick’s fiber modification technology, properties such as fire resistance, strength and water repellency can also be added to the material. The biocomposite can be used to replace hard plastics such as polypropylene, or particle boards which contains large amounts of synthetic glue.

New Production Technology for 3D-Molding

In order to make large objects such as coffins, a new production technology for 3D-molding of large fiber-based products, has also been developed, inspired by the production process for molded pulp, used for e.g. packaging. This has resulted in a highly automated production of large, complex, 3Dshaped products. The coffin Saga is with this technology, produced in only two pieces (lid and bottom), before being assembled to a final coffin.

OrganoComp® - Replacing Polypropylene

OrganoComp® has now been implemented in two industrial applications. In addition to the burial coffin Saga, a sound absorbing acoustic panel has been launched by Baux, a leading supplier of acoustic products. New applications in the pipeline include a risk waste container used in hospitals, where OrganoComp® is replacing polypropylene. Other future applications of OrganoComp® include furniture, interior design and specialty packages.

“OrganoClick’s biocomposites are based on research within biomimicry from Stockholm University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. By mimicking nature’s own chemistry, and combine this with our unique fiber molding technology, we have developed strong and durable materials which can be used in such demanding products as burial coffins with high requirements on quality and surface smoothness”, says Mårten
Serial production will now start of the burial coffin Saga and the acoustic panel in OrganoClick’s factory north of Stockholm. The first production line has a capacity of producing 50,000 burial coffins / year. 

Source: OrganoClick

Teijin Limited has announced that it will participate in Chinaplas 2019, Asia's largest exhibition for the plastics and rubber industries, which will be held at the China Import & Export Fair Complex in Guangzhou, China from May 21 to 24.

Advanced Technologies & Materials for Automotives

Teijin, marking its 20th appearance at the event, will operate a booth (No. 11.2K41) to introduce solutions for automotive parts and components that combine its advanced technologies and materials. The booth will also present Teijin's high-performance materials for multi-material parts that contribute to weight reduction and improved performance in automobiles. In addition, seminars to introduce advanced resin-processing technologies and solutions for automotive components will be held again this year, following last year' favorable reception.

Specific Exhibits from Teijin

TENAX® carbon-fiber-reinforced thermoplastics (CFRTP)
Teijin will showcase carbon fiber prepregs and CFRTPs made with TENAX and thermoplastic matrix resins including Teiijn's Panlite polycarbonate resin, that offer many uses in growth industries such as automobiles, aerospace and electronics. 

Polycarbonate (PC)-resin pillar-less automotive front window
The world's first polycarbonate (PC)-resin window for use in commercial vehicles has been realized with Teijin's proprietary hard-coating technology for superb resistance to abrasion and weather. The one-piece wrap-around PC-resin window does not incorporate standard window pillars, achieving unobstructed sight lines for safer driving and more enjoyable sightseeing as well as weight reduction.

Aqueous transparent flame retardant coating
Landex Coat Flame Retardant Clear, the world's first aqueous transparent flame retardant coating, developed jointly by Dainichi Giken Kogyo Co., Daimaru Kogyo Ltd. and Teijin, can be applied to a wide range of combustible materials, including timber, paper, fiber, rubber and plastic. The product is applied directly to surfaces to enhance flame retardancy while maintaining the materials' original surface textures as a transparent coating.

Source: Teijin

DLR advances crack prediction in ceramic matrix composites using MultiMech

The German Aerospace Center (DLR) has selected MultiMechanics, a developer of multiscale modeling and simulation software for advanced materials, to perform advanced crack prediction during the manufacturing of ceramic matrix composite (CMC) components.

The simulation group at DLR’s Institute of Structures and Design in Stuttgart has begun to model the process of pyrolysis, an intermediate step in production of ceramic matrix composites. Within this process, carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP) are heated to temperatures up to 1,600 degrees Celsius and then cooled down. The team wants to understand how temperature change would affect the material’s microstructure and consequently the material behavior. This analysis is crucial for future CMC components produced by DLR, including nozzles for rockets and thermal protection systems for re-entry vehicles amongst other applications.

Neraj Jain, Group Leader in Simulation and Engineering at the Department of Ceramic Composites and Structures at DLR, states:

“MultiMech allows us to model microstructural cracks and determine how they would affect the overall composite part. Thanks to it, we can actually see where a crack is developing, how the crack will change our material, and how it will affect the final microstructure of the material.”

Using MultiMech, the engineers can vary the interface strength between fiber and ceramic matrix and evaluate how this parameter would influence crack initiation and propagation. This insight enables them to optimize the material and tailor it according to microstructural mechanics - a crucial step to more accurately understanding how a part will behave as a whole.

Dr. Flavio Souza, President  & CTO of MultiMechanics, stated:“DLR is a global leader in aeronautics and space research and we are extremely proud to support their advancement in understanding and designing CMC parts. Our work at MultiMechanics for the last ten years has been dedicated to accurately connecting microstructural behavior of advanced materials to the overall part performance and its manufacturing, and we are pleased to see that our users are seeing the benefits and high value of TRUE multiscale modeling.”

Jain stated:

“MultiMech’s efficient integration with our other FEA tools like Abaqus and Ansys increases our productivity and brings us closer to our aim to optimize CMC material virtually. The way we are able to conduct crack modeling and multiscale simulation holds lots of opportunities in many projects to come.

Source:WWW.MULTIMECHANICS.COM

AmSty & Agilyx Form JV to Produce Recycled Styrene Monomer from Polystyrene

AmSty and Agilyx have announced that they have formed a joint venture, Regenyx LLC, dedicated to fully recycling post-consumer polystyrene materials back to new polystyrene products. Regenyx will utilize Agilyx’s chemical recycling process to convert used polystyrene products back to their original liquid form, styrene monomer. AmSty can then take that styrene monomer and work with its supply chain partners to make new polystyrene products with a favorable environmental profile without any degradation of quality or value. This form of circular recycling is known as the PolyUsable™ process.

Plans for a Larger Regional Facility

Regenyx will assume the assets of Agilyx’s Tigard, Oregon, facility, which is currently scaled at 10 tons per day and already shipping recycled styrene monomer to AmSty. In addition, AmSty and Agilyx will work together to develop plans for a larger regional facility scaled to 50 tons per day, currently envisioned for the West Coast.

“We are excited to take this step forward with Agilyx toward a new future for plastics recycling,” said Brad Crocker, President and Chief Executive Officer of AmSty. 

“Polystyrene products like foam cups, foam packaging and single-use picnic items are uniquely suitable for conversion back to chemical building blocks that can be used to make new products over and over. We are committed to a future where discarded polystyrene materials are no longer sent to landfills. This approach also holds great promise for other types of plastics as well.”

Committed to Increase Recycling Rates

Joe Vaillancourt, CEO of Agilyx, commented, “Today’s announcement marks a major milestone, not only for AmSty and Agilyx, but for our collective ability to dramatically increase recycling rates. Our collaboration with AmSty brings together a complete system that will allow us to continually recycle polystyrene products back to polystyrene products. Agilyx has been driven for the last 15 years with a vision to end wasteful outcomes of post-consumer plastics, and we are very excited to be partnering with AmSty to help drive innovations that will give perpetual use to polystyrene.”

Source: Agilyx

Ampacet's Carbon Black-free Masterbatch Receives Plastics Recycling Award

Ampacet's carbon black-free masterbatch range REC-NIR-BLACK has been named a Plastics Recycling Awards Europe 2019 winner in the category of Product Technology Innovation of the Year. Award winners were announced April 11 during the Plastics Recycling Show in Amsterdam.

Reducing the Carbon Footprint with NIR Technology "We are honored to receive the Plastics Recycling Award, says Philippe Hugele, Ampacet Strategic Business Manager, Europe. "These carbon black-free solutions are part of our sustainable development program and can help to significantly reduce the carbon footprint by giving black plastic packaging a second life." While most black packaging cannot be sorted by recycling companies and can only be disposed of in a landfill or used for energy recovery, packaging using Ampacet's REC-NIR-BLACK carbon black-free masterbatch is near-infrared (NIR) transparent to allow scanning by NIR technology for automated sorting at recovery facilities. Source: Ampacet

PLASTIC ENERGY Signs MOU to Construct Five Chemical Recycling Plants

PLASTIC ENERGY has reached an agreement with the province of West Java (Indonesia) to build five chemical recycling plants.

Addressing the Plastic Waste Issue

The MOU signed by the Governor of West Java, Ridwan Kamil, follows campaigns – including the United Nations (UN) Clean Seas, the Global Plastic Action Partnership, Our Ocean Conference – to reduce plastic pollution and, in particular, plastics reaching the ocean around Indonesia, a country which is second only to China for leaking plastic into the sea.

The Indonesian government has made addressing the plastic waste issue a priority, with an ambitious commitment to reduce marine plastic debris by 70 per cent by 2025.

Exploring Partnerships

The waste management industry in Indonesia is still in its early stages of development, and as such infrastructure development still faces a range of challenges. Plastic Energy is exploring partnerships with a range of public and private sector organizations to address these challenges and to facilitate the construction of these plants, and to make West Java a showcase for the rest of Indonesia.

Governor Ridwan Kamil commented: “West Java is the biggest province in Indonesia in terms of population. We have 50 million people and 27 cities. West Java is also known as the province with a vision of green development, and are creating a series of strategies to make sure our future is sustainable. One of the big issues we are facing is plastic waste. So therefore I am very happy to sign this MoU with Plastic Energy, a British company that can transform plastic waste into fuel, something which is very useful. We are committed to ensuring this project is executed in a proper, transparent and professional way. We want to be the first region in Indonesia to have the facilities to transform plastic waste into energy and into fuel, through this partnership with Plastic Energy.”

Carlos Monreal, Founder and CEO of PLASTIC ENERGY, commented: “We are delighted to be able to make a significant contribution to Indonesia’s battle to reduce plastic pollution. Through the introduction of these plants we will give value to plastic waste which is usually sent to landfill and sometimes mismanaged which leads to the pollution of the ocean.”

Conversion of Valueless Plastic Waste

PLASTIC ENERGY has pioneered the conversion of valueless plastic waste, with patented low carbon footprint technology, into oils, known as TACOIL, for making new virgin – food safe – plastics and creating a circular economy, or used as an alternative fuel with lower emissions.

In Indonesia, as well as the environmental advantages, the development of the five plants will also boost local economies providing both direct and indirect employment as well as establishing a blueprint for a range of waste management solutions.

PLASTIC ENERGY has two industrial plants which have been operational for more than three years in Spain and earlier this year reached an MOU agreement with SABIC, a global leader in the chemical industry, to provide feedstock for the production of certified circular polymers, following the establishment of a commercial plant in the Netherlands.

Source: PLASTIC ENERGY

New Way to Turn Discarded Eggshells into Graphene & Hydrogen

A recent study, affiliated with UNIST has unveiled a new way to turn discarded eggshells into hydrogen, an innovative and alternative energy for the future. The new method, which is used as a catalyst for the conversion of alchohols to hydrogen, is used for the synthesis of graphene on the shell after the reaction. This technique of producing value‐added graphene and pure hydrogen, while recycling food waste is a way to “kill three birds with one stone”.

Converting Alcohol into Valuable Products

This work, led by Professor Jong‐Beom Baek and his research team in the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering at UNIST, introduces the fundamental mechanism of the selective catalytic reaction and also presents a new environmentally friendly approach for the energy‐efficient conversion of alcohols into valuable products (graphene and H2).

In this study, the team produced calcium oxide (CaO) with calcium carbonate (CaCO3), the main ingredient of an eggshell, and discovered that this can be used as a catalyst for the production of hydrogen and graphene. The use of CaO as a catalyst allowed the reaction to proceed at a lower temperature than that of conventional catalysts and produced hydrogen that could be used without any separation process. In the course of the reaction, a thin layer of carbon (C) is deposited on the calcium oxide to form the graphene, which can be easily peeled off by simple handling.

The Alcohol Reforming Process

Hydrogen can be obtained from materials, containing hydrogen, which include H2O, CnH2n+2, and CnH2n+1OH. At this time, a chemical reaction is required, and a suitable catalyst is required for each reaction. And CaO showed excellent catalytic performance in ‘the process of producing hydrogen from alcohol’.

Alcohol is obtained by fermenting plants and microorganisms, so it is an eco-friendly energy source that can continue to be mass-produced in the future. Since the alcohol component is hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, it can be converted to other useful forms. Already a high temperature of over 700°C has been used to convert steam into hydrogen and carbon-based materials. However, in addition to hydrogen, by-products such as methane, carbon monoxide, and ethylene are generated at a high temperature of 700°C or higher. Therefore, it is necessary to select only the hydrogen from the produced gas, and the hydrogen production unit price is also increased.

Professor Baek has solved the disadvantages of hydrogen production using alcohol as a catalyst. The reaction temperature was lowered to 500°C by using calcium oxide made from eggshells. As a result, 99% of the produced gas was hydrogen, and BNPGr was produced in a ready-to-use state when the catalyst was removed with acid.

Egg Shells: The Inexpensive Eco-friendly Raw Material

“Calcium oxide is an inexpensive material and it is environmentally friendly because it can be made from recycled egg shells,” says Professor Baek. “Both hydrogen and graphene are economical because they can be used without any separation process.”

Dr. Gao-Feng Han (School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, UNIST), who led the study as the first author, commence with this research by collecting eggshells from the cafeteria. He also heated the eggshells to produce CaO and used it as a catalyst for the steam reforming reaction of alcohol. In addition, he also resolved the principle, in which alcohol is converted to hydrogen and graphene, as well as the role for CaO in this process.

“The steam reforming method of alcohol using calcium oxide will have the same effect on the commercial environment where the reaction proceeds on a much larger scale,” says Dr. Han. “We hope that the results of this study will help us to recycle bioresources, including ethanol."

Source: UNIST

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