polymerguru

A team of international scientists has found an environmentally friendly way of producing aromatic compounds that show good UVA and UVB absorbance by using cashew nut shells, a waste material.  Eco-friendly Way of Producing Aromatic Compounds The team of “green chemists” from the University of the Witwatersrand, along with colleagues from Universities in Germany, Malawi and Tanzania, are working on techniques to produce useful compounds from wood and other fast growing non-edible plant waste, through a chemical process named xylochemistry (wood chemistry).  By using cashew nut shells, the team has produced new aromatic compounds that show good UVA and UVB absorbance, which may be applied to protect humans, livestock, as well as polymers or coatings from harmful rays from the sun. The research has just been published as the cover article of the European Journal of Organic Chemistry. Conventional UV Filters To mitigate UV damage, both organic and inorganic compounds ...

Committed to developing sustainable and innovative solutions,  Braskem  has announced its first solvent made from renewable resources. The product will reinforce the company's already robust portfolio of specialty chemicals and has applications in segments such as inks, thinners and adhesives.  New Solvent with Lower Toxicity and Greater Solvency Power Made from sugarcane, HE-70S is the result of an investment of R$1 million and Braskem's constant search for sustainable solutions. The new biobased oxygenated solvent features lower toxicity and greater solvency power compared to traditional hydrocarbon solvents. The solution already has been adopted in clients' production process and others are in the test phase to customize the product to the specific needs of each application. In Brazil, the hydrocarbon and oxygenated solvent segments has annual production of approximately 700,000 tons. As one of the country's industry leaders, Braskem seeks to offer alternatives ...

The Yanqing District in Beijing is accelerating the construction of two hydrogen projects. Beijing’s Yanqing District, which is a subdivision of Beijing located about 75 kilometers north-west of China’s capital city, has multiple hydrogen energy projects underway, including two hydrogenation stations and a support hydrogen plant. According to  Xinhua , the official state-run press agency of China, the Yanqing District is speeding up the construction of these projects in time for the Alpine Skiing World Cup in 2020 and the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will reportedly be used for transportation during the events. The hydrogen energy projects will produce a public transport line, which will be opened in Yanqing District. The plan is that for the Alpine Skiing World Cup in 2020 and the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games, athletes, spectators and workers will be transported between venues with green, carbon-free, environmentally-friendly hydr...

As the Automotive industry focuses on more sustainable manufacturing, Sicomin, the leading supplier of eco-resins, has announced a replacement for petroleum based materials with the launch of its new bio-based epoxy resin aimed specifically for HP-RTM processing techniques. SR GreenPoxy 28 is the sixth product to be added to Sicomin’s renowned GreenPoxy range and is available with immediate effect in the industrial quantities typically required by Automotive OEM’s. Certified by Veritas, SR GreenPoxy 28 is a fast cycle, low toxicity, third generation bio based formulation aimed specifically at the HP-RTM moulding processes used for both high performance structural parts and aesthetic carbon fibre components. The new formulation has been optimized for fast production cycle times and superior mechanical performance. SR GreenPoxy 28 can be fully cured using a 2-minute cure cycle at 140 Deg C, producing an onset Tg of 147 Deg C, as well as exceptional mechanical properties und...

Researchers at the University of Auckland have developed a way to turn chicken feathers into a high-performing fire retardant.  New Safer Alternative to FRs Chicken is a popular source of protein in most parts of the world and millions of chickens are produced each year for us to eat – in New Zealand it’s estimated we each eat, on average, about 40 chickens a year. Billions of chicken feathers are produced by the poultry industry, most of which end up in the incinerator or landfill. Chicken feathers are, in short, an international waste problem. However, Distinguished Professor Debes Bhattacharyya of the Faculty of Engineering has found a way to use chicken feathers as a base for a fire-retardant, one that is safer than many fire-retardants, cheaper to produce, and solves an international waste problem at the same time. “ People pay to get rid of chicken feathers, ” he says. Keratinous Fibers from Chicken Feathers Chicken feathers are made of keratinous fibers which ar...

In order to create new and more efficient computers, medical devices, and other advanced technologies, researchers are turning to nanomaterials: materials manipulated on the scale of atoms or molecules that exhibit unique properties.  Graphene—a flake of carbon as thin as a single layer of atoms—is a revolutionary nanomaterial due to its ability to easily conduct electricity, as well as its extraordinary mechanical strength and flexibility. However, a major hurdle in adopting it for everyday applications is producing graphene at a large scale, while still retaining its amazing properties. Mixing Oxidized Graphite with Bacteria In a paper published in the journal ChemOpen, Anne S. Meyer, an associate professor of biology at the University of Rochester, and her colleagues at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, describe a way to overcome this barrier. The researchers outline their method to produce graphene materials using a novel technique: mixing oxidized gra...