polymerguru

Researchers from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, have created a new, rubber-like material with a unique set of properties, which could act as a replacement for human tissue in medical procedures. The material has the potential to make a big difference to many people's lives. New Risk-free Adaptable Material Based on Nanostructuring In the new study, the Chalmers researchers developed a material consisting solely of components that have already been shown to work well in the body. The foundation of the material is the same as plexiglass, a material which is common in medical technology applications. Through redesigning its makeup, and through a process called nanostructuring, they gave the newly patented material a unique combination of properties. The researchers' initial intention was to produce a hard bone-like material, but they were met with surprising results. Soft, Flexible and Extremely Elastic Material “ We were really surprised that the material tu...

Researchers at EPFL have developed a new, high-precision method for 3D-printing small, soft objects. The process, which takes less than 30 seconds from start to finish, has potential applications in a wide range of fields, including 3D bioprinting. Making Tiny Objects with Precision and Resolution It all starts with a translucent liquid. Then darker spots begin to form in the small, spinning container until, barely half a minute later, the finished product takes shape. This groundbreaking 3D-printing method can be used to make tiny objects with unprecedented precision and resolution – all in record time. The team has set up a spin-off, Readily3D, to develop and market the system. The system is currently capable of making two-centimeter structures with a precision of 80 micrometers, about the same as the diameter of a strand of hair. But as the team develops new devices, they should be able to build much bigger objects, potentially up to 15 centimeters. “ The process could also be ...

A team of researchers from Montana State University is developing methods to infuse polymers with particles called nanocrystals that are made from cellulose, a primary component of plants. Whereas many regular plastics can combust when subjected to fire or very intense heat, the nanoparticles are designed to limit the flames and prevent their spread. Cellulose: The Building Blocks for Chemical Technologies By processing wood pulp of other plant matter using special chemical reactions, cellulose molecules become building blocks for chemical technologies that operate at the nano scale, which concerns things as small as one-billionth of a meter. Because the particles are so tiny, a relatively small volume of them can be mixed throughout a much larger amount of polymer. When the particles are coated in zinc oxide, a common ingredient found in many sunscreens, the zinc oxide's fire-resistant properties are imparted to the plastic. Nanocrystals for Fire-safety and Light-...

Kinetrex Energy, EDL and South Side Landfill celebrated the completion of the Indy High BTU plant at the Indianapolis South Side Landfill. The plant, which will be fully operational March 20, will convert landfill methane gas into approximately 8 million gallons of pipeline-quality renewable natural gas each year, and in the process, reduce greenhouse gas air emissions in Central Indiana, develop a local renewable resource and lower fuel costs. Indy High BTU is the largest biomethane plant in Indiana. “This is an exciting day for our city,” said Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett. “We are pleased to see Kinetrex Energy, a homegrown-Indianapolis company, spearheading the effort to provide cleaner, renewable fuel for transportation across the Midwest.” With construction now complete, Indy High BTU will begin supplying Kinetrex Energy with renewable natural gas, which Kinetrex will turn into LNG and sell to Midwest transportation fleets. Kinetrex recently announced a six-year agre...

IDI Composites International is introducing a new thermoset composite material delivering critical performance benefits for the "new energy vehicles" market. Deployed in electric vehicle (EV) new energy vehicles (NEV) applications, Flamevex is a flame-resistant lightweight composite. Flamevex has been used on battery packs, which have passed the stringent Chinese Standard GB/T 31467.3 test, commonly known as the China bonfire test. This new thermoset, offers designers a strong, lightweight and cost-effective alternative to steel and aluminum materials traditionally used to enclose battery packs in EVs and NEVs. EV and NEV designers have long faced the dilemma of balancing flame resistance, strength and light weighting requirements as they develop solutions for critical applications like the vehicle battery enclosure. Battery packs take up significant space in vehicle designs and must offer dimensional strength as well as resistance to flame and high temperatures. St...

In a recent carbon fiber production demonstration, 4M Carbon Fiber announces that it has produced a 15% stronger carbon fiber while tripling production output using their atmospheric plasma oxidation technology.. The results offer industry-disrupting opportunities for carbon fiber manufacturers, demonstrating the ability to produce better carbon fiber while spreading capital and operating costs over three times the production capacity. 4M is exploring ways to license this technology to end users worldwide. In collaboration with Formosa Plastics Corporation, a commercial carbon fiber producer, and the Department of Energy’s Carbon Fiber Technology Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, TN, 4M’s team oxidized Formosa’s precursor using the internationally-patented technology developed by 4M and ORNL. The fiber was then carbonized, surface-treated, and sized at the CFTF. The carbon fiber properties were then tested at the CFTF using industrial tes...

New Transparent Bioplastic with UV Radiation Blocking Property Researchers at the University of Oulu's research unit of sustainable chemistry have developed a new synthetic and transparent bioplastic that protects from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. Biopolymer Made of HMF and Furfural The raw materials used in the biopolymer production are hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and furfural, which are biorefinery products derived from cellulose and hemicellulose. By chemically linking them, the researchers were able to create copolymer parts with both bisfuran and furan-like structures. The bisfuran structure of the copolymer effectively prevents UV radiation from passing through a film made from the material. In addition, the airtightness of the material is three to four times that of standard PET plastic. The material can be used in high-tech applications, such as chassis materials for printed electronics. A patent application is filed for this method. Source: University of Oulu...

The Lyding Group has recently developed a technique that can be used to build carbon-nanotube-based fibers by creating chemical crosslinks. The technique improves the electrical and mechanical properties of these materials. “ Carbon nanotubes are strong and are very good at conducting heat and electricity. Therefore, these materials have wide applications and can be used as strong fibers, batteries, and transistors ,” said Gang Wang, a postdoctoral research associate in the Lyding lab, which is at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. New Method Based on Linking Individual CNTs Together There are many ways to build materials that have carbon-nanotube-based fibers. “ Airplane wings can be made, for example, by embedding these fibers in a matrix using epoxy. The epoxy acts as a binder and holds the matrix together .” said Joseph Lyding, the Robert C. MacClinchie distinguished professor of electrical and compu...