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Today's KNOWLEDGE Share Let's dive into the world of geometric lattice cores!  When talking about geometric lattice cores, most people think about a core with hexagon shaped cells, which is the basic and most common cellular honeycomb configuration. However, we have other options currently available on the market, such as Flex-Core, Ox-Core and Double-Flex to name a few!  But how to select between them?  The Flex-Core cell configuration provides for exceptional formability in compound curvatures with reduced anticlastic curvature and without buckling the cell walls. Curvatures of very tight radii are easily formed. When formed into tight radii, Flex-Core provides higher shear strengths than a comparable hexagonal core of equivalent density.  The “OX” configuration is a hexagonal honeycomb that has been over-expanded in the “W” direction, providing a rectangular cell configuration that facilitates curving or forming in the “L” direction. The OX process increases “W” shear proper

Syensqo, previously part of Solvay Group, has developed a new version of its flagship MTM® 49-3 resin that contains 30% bio-sourced monomers. The new product variant complements the portfolio of the company’s MTM® advanced prepregs and targets structural automotive applications, including body panels, chassis components and spoilers. “Our new bio-based MTM® 49-3 will help OEMs and Tiers to reduce fossil depletion and meet their carbon neutrality goals, while ensuring the same high levels of quality, processability and mechanical performance as its original counterpart,” states  Greg Kelly, Head of Composite Product Management at Syensq o. Just like the incumbent material, Syensqo’s new bio-based MTM® 49-3 has a dry glass transition temperature (Tg) of 190°C, and it exhibits enhanced toughness for superior impact resistance versus competitive thermoset prepregs. Thanks to its high strength-to-weight ratio, it can yield component mass savings of up to 40% over metals. The product is comp

The Mitsubishi Chemical Group (MCG Group) announces to discontinue MMA monomer production by the ACH process. They are halting the production of acrylonitrile and acrylonitrile derivatives at the Mitsubishi Chemical Hiroshima Plant (Otake City, Hiroshima Prefecture). Following the discontinuance of production, the MCG Group will also withdraw from the chelating agent and acetonitrile businesses. Reason for Discontinuance of Production: The MCG Group produces MMA monomers by three different methods (ACH process, C4 process, and Alpha technology) at its MMA monomer production bases around the world. It also enhances the supply chain in response to the demand-supply situation and trends with regard to materials used for production. For the acrylonitrile business, the MCG Group has two production bases in Japan. These bases supply acrylonitrile and acrylonitrile derivatives. They also supply a byproduct from the acrylonitrile production process as a material for MMA production by the ACH p

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share The history of fiberglass!   The use of fiberglass dates back to 1836 when Ignace Dubus-Bonnel received the world’s first patent on a method of making them. At the time, fiberglass was hard to make thin enough to be completely flexible, and no reliable method of mass production existed.  These problems would only be solved in 1932 by Dale Kleist, a graduate student who was working part-time at Owens-Illinois as a researcher. The company wanted to make glass blocks for architectural use, and its researchers were looking for a way to seal the two halves of a block together so that moisture couldn’t get inside.  He decided to try a metal-spraying gun with molten glass instead of bronze and discovered that it created a shower of ultrafine, thread-like glass fibers. Owens-Illinois immediately recognized that this was an excellent way to make glass wool for insulation and that it might be adaptable for other applications.  Four years and the researchers were turni

Nokian Tyres has made a long-term purchase agreement with a tire recycling joint venture. The agreement will help Nokian Tyres reach one of its key sustainability targets. It will help to increase the share of recycled and renewable raw materials in tires to 50 percent by 2030. Nokian Tyres started to use recovered carbon black in a commercial product line in 2022. The long-term purchase agreement enables its increased utilization in tires accelerating circularity and sustainability in the tire industry. Reducing the Use of Virgin Raw Materials: The joint venture, formed by e.g. Antin Infrastructure Partners and Scandinavian Enviro Systems, plans to establish end-of-life tires recycling plants across Europe. It will have a total capacity to recycle up to one million tons of end-of-life tires annually by 2030. The first plant, located in Sweden, is expected to be fully operational by 2025. The deliveries for Nokian Tyres will begin in 2026. Carbon black is used as a reinforcing filler i

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share PVC Safe and Effective in Medical Devices and Packaging, Study Claims A new report by the European Chemicals Agency confirms the safe production of PVC in Europe and recognizes its importance in medical device and packaging applications. A new report claiming that the use of PVC in medical devices and packaging does not pose a significant healthcare risk to those who manufacture the products or to the global environment is garnering industry recognition. Conducted by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), the report confirms the safe production of PVC in Europe and concludes there is no data supporting better alternatives to PVC from a life-cycle perspective. The report also acknowledges the significance of utilizing PVC in medical devices and packaging. The findings are being touted by the European Council of Vinyl Manufacturers’ (ECVM) PVCMed Alliance, a platform that seeks to raise awareness about the use of PVC in healthcare. In a statement released this

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share Historically, early injection molding machines would essentially be pressure controlled. Many good parts have been made under such process control. So, it is not all bad ! However, note that when molding an end-gated fairly long part, a constant pressure fill translates into an ever decreasing melt front velocity, as the pressure drop builds up. This in turns corresponds to a decreasing average temperature of the melt front along the flow. Such a decreasing T will create an increasingly strong degree of molecular orientation when moving away from the gate. The part, especially when using semi-crystalline grades, will have a strong gradient of mechanical properties along the flow which could be as serious as showing good ductility near the gate and severe brittleness far from the gate. source:Vito leo

Legislation, competition and electrification are driving significant inno­vation in the transport sector. The automotive industry’s emphasis on zero-emission vehicles aligns with broader efforts to reduce carbon emissions, with a growing focus on sustainable materials beyond batteries and electric motors. “This is a transformative time for many industries, with com­panies assessing and evolving in line with government demands and consumer expectations, said Per Mårtensson. Responses can range from mitigating the envi­ronmental toll of raw materials and production to improved waste management, as well as developing new technologies that deliver efficiency gains. In the au­tomotive industry, this translates into an increased emphasis on circular, recycled and sustainable materials to support the goal of zero emission vehicles.” Weight reduction on the scope One of the current methods used to enhance vehicle effi­ciency is lightweighting, regard­less of the propulsion system. Consequently

T oday's KNOWLEDGE Share The main properties of composite materials! As you may know, the characteristics/properties of composite materials resulting from the combination of reinforcement and matrix depend on: the proportions of reinforcements and matrix, the form of the reinforcement, and the fabrication process.  But what are the most remarkable properties of these materials?  - Composite materials generally possess very high specific mechanical properties. - Composite materials do not yield: their elastic limits correspond to the rupture limit. - Composite materials have high strength under fatigue loads. - Composite materials age under the action of moisture and heat. - Composite materials do not corrode, except in the case of contact aluminum with carbon fibers in which galvanic phenomenon creates rapid corrosion. - Composite materials are not sensitive to the common chemicals used in engines: grease, oils, hydraulic liquids, paints and solvents, petroleum. However, cleaners f