polymerguru

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share “Nanostitches” enable lighter and tougher composite materials In research that may lead to next-generation airplanes and spacecraft, MIT engineers used carbon nanotubes to prevent cracking in multilayered composites. This schematic shows an engineered material with composite layers. Layers of carbon fibers (the long silver tubes) have microscopic forests of carbon nanotubes between them (the array of tiny brown objects). These tiny, densely packed fibers grip and hold the layers together, like ultrastrong Velcro, preventing the layers from peeling or shearing apart. To save on fuel and reduce aircraft emissions, engineers are looking to build lighter, stronger airplanes out of advanced composites. These engineered materials are made from high-performance fibers that are embedded in polymer sheets. The sheets can be stacked and pressed into one multilayered material and made into extremely lightweight and durable structures. But composite materials have one

It was an honor to share my experience on the TYPE 4 composite Cylinder manufacturing process during a workshop conducted at IIT Gandhinagar this week. I have shared the real challenges that most of the manufacturers are facing in the world market today such as Permeation, Stress corrosion cracking and Batch testing. My aim was to convey the practical difficulties and challenges while manufacturing polymeric liner and hybridization of fibers in the Hydrogen cylinder manufacturing process. Also share current Hydrogen Economy and Future trends in fuels,additives, polymers and carbon fibers respectively in my session.The attendees were from well known companies and different states in India.Had the privilege to interact with each one of them and exchanged our views on the composites industry in India. It was a memorable event and also FIRST OF ITS KIND OF a workshop on TYPE-4 COPV HYDROGEN CYLINDER MANUFACTURING event that was conducted openly in India. I thank Dr.RK Singh from CECA ASIA

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share How to experimentally spot a differential shrinkage driven warpage problem ? If you are molding a relatively uniform thickness part and suffer from warpage, there is a nice trick to experimentally separate the contribution of differential shrinkage from other sources of problems (differential cooling, anisotropy). Just make parts that are roughly full (say, 99% full), with zero packing (no pressure, no time). By not packing, you avoid packing one area better than another (for instance overpacking the gate area vs. distant areas). As a result you have a lighter part, with sink marks all over and voids, but with essentially NO DIFFERENTIAL SHRINKAGE. If this "short shot" is flatter than your packed part, you have experimentally demonstrated a strong contribution from "uneven packing", i.e. differential shrinkage. source:Vito leo

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share The main difference between CPVC and PVC processing: The main difference between PVC and CPVC processing lies in thermal stability and viscosity.If you don’t apply moderate temperatures and heat to CPVC, it won’t melt, and its physical properties won’t perform well. Hydrochloric acid decomposes when exposed to high temperatures. Temperature Tolerant: Because of the change in composition, CPVC can withstand a broader range of temperatures. The ASTM standard enables PVC to be used in applications not going beyond 140 degrees F. Meanwhile, products made from CPVC such as pipe have a recommended max operating temperature of 200°F. CPVC operational temp can satisfactorily range from 200°F to 230°F, given proper conditions of pressure and chemical suitability.Because of this, many building codes stipulate that CPVC rather than PVC be used in hot water applications. Chemical Resistance: CPVC is known for its superior chemical resistance compared to PVC. CPVC is hig

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share Features of Modified-Polyphenylene Ether (m-PPE) resin XYRON™ DG series and XP series When developing a demanding application part, the challenge is to handle materials with appropriate characteristics such as heat resistance, electrical properties, flame retardance, dimensional stability etc. Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) resin is a super engineering plastics with excellent heat resistance, low- Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion (CLTE), excellent chemical resistance,and flame retardance. PPS resin is expanding in applications in automotive,electronics,electrical parts,water supply and drainage applications. Polyphthalamide (PPA) resin is a super engineering plastics with excellent heat resistance comparing with aliphatic polyamides (PA, nylon), which has good chemical resistance, and strength. PPA resin is also expanding in applications in automobiles, electronics and electrical parts. Asahi Kasei’s m-PPE Resin XYRON™ PPS/PPE alloys DG Series and PPA/PP

Mitsui Chemicals announces that it has decided to close the phenol plant at its Ichihara Works by no later than fiscal 2026. The Mitsui Chemicals Group’s Basic & Green Materials Business Sector includes the phenol business. They are aiming to redefine itself as a sustainable green chemicals business centered around competitive derivatives. Addressing Falling Demand & Oversupply in Phenol Market: The Group works toward an optimized production setup at their crackers line with demand. They will need to ensure that its derivatives are competitive. This need prompted the Group to begin restructuring its Basic & Green Materials Business Sector shortly after the 2008 global financial crisis. The Group is now further accelerating its efforts toward this end as part of a second phase of restructuring, which will include the newly announced plant closure. Mitsui Chemicals currently produces phenol at three locations - Ichihara in Chiba, Takaishi in Osaka and Shanghai in China. Follo

Phillips 66 has announced a major milestone in its conversion of the San Francisco refinery into the Rodeo Renewable Energy Complex - expanding commercial scale production of renewable diesel. The Rodeo Renewed project has progressed, with the facility now processing only renewable feedstocks and producing approximately 30,000 barrels per day of renewable diesel. The Rodeo Renewable Energy Complex is on track to increase production rates to more than 800 million gallons per year (50,000 bpd) of renewable fuels by the end of the second quarter, positioning Phillips 66 as a leader in renewable fuels. “We are proud to announce this significant achievement at our Rodeo facility,” said Rich Harbison, Phillips 66 executive vice president of Refining. “The project advances Phillips 66’s long-held strategy to expand our renewable fuels production, lower our carbon footprint, and provide reliable, affordable energy while creating long-term value for our shareholders.” Harbison added: “We’ve had

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share New Bacteria Strain that Makes Plastic Highly Biodegradable and Fracture Resistant Engineered bacteria can produce a plastic modifier that makes renewably sourced plastic more processable, more fracture resistant and highly biodegradable even in sea water. The Kobe University development provides a platform for the industrial-scale, tunable production of a material that holds great potential for turning the plastic industry green. Bacterial Plastic Factory Produces LAHB Chains in High Amounts: Plastic is a hallmark of our civilization. It is a family of highly formable (hence the name), versatile and durable materials, most of which are also persistent in nature and therefore a significant source of pollution. Moreover, many plastics are produced from crude oil, a non-renewable resource. Engineers and researchers worldwide are searching for alternatives, but none have been found that exhibit the same advantages as conventional plastics while avoiding their p