polymerguru

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share Based on consulting requests, I realize that a lot of people forget that huge forces are developed during the molding process, as a result of pressure levels exceeding often 1000 bar/100MPa. That amounts to 1 metric Ton of equivalent force applied to each square cm of tool surface.That is why clamp tonnage numbers are what they are of course. But, no matter how good your steel or tool design is, metal will bend significantly when subjected to huge unbalanced forces. And, even more surprisingly, for balanced forces, the cavity will expand by "compressing" the steel by quite a few microns ! You can run a quick FEA to check that, by applying 1000-2000 bar on a piece of steel. Of course tubular shaped parts will readily see significant core shift problems as soon as flow is slightly unbalanced, since a differential of a few Tons-force can quickly appear if flow is not perfectly balanced. The problem here is, of course, that the more the core deflects, ...

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share Cupra announces the use of Bcomp’s innovative natural fibre composite solutions for the new CUP Bucket seats in the Cupra Born VZ electric vehicles, the latest addition to the Spanish brand’s vehicle line-up.   Cupra focuses on innovation and sustainability to redefine the automotive industry. This approach is exemplified by the Cupra Born VZ, which combines powerful performance with eco-friendly design, aiming to inspire a new generation of drivers with its progressive and responsible engineering. For the car’s interior design, Cupra’s collaboration with Bcomp and Sabelt, renowned for their expertise in high-performance automotive seats, has resulted in the creation of the first full natural fibre CUP Bucket seats in the Cupra vehicle line-up. By replacing the seatbacks currently made from carbon and glass fibres, the new all-natural fibre seatbacks offer significant reductions in emissions. Indeed, the use of Bcomp’s proprietary ampliTex™ technical ma...

New Energy Blue, the clean-energy developer whose technology converts agricultural waste into lowest-carbon biofuels and biochemicals, and ARCO/Murray, one of America's largest, most experienced, and fastest-growing construction firms, today announce a partnership to build out the New Energy Biomass Refinery designed platform across the American Midwest.  ARCO/Murray will construct the flagship New Energy Freedom biomass refinery in Mason City, Iowa, to sustainably process corn stalks into second-generation fuel ethanol and clean lignin at large commercial capacity. The partners have agreed to a $650 million construction contract. In 2023, New Energy Blue completed the design engineering, obtained local permits to proceed, and conducted field trials of new harvesting methods and machinery; in 2024, the project entered the final investment decision (FID) phase. The partners plan to break ground later this year and start up the refinery in 2026.   The si...

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share Commonly used cleaning product releases millions of microplastic fibres A study has demonstrated that one single sponge can release millions of microplastic fibres that could end up inside the body. Researchers from the School of Energy and Environment at Southeast University, China, have analysed how much microplastic a specific and common type of cleaning product releases. The result was 1.5+ trillion particles a month on a global scale. Researchers: trillions of fibres released from cleaning sponge The popular melamine sponge was the subject of the researchers' study. They examined sponges from different brands and rubbed them against the same surface. In doing so, they determined that one single sponge released approximately 6.5 million fibres for every g they were worn down. To calculate how many microplastic fibres are shed globally every month, the researchers estimated that all sponges wear down by an average of 10 %. This data, combined with sal...

Ineos Styrolution has announced today that the Scottish wind energy specialist Edge Solutions has signed a ten-year exclusive supply agreement for an ultra-tough Luran SC thermoplastic product, designed specifically for wind turbine blades. Edge Solutions, based in Edinburgh has developed a patented system, called Armour Edge, which repairs and protects the leading edge of wind turbine blades from erosion - a significant issue for operational onshore and offshore windfarms. Their product is a custom-fitted modular shield which uses a bespoke version of an ultra-tough Luran SC thermoplastic product, designed specifically for wind turbine blades. These two companies have been working in tandem for many years1 and the new exclusivity agreement extends Edge Solutions’ sole global rights to use Luran SC in leading edge protection (LEP) applications for the next decade, and on a rolling annual basis thereafter. "This agreement cements our position as a significant player in the LEP mark...

Dow has announced the development and launch of its innovative REVOLOOP recycled plastic resin family. The launch marks a milestone in Dow’s commitment to advancing circularity and waste diversion.   By 2030, Dow aims to achieve waste diversion and commercialize 3 million tons of circular and renewable solutions per year. To achieve this goal, Dow is increasing its efforts to advance circular and sustainable packaging. To achieve these sustainability goals, the launch of REVOLOOP plastic resins brings a new commitment to unlock more value from plastic waste for customers and partners.   Two new grades of REVOLOOP plastic resins are launched and approved for non-food contact packaging applications. One contains 100% post-consumer recycled content (PCR) and the other is a formulated grade containing up to 85% PCR from household waste.   “With the launch of our new grades of REVOLOOP recycled plastic resins, we continue to expand our sustainable portfolio, working with brand...

Ampacet, a global masterbatch leader, has expanded its ELTech™ portfolio to include a range of high performance color masterbatches based on a Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT) carrier resin and specifically designed for optical fiber cable PBT jacketing. Optical fiber cable jacketing is often made of Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT) to benefit from its mechanical properties such as high strength and stiffness as well as resistance to heat and chemicals. PBT jacketing is often selected for indoor optical fiber cables used in building and construction as well as in data centers. For ease of installation, optical fiber cable manufacturers use a color-coding system such as the RAL system to identify individual optical fibers. ELTech masterbatches for optical fiber cable preserve high-performance signal transmission and feature excellent opacity at a low addition rate, high resistance to heat and color fading and include 16 colors that comply with RAL color references. Additional shades usi...

Evertis launches Evercare™ brand, set to be a leading provider of specialty and innovative medical-gradefilms designed to provide superior performance and support regulatory compliance to the healthcare market. Evercare™ is built on over 65 years of trusted technical Evertis experience in developing PET and PETG films for regulated applications that meet sustainability credentials, and now compliant in meeting the rigorous needs of the healthcare industry. Evercare™ sits in avertically integrated Group that delivers a unique value proposition to Healthcare customers in terms of innovation, sustainability and supply chain security. As film converters for packaging, Evertis is integrated with Selenis,a premium supplier of innovative copolyesters resins with solutions specifically developed, and certified for the medical value chain to further support patient safety. As a Group it fully understands and plays its part in circularity whilst reducing the carbon footprint of its products. Eve...

Welsh-based startup TrimTabs has developed an innovative process to upcycle waste polymers into a light, super-strong composite material with applications in the energy storage and transmission, automotive, construction, electronics, medical and aerospace industries. Trim Tabs leadership team: David Ryan and Professor Alvin Orbaek White Plastic waste is a growing global challenge, with millions of tonnes disposed of every year. It is perhaps the most totemic waste problem of our age. Despite increasing efforts to improve recycling rates, many types of plastic remain difficult or uneconomical to recycle, demanding innovative solutions. One company taking a novel approach to this is TrimTabs, a UK-based startup that has developed a process to turn plastic waste into high-value carbon nanotubes. By harnessing the inherent value in discarded plastics, TrimTabs aims to commercialise a new option for the circular economy, addressing the environmental burden of some waste plastics. The potent...

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share New Project to Turn Biodegradable Plastic Waste into Green Energy: This research project involves AIMPLAS, the Plastics Technology Centre, the Research Institute of Water and Environmental Engineering at the Universitat Politècnica de València (IIAMA-UPV), the CALAGUA Group UPV-UV Mixed Unit, and the companies Global Omnium Medioambiente and Fych Technologies. Recovery of Bioplastics Through Anaerobic Co-digestion: Recovering biodegradable plastic waste through anaerobic co-digestion treatment with sludge from sewage treatment plants (STP) to obtain a biogas stream that can be used as an energy vector and a digestate for agriculture. This is the main objective of VALPLAST (Recovery of bioplastics through anaerobic co-digestion at sewage treatment plants), a strategic project in which a consortium of members participates, including AIMPLAS, the Plastics Technology Centre, the CALAGUA Group UPV-UV Mixed Unit (made up of the Research Institute of Water and Envi...