polymerguru

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share Chainmail-like polymer could be the future of body armor Scientists created and imaged a 2D interlocked polymer that is lightweight yet flexible and strong — and contains the highest density of mechanical bonds ever achieved. Researchers supported by grants and instrumentation provided by the U.S. National Science Foundation have created the first 2D polymer material that mechanically interlocks, much like chainmail, and used an advanced imaging technique to show its microscopic details. The material combines exceptional strength and flexibility and could be developed into high-performance and lightweight body armor that moves fluidly with the body as it protects it. The nanoscale material was developed by researchers at Northwestern University and the electron microscopy was conducted at Cornell University. The results are published in a paper in Science.  Groundbreaking in more ways than one, the paper describes a highly efficient and scalable polymer...

The world marines market saw something of a coming-of-age in December 2023 when Japanese shipbuilder Tsuneishi Shipbuilding launched the very first tug with its power sulfur-capable molecular natural gas injected, which led Saigyo’ s demonstration from Norway to Japan. The award winning single sitter, which can be powered by hydrogen and traditional fuels represents an important milestone in global environmental initiatives to curb pollution emissions from fossil fuel burning vehicles. The adoption of this clean and green zero-emission technology is not going to improve Japan’s national hydrogen strategy, but also enabling the country led by their parliament as a leader in sustainability advances. World’s First Hydrogen Dual-Fuel Tugboat The tugboat is not a proof of concept, but rather an example that the practical use of hydrogen fuel cells and also dual-fuel technology with hydrogen can work even in one of perhaps most hostile environments on our planet: marine operation. Japan, wit...

  Today's KNOWLEDGE Share Engineers turn the body’s goo into new glue They combined a blend of slimy and sticky proteins to produce a fast-acting, bacteria-blocking, waterproof adhesive for use in biomedical applications. Within the animal kingdom, mussels are masters of underwater adhesion. The marine molluscs cluster atop rocks and along the bottoms of ships, and hold fast against the ocean’s waves thanks to a gluey plaque they secrete through their foot. These tenacious adhesive structures have prompted scientists in recent years to design similar bioinspired, waterproof adhesives. Now engineers from MIT and Freie Universität Berlin have developed a new type of glue that combines the waterproof stickiness of the mussels’ plaques with the germ-proof properties of another natural material: mucus. Every surface in our bodies not covered in skin is lined with a protective layer of mucus — a slimy network of proteins that acts as a physical barrier against bacteria and othe...

  The Government of Canada has published the State of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) report. This report follows public consultations for the Draft State of PFAS Report, launched in May 2023, and the Updated Draft State of PFAS Report, launched in July 2024, during which over 400 stakeholders provided input. Prevent substitution of regulated PFAS by unregulated PFAS: Following the latest science, the Government of Canada has examined PFAS as a class of substances.The class of PFAS comprises of substances meeting the broad chemical definition by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. Scientific evidence suggests that concerns identified for human health and the environment for well-studied PFAS are more broadly applicable to other PFAS. A class approach can help prevent the substitution of one regulated PFAS by an unregulated PFAS that potentially possesses similar hazardous properties. Based on latest science and evidence, this report concludes that...

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share Pros of 3D Printing 1. Flexible Design 3D printing allows for the design and print of more complex designs than traditional manufacturing processes. More traditional processes have design restrictions which no longer apply with the use of 3D printing. 2. Rapid Prototyping 3D printing can manufacture parts within hours, which speeds up the prototyping process.This allows for each stage to complete faster.When compared to machining prototypes,3D printing is inexpensive and quicker at creating parts as the part can be finished in hours,allowing for each design modification to be completed at a much more efficient rate. 3. Print on Demand Print on demand is another advantage as it doesn’t need a lot of space to stock inventory, unlike traditional manufacturing processes.This saves space and costs as there is no need to print in bulk unless required. 3D design files are all stored in a virtual library as they are printed using a 3D model as either a CAD/STL ...

Covestro is committed to sustainable solutions in agriculture and has developed specialized solar dryers made of polycarbonate to support coffee farmers in Ethiopia during the harvest. The project is being implemented in collaboration with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and aims to assist people in disadvantaged regions worldwide with simple yet effective technologies. Coffee is one of Ethiopia’s most important trade commodities and provides a livelihood for many smallholder farmers. However, changing climate conditions—such as rising temperatures and irregular rainfall—are significantly impacting coffee cultivation. Yields are decreasing, and plants are becoming more susceptible to diseases. This is where the Covestro and GIZ project comes in, working to make coffee production more efficient and resilient. To achieve this, Covestro has supported to develop solar dryers—parabolic structures that function like greenhouses but offer better control ...

A new era for sustainable coffee begins with KEYGEA, the innovative compostable single-serve pod born from the synergy between FLO Group, a leading European player in the vending and food packaging sector, and NatureWorks, the world’s largest producer of PLA-based biopolymers. Designed to meet the growing demand for renewable solutions in the North American market, KEYGEA combines sustainability and outstanding performance, ensuring flawless coffee extraction without compromise on quality. Made with Ingeo™ PLA, a biopolymer derived from renewable resources, KEYGEA is a sustainable innovation for the future of coffee and a true revolution in the pod industry. It’s certified industrially compostable by BPI and DIN CERTCO - allowing the ability to return coffee grounds to the earth as valuable natural nutrients. Compostable coffee pods are a concrete step toward more responsible consumption and a future with less waste. FLO’s innovation team has developed a pod that optimizes wat...