polymerguru

Toray Industries, Inc., announced today that it has developed a recycling technology that can decompose diverse carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) made from thermosetting resins while retaining the strength and surface quality of those fibers. The company drew on this technology to create a nonwoven fabric employing recycled carbon fibers. Toray has started providing prototype samples to customers with a view to them developing performance and decorative materials for diverse applications, such as automobiles, construction, electricals and electronics, and daily necessities. The company will push ahead with technical assessments matching customer needs. CFRP applications include aircraft and wind turbines. Chemical recycling as a reducing agent in steel furnaces is gaining traction for recycling CFRP. Technologies are emerging pyrolyzing waste CFRP at high temperatures to recover and reuse fibers, with the market expanding particularly for injection molding applications. To broade...

Chroma Color Corporation announced today that it has acquired Ferco Color a custom manufacturer of colorants, additives, and specialty compounds based in Chino, California. The transaction further strengthens Chroma’s West Coast manufacturing footprint and broadens its portfolio of colorant and additive technologies. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 1994, #FercoColor has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality products, technical expertise, and reliable turnaround times, enabling customers to achieve strong results in their manufacturing processes. Its on-site analytical laboratory, EINSTEIN, differentiates Ferco Color by providing customers with comprehensive support in colorants, additives, resins, and end-product troubleshooting. The Company currently serves diverse end-markets, including medical, food packaging, irrigation, pool & spa, aerospace, cosmetic packaging, and engineering materials, among others. Jennifer Thaw, CEO of Ferco C...

  Today's KNOWLEDGE Share 💪 NCF Multiaxials — The Smart Evolution of Composite Reinforcements Over the years, our industry has seen a clear shift in the way we reinforce composite parts. And for good reason — Non-Crimp Fabrics (NCFs) have proven themselves as the new standard for high-performance, cost-efficient, and sustainable production. Here’s why: 🔹 Optimized fiber orientation – tailored exactly to the load paths (0°, 90°, ±45°, etc.) 🔹 No crimp = better mechanical performance – fibers stay straight for maximum strength and stiffness 🔹 Excellent drapability – fits complex shapes easily, saving time and material 🔹 Improved resin flow – ideal for infusion and RTM processes 🔹 Lighter parts – better fiber-to-resin ratio and optimized layups 🔹 Reduced waste – precision-engineered formats, less trimming, more efficiency 🔹 Consistent quality – automated production and stable mechanical results Compared to traditional reinforcements like CSM or woven roving, NCFs offer a clear...

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share   Shaping the Future of Nylon Bonding : As industries across the globe accelerate their shift toward more sustainable and efficient manufacturing practices, the expectations placed on materials are evolving. In sectors where thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) are over molded onto nylon (PA), manufacturers now seek not only strong adhesion and high performance, but also environmental responsibility and customized functionality. At KRAIBURG TPE, we’re leading the way by delivering innovative material solutions that meet these diverse demands.  Trends in Nylon Bonding : Recycled content has emerged as a key driver of innovation in TPS bonding to nylon. In response to evolving customer demands and sustainability goals, KRAIBURG TPE developed the THERMOLAST® R RC/AD/PA —TPE materials with a reduced product carbon footprint that maintain excellent bonding performance. These sustainable compounds contain high levels of post...

The new rules were approved with 587 votes in favour, eight against, and 33 abstentions The European Parliament has voted for tougher rules to export waste from the block to countries outside the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), a group of mostly rich countries. Exports of non-hazardous plastic waste to non-OECD countries will be prohibited, whilst those to OECD countries will be subject to stricter conditions. The European Parliament and Council first reached a provisional agreement on the new rules in November 2023. The ban on export of plastics will start two and a half years after the regulation comes into force. The new rules build on the provisions of the Basel Convention that already bans exports of hazardous waste from the EU to third countries. The European Council said in a statement that since the adoption of the regulation in 2006, exports from the EU to non-OECD countries have ‘increased considerably’. According to...

The signing ceremony took place on October 24 at #Hyundai Motor Group’s headquarters in Seoul, Korea. Key attendees included Heung-soo Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Strategy Office at Hyundai Motor Group and Miki Terada, General Manager of Advanced Composites Division at #Toray Group. This agreement marks an important milestone in our partnership, as it represents the first tangible outcome of our strategic collaboration initiated last year," said EVP Kim. “By clearly defining our focus areas and combining our respective strengths, we will work closely together across the entire process—from R&D to production and commercialization in the field of advanced composite materials, enhancing our ability to respond to market demands.” Building on the strategic cooperation agreement signed in April 2024, the two companies have continued to work together to develop high-performance composite materials, such as #carbonfiberreinforcedplastic (CFRP), to enhance safet...

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share Stop Ignoring the B-Side: In automotive interiors, the A-side sells the car. The B-side sells your brand's reputation for quality. 🎯 That beautiful dashboard or door panel? Its long-term performance, silent operation, and perfect fit are 100% determined by the features you don't see. The B-side is where engineering excellence meets manufacturing reality. It’s not just a "back" of plastic part; it's the functional blueprint for: ✅ Squeak and Rattle Prevention ✅ Error-Proof Assembly ✅ Long-Term Durability ✅ Cost-Effective Production A flawless A-side with a poorly designed B-side is a problem waiting to happen. True quality is designing both sides with equal attention & passion. To dive deeper into the feasibility and build Molds with complexity & those already working with longer Tool life — Meeting all customer requirements of Automobile Industry needs today ( ie A-Side, B-Side, C- Cost side with Stringent timelines etc ) ....

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share MFI, high shear viscosity and relaxation time spectrum. Let's look at these two Capillary viscosity curves depicting PC (blue) and HDPE (red). These show very similar MFI (low shear viscosity) and also similar viscosity at processing rates in Injection Molding. However there's more to it. The Cox-Merz rule in rheology tells us that Dynamic Rheology (complex viscosity vs. frequency) would produce the same exact curves. But thanks to what we know in Dynamic Rheology we can bring additional critical information now. The HDPE does not reach a Newtonian plateau within the shear rate testing range, which means there are still long relaxation present in this material that are longer than 1/gammadot at the lowest rate. Possibly 10's or 100's of seconds. The PC is way more Newtonian and the green vertical line shows that there are no relaxation times longer than about 1/gammadot of that green line. So this PC relaxes possibly 100 o...

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share Types of Carbon You Should Know When we talk about climate change, we often hear the word carbon—but did you know it exists in different forms, each playing a unique role in our planet’s climate system? Let’s break it down 👇 🖤 Black Carbon Produced from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, biomass, and forest fires. A major component of soot, it absorbs sunlight and worsens global warming while also polluting air. 💙 Blue Carbon Carbon stored in coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes. These ecosystems are natural climate heroes, capturing and storing large amounts of CO₂. 🤎 Brown Carbon Light-absorbing organic carbon from burning biomass (wood, crops, etc.). Unlike black carbon, it can both warm and cool the atmosphere depending on conditions. ❤️ Red Carbon Carbon released through biological particles on snow and ice—affecting reflectivity and accelerating melting. 💚 Green Carbon Carbon stored in terrestrial ecosystems—f...