High-tech plastic makes notebooks razor-thin

Casing thickness and weight considerably reduced with a total design freedom to achieve sleek and stylish forms

Light enough to be taken anywhere, razor-thin and stylish, powerful and long-lasting: this is what defines a new generation of laptops – the “ultra- notebooks”. They address the needs of today’s technology-savvy people on the move. To help producers meet these demands even better, Bayer MaterialScience is launching a new material solution for the housings: reinforced polycarbonates that offer lightness, durability, and total design freedom, and allow fast and efficient mass production.

“We are committed to providing solutions to the next trend of mobile computing,” says Steffan Huber, responsible for industrial marketing of information technology and appliances at Bayer MaterialScience’s Polycarbonates business unit. “These requirements call for a more sophisticated hardware made from higher performance materials.” The company’s solution based on reinforced polycarbonates can make the casings lighter and thinner while maintaining sturdiness and safety, Huber adds.

”The new reinforced polycarbonate solution from Bayer can address the needs of end consumers for lighter, thinner, more stylish, safe and sturdy mobile devices,” says Dr. Ning Hao, Material Engineer at the IT company Lenovo. “At the same time it enables manufacturers to save energy and time in the production process of the parts. One full set of housing can be produced in less than one minute.” 

While traditional notebooks can weigh up to 2.6 kg and have a 3.5 cm profile thickness, the new ultrathin laptop generation offers weights as low as 1.5 kg and only a 2.1 cm profile thickness. Bayer’ specially formulated reinforced polycarbonates can trim weight further to save up to 100 g, which is 1.4 kg in total weight. And they reduce profile thickness by 45%, meaning 1.4 cm or even less. 

The new material also comes in a broad range of color choices and allows the laptop housings to achieve complex geometric structures (3D) and innovative surface textures (2D). Or it can be given a coating for a soft touch surface feeling.

About Bayer MaterialScience:
With 2012 sales of EUR 11.5 billion, Bayer MaterialScience is among the world’s largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction and the sports and leisure industries. At the end of 2012, Bayer MaterialScience had 30 production sites and employed approximately 14,500 people around the globe. Bayer MaterialScience is a Bayer Group company.

More information: www.materialscience.bayer.com

Newlight's AirCarbon Wins Prestigious R&D 100 Award

Newlight Technologies inventor and manufacturer of AirCarbon™, announced that AirCarbon has been awarded a R&D 100 Award. The prestigious and influential R&D 100 Awards—also known as the "Oscars of Innovation"—are selected by a panel of independent industry experts and R&D Magazine editors, and recognize the most technologically significant innovations of the year. 

Now in its 51st year, past R&D 100 Award winners include the fax machine (1975), liquid crystal display technology (1980), the Nicoderm anti-smoking patch (1992), the Taxol anticancer drug (1993), and HDTV (1998). A full list of the 2013 award recipients will be showcased in the September-October issue of R&D Magazine, and the award will be presented to Newlight at the R&D 100 Awards banquet on November 9 in Orlando.

Founded in 2003, Newlight Technologies has invented, patented, and commercialized AirCarbon™, a paradigm-shifting material made by pulling carbon, such as methane and carbon dioxide, out of air. As a result of Newlight's breakthroughs in gas conversion yield and polymer performance, AirCarbon can replicate the performance of oil-based plastics while significantly out-competing on price, representing a market-driven solution to displacing oil, reducing material cost, and reversing climate change. 

"Newlight is honored to receive this prestigious award, and humbled to be in the company of the award's previous winners," said Mark Herrema, Newlight CEO. "This award recognizes the potential of AirCarbon: to reverse climate change by sequestering greenhouse gas into high-performance materials that outcompete oil-based plastics on price. Our breakthroughs in bringing AirCarbon to market were made possible by the contributions of each member of our exceptional team, and this award is a testament to their efforts."

Newlight commenced sales of the company's carbon-capturing AirCarbon materials in 2012, and demand for AirCarbon has since grown significantly, with over 12.5 million pounds of AirCarbon under executed letter of intent to purchase. AirCarbon is currently being used to manufacture furniture, bags, films, containers, top caps, and a variety of other products. Newlight's customers and product development partners include some of the largest manufacturers in the world, including multiple Fortune 500 companies and brand-name market leaders.

In recognition of the company's technological and commercialization achievements, AirCarbon was named "Biomaterial of the Year" in April 2013, and Newlight was named "Most Innovative Company of the Year" by the American Business Awards in June 2013.

Source:Newlight

RTP Company launches new cellulose fiber reinforced PP compounds

Global custom engineered thermoplastics compounder RTP Company has unveiled the latest addition to its Eco Solutions product portfolio with a new line of custom cellulose fiber reinforced polypropylene (PP) compounds.

These compounds, which utilize Weyerhaeuser's Thrive renewable cellulose fiber extracted from trees grown in sustainably managed forests, will facilitate the design and production of environmentally friendly products by providing favorable performance and economics to a wide range of durable applications.

"RTP Company's new cellulose fiber reinforced PP compounds overcome many of the obstacles that have hindered the adoption of bio-based resins and natural fiber compounds," said Will Taber, Business Manager at RTP Company. "They will allow product developers to meet consumer demand for environmentally friendly products that are highly functional yet cost effective. Additionally, they can help processors and OEMs to meet their sustainability objectives by reducing processing costs. On multiple fronts these new compounds provide an unmatched advantage."

Cellulose fibers are a unique reinforcement that can be incorporated into PP to provide increased strength, stiffness, and thermal performance making these compounds suitable for structural applications while providing sought after eco-friendly, renewable content.

In comparison to other natural fibers like wood, hemp, and sisal or natural fillers like wood flour and wheat straw-cellulose fiber provides higher strength and stiffness, consistent color, superior processability, low odor, and a reliable supply.

Advantages cellulose fiber has over glass fiber as reinforcement in PP include: renewable content to meet sustainability objectives, lower energy consumption during processing, specific gravity reductions of 6-9% at like loadings, average cycle time reductions up to 30% for medium to thick walled parts, and reduced tool wear.

Compared to unreinforced PP, a homopolymer PP with 20% cellulose fiber reinforcement offers a 38% increase in tensile strength, a 75% boost in flexural modulus, and a 60°F rise in heat deflection at 66 psi (16°C at 455 kPa). Cellulose fiber reinforced PP compounds from RTP Company also offer strength and stiffness that is comparable to uncoupled glass fiber reinforced PP and achieves approximately 75% of the performance of a chemically coupled glass fiber reinforced PP.

Cellulose fiber can also be combined with glass fiber or impact modified copolymer for materials that meet requirements of more demanding applications. These compounds can also incorporate post-consumer recycled PP to maximize their eco-friendly content. Additionally, they are fully colorable, can be overmolded with select RTP Company thermoplastic elastomers to enhance application ergonomics, and are available worldwide from RTP Company's global network of full-service facilities that provide technical support from design through finished part production.

Cellulose fiber reinforced PP compounds have potential uses in a variety of structural injection molded parts including bezels, bases, brackets, knobs, handles, lids, and housings for the automotive, appliance, furniture, lawn and garden, sporting goods, and toy markets. They are a part of RTP Company's portfolio of Eco Solutions products that provide new design and performance options for manufacturers of eco-conscious products through materials that use bio-based or recycled content resins and natural fiber reinforcement.

More information: www.rtpcompany.com

Dunlop introduces the new Sportmax Q3 sportbike tire

Dunlop introduces the new Sportmax Q3 sportbike tire

The Sportmax Q3 delivers next-generation sportbike tire performance by incorporating Dunlop’s new Carbon Fiber Technology (CFT).
Dunlop’s new Carbon Fiber Technology (CFT) incorporates a carbon fiber reinforcement element in the Sportmax Q3 tire sidewalls. The many attributes of carbon fiber—high tensile strength, low weight, high chemical resistance, high temperature tolerance and low thermal expansion—make it a great match for application in the Sportmax Q3.

In addition, the success Dunlop has earned with the Sportmax D211 GP-A in AMA Pro Road Racing has led directly to many of the performance advantages in the Sportmax Q3. There’s the new tread pattern on the Q3, a planned outgrowth of the GP-A tread pattern, featuring fewer grooves that are longer in length to help route water away more effectively in wet conditions. The Sportmax Q3 also features Dunlop’s Intuitive Response Profile (IRP) design for phenomenal steering and handling characteristics, and MT Multi-Tread technology with a tough, cool-running long-wearing compound in the center of the tread plus lateral-grip compounds on the sides. In addition, Dunlop engineers worked to optimize tire carcass construction and tire compounds in the front and rear Sportmax Q3 tires.

Extensive Dunlop testing shows that the Sportmax Q3 exhibits good cornering stability especially at high lean angles, responsive and precise steering characteristics, and predictable and smooth transitional-steering performance for more confidence-inspiring handling.

As the control tire supplier for AMA Pro Road Racing, Dunlop invested in new tire-producing machinery necessary to accommodate race tire production at our Buffalo, New York, manufacturing facility. These same high-tech machines are used to produce the all-new Sportmax Q3, so this serves as another example of how our investments in racing produce results that directly benefit the average street bike owner as well.

Source: www.dunlopmotorcycle.com

Teijin teams with Kogakuin University for World Solar Challenge

The Teijin Group announced that Toho Tenax and GH Craft have supported Japan’s Kogakuin University Opening a new window in developing a car made with carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) for the World Solar Challenge.


The Teijin Group supplied ultra-lightweight fabric made with Tenax carbon fiber, which was used to design and fabricate the CFRP car body. GH Craft has been involved from the concept design stage to develop the innovative solar car’s all-carbon composite body.

Toho Tenax, together with Sakai Ovex, developed in 2010 an ultra-lightweight carbon fiber fabric measuring just 0.06 mm in thickness. The CFRP produced with this material has made it possible to fabricate an ultra-lightweight car body with the stiffness and strength needed to withstand race conditions while reducing bodyweight to an absolute minimum.

GH Craft, founded in 1972, is engaged in all stages of composite structure fabrication, including design, molding and structural evaluation, for ultra-lightweight vehicles. It is a leader in developing CFRP composite structures for the automotive, rail and aerospace industries.

In addition to thermoset CFRP developed by Toho Tenax and GH Craft, the Teijin Group is also researching and developing thermoplastic CFRP at its Teijin Composites Innovation Center. Such efforts are among other ways that the Group is utilizing its all-round capabilities to develop advanced CFRP solutions and become a leader of the global industry for carbon fiber and composites.

More information: www.teijin.com

BMW i3 simultaneous world premiere

The new BMW i3 - World Premiere to be staged simultaneously in three continents. Board members will reveal the BMW Group’s first all-electric series-produced vehicle in New York, London and Beijing.

The simultaneous launch in three continents highlights the global approach embodied by the BMW i3 towards resolving urban mobility issues worldwide. This approach is rooted in the holistic idea of a purpose-built vehicle concept boasting a unique design, sustainability throughout the value chain and complementary mobility services. As such, the BMW i3 redefines urban mobility for the present and future, setting benchmarks for sustainability, design, hallmark BMW dynamics and exemplary efficiency. It is the world’s first premium electric vehicle designed from the ground up to be powered by an electric drive system. It is also a world first by virtue of bringing together visionary design, pioneering technology and an innovative vehicle concept that includes a passenger cell made of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP).

In each of the three metropolises, BMW Group board members will present the BMW i3 in a live transmission, explaining the development history and technology of this innovative model and showing what form a global solution to the challenges of personal mobility could take.

Source:BMW

Methacrylate adhesives show their strength

The integrity of structural adhesives
Structural adhesives are fast emerging as the preferred alternative to conventional mechanical techniques, such as bolts, rivets and welding, for bonding a wide variety of materials. 

Comprising three main categories, including epoxy, polyurethane and methacrylate, the benefits of structural adhesives are now well documented. Providing a low weight answer to today’s engineering issues, they can be used to bond a variety of substrates, facilitating the strength and integrity of bonded structures whilst lowering stresses, enhancing chemical and temperature resistance, and optimising manufacturing methods.
 
Design trends
There’s no doubt that a variety of composite, plastic and non-plastic materials will continue to play key roles in the drive to create lighter structures across different industries moving forward – from the electronics industry, through to the automotive, aerospace, general transport and oil and gas industries, the list goes on. The consequence of this trend is that various material combinations will need to be bonded together, and structural adhesives are set to play an even greater role in facilitating this.
 
Performance
When you look at how the trend in using various material combinations is evolving, you begin to see why demand for methacrylate adhesives is rapidly increasing. 
Based on thermoset adhesive formulations that provide excellent structural properties, the combination of polymers and impact modifiers have seen methacrylate adhesives emerge more recently to fully compete with polyurethane and epoxy adhesives.
 
Methacrylate adhesives provide a special balance of high tensile, shear and peel strengths with the maximum resistance to shock, stress and impact across a wide temperature range. They can generally be applied without any or little surface preparation when joining similar and dissimilar materials. 
They are extremely versatile in offering good gap filling (up to 8mm) and speed of cure characteristics.  In addition, methacrylates are tolerant to off-ratio mixing, and remain strong and durable under severe environmental conditions.
 
Araldite 2048 and Araldite F348
These methacrylate adhesives exhibit some of the highest lap shear strengths available (24 MPa on aluminium), along with high elongation, making them ideal for dynamic loading. These benefits are offered in combination with good chemical resistance, low ionic content (for electronic applications) and ease of application. They also maintain extremely high impact resistance and elasticity at subfreezing temperatures.  
 
These properties are particularly advantageous for industries such as the oil and gas sector, where these adhesives have been used to assemble offshore polycarbonate pipes onto steel housing, or in the electronics sector, where they have helped both stainless steel and coated substrates withstand impact resistance and vibration. 

They demonstrate that it is possible to achieve bonding between different materials whilst managing structural and weight issues within the design concept.  By being generally faster setting than other adhesives and requiring little or no surface preparation, methacrylates facilitate an even better manufacturing solution.  
 
More information: www.huntsman.com