SGL Group Starts Precursor Line for Carbon Fiber Production

SGL Group has celebrated the inauguration of the production line for precursor at its FISIPE site in Lavradio, near Lisbon in Portugal. Precursor is a polymer-based fiber which is used as the main raw material for the production of carbon fibers. The production line has been set up by converting and enhancing parts of the existing production facility in Lavradio. 

Investment of 30 Mn for Precursor Production Line:
The build-up has been completed last month following four years of research and development, construction work and qualification procedures. Over this period, in total, 30 million euros have been invested in Lavradio into different elements of the precursor production including the spinning line. As part of the global production network of SGL Group, the precursor from Portugal is being used as of September for the production of our new generation of high-end industrial SIGRAFIL carbon fibers in Moses Lake, Washington State (USA) and Muir of Ord (Scotland). The carbon fibers will then be used in various applications in the automotive, aerospace, as well as in other industries. 

Completion of Value Chain for Carbon Fiber Based Solutions:

“With the new precursor line at our Lavradio site we now have the complete value chain of high-quality carbon fiber materials available in-house to further support our customers in developing and utilizing innovative lightweight solutions” comments Andreas Wüllner, Chairman of the business unit Composites – Fibers & Materials (CFM) at SGL Group.

Development of Lavradio Facility

In addition, the completion of the precursor production line is also a consequent and successful step of further developing the business and set-up of the FISIPE site in Lavradio, Portugal. Having been founded more than 40 years ago, FISIPE has established as a specialist for acrylic fibers. Under the umbrella of SGL Group – which acquired FISIPE in April 2012 – the acrylic fiber business is maintained while the precursor production has been set up. 

“With around 350 employees in Lavradio and a production site of more than 200,000 qm now also including the new state-of-the-art precursor production line, we are proud to contribute to the further build-up of highly innovative composites and thus help to establish more and more fascinating lightweight solutions around the world. I would like to sincerely thank all colleagues involved in this project for their great support and engagement.” says Stefan Seibel, Managing Director at FISIPE in Lavradio.

Precursor Production – Profitable Growth

The precursor production is part of SGL Group’s path forward towards sustainable profitable growth targeting a 50 percent sales increase until 2020 in the fields of composites and graphite materials and systems. In future, the Company will focus on supporting and accelerating developments linked to the megatrends of mobility, energy, and digitalization.


Source: SGL Group

PolyOne Offers Metal-replacing Thermoplastic-based Material for Cosmetic Closures

Metal-replacing Gravi-Tech™ density modified materials from PolyOne give packaging designers and brand owners a means to convey quality and sophistication. Luxury cosmetics closures made using Gravi-Tech formulations give customers the texture and weight of metal, while also providing more design freedom than metals.

Design Freedom for Cosmetic Packaging Designers

Cosmetics brand owners are increasingly seeking new ways to engage consumers by appealing to their senses through luxury packaging.

Consumers are exposed to an ever-increasing number of choices, In order to stand out, brand owners want to interact with buyers earlier in their consideration process, and packaging design can help to foster that connection.

Darcy Meyers, global marketing director of packaging at PolyOne, said:
“A product’s package has the ability to connect with customers in a way that can communicate a brand’s value and quality. Sensory branding is so powerful that it evokes an anticipation of experience, essentially creating an expectation of performance for the consumer. We’re helping brands to design this experience into their cosmetics packaging with distinctive materials and finishes.”

PolyOne’s packaging solutions, including color and material options, work to engage consumers by creating an indulgent brand experience.
Gravi-Tech™

Gravi-Tech™ polymer-metal composites are unique, high-density materials developed as thermoplastic-based alternatives to lead and other traditional metals. These materials have been formulated using select metallic fillers and engineering thermoplastic resins to have densities similar to traditional metals, while also providing the design flexibility and processing ease of conventional thermoplastics.

Source: PolyOne Corporation

3A Composites’ Thermoplastic Rigid Foam Wins Airbus Qualification

3A Composites has won qualification from Airbus for its AIREX® R82.80 rigid high performance core, which is well-suited for aerospace sandwich applications.
Composites for Aerospace Industry

AIREX® R82.80 receives Airbus prerequisite due to:
Outstanding fire resistance,
Exceeding most stringent flammability and smoke density,
Exceeding heat release and toxic gas emission requirements such as FAR 25’853.

AIREX® R82.80 follows lower density than AIREX® R82.60 in obtaining Airbus qualification.

Eric Gauthier, President of Global Key Accounts at 3A Composites Core Materials said:
“We are excited to continue expanding our relationship with Airbus and delivering solutions to the aerospace industry”. 

Properties of AIREX® R82

Thermoplastic rigid foam 
Exhibits outstanding strength and stiffness to weight ratios
High impact resistance
Excellent dielectric properties
Very low moisture absorption

All of these make AIREX® R82 an exceptional thermoformable core material for use in structural applications that demand lightest weight, highest fire resistance, radar transparency or operation in extremely hot or cold environments. 

This demonstrates 3A Composites continuing focus on providing innovative solutions to sustainably fulfill its evolving customers’ demands. 

Source: 3A Composites Core Materials

Solvay doubles carbon fiber manufacturing capacity for aircraft structural applications in US

Solvay inaugurates a carbon fiber production line at its U.S. Piedmont Facility, South Carolina, doubling production capacity of a key raw material to make carbon fiber reinforced composite materials and meeting increasing demand for lightweighting composite materials in the aerospace industry.

The new production line has won qualification by The Boeing Company to manufacture secondary structures such as wing movable flaps and engine nacelles, as well as interior applications.

The expansion covers the facilities and equipment to convert acrylonitrile monomers into standard modulus carbon fibers. This type of fiber is used to manufacture composite materials which have been pre-impregnated for use in applications on commercial and military planes.

“Through this strategic capacity expansion we offer our customers greater supply capabilities and contribute to their increased needs for reinforced composite materials to reduce weight and fuelconsumptionandto reduce assembly costs by integrated part design. For Solvay this production expansion results in greater flexibility to strengthen our growth ininnovative composite materials and our leading position in the industry,” said Jean-Pierre Clamadieu, CEO of Solvay.

Carbon fiber composite materials’ durability, strength and fatigue life allow them to increasingly and securely replace metals on aircraft, reducing their weight, noise and CO2 emissions. In addition, composites enable the molding of multiple sub-components into one assembly part, lowering the number of parts required as well as the assembly costs.

Source:SOLVAY


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Jaw-Dropping Statistics About Germs You Need To Know

Germs are everywhere! They are unavoidable, and aren’t all bad. However, excessive germs combined with a compromised immune system can spell C-O-L-D…or worse. From stomach viruses to flesh eating disease, germs are living organisms that can thrive, multiply and mutate, given the right circumstances. Here are 10 jaw-dropping statistics that will put you in the know about germs. Learn how to keep your family healthy, and what you need to do to keep your home as germ free as possible.

Why You Need to Keep Your Hands to Yourself

#1- Around 70% of common illnesses are spread by hands that have touched everyday surfaces.

#2- Every 3 minutes, a child brings his or her hands to their nose or mouth.

Washing one’s hands in warm soapy water, for 20 seconds, seems to be the number one recommendation for avoiding viruses and bacteria. That would be the same amount of time as singing “Happy Birthday” twice. But once the washing is over, you still aren’t finished. You will need to rinse your hands for 10 seconds, then dry THROUGHLY with a clean towel, and then use that towel to turn off the water and open the bathroom door (when in public). When hand washing with soap and water isn’t available, then an alcohol based hand sanitizer should be plan B.

Stomach Bug Facts That Will Make You Sick

#3- Food-borne harmful germs cause 6.5 million cases of gastroenteritis and 9,000 deaths each year.

#4- 50-80% of all food-borne illnesses originate in the home.

To prevent food-borne illness in your home, follow these easy steps.
Buy and Store Food Safely
Use Proper Food Preparation Practices
Store Leftover Food Properly
Know How Long to Store Food Safely

You can learn more about safe food handling here. (http://www.upmc.com/patients-visitors/education/nutrition/pages/food-safety-preventing-foodborne-illness.aspx )

You Should Avoid Germs in the Workplace

#5- Telephones harbor up to 25,127 germs per square inch.

#6- Computer keyboards harbor up to 3,295 germs per square inch.

#7- The average toilet seat has 49 germs per square inch.

Take a moment and look at your hands. What have they touched in the last 24 hours? Were all of those surfaces clean? Have you used those same hands to eat, or rub your eyes? Since there are so many germs lurking on the items that we touch, then an obvious solution to the germ war is to clean said surfaces. In these areas of your home, vehicle, and workplace, take time to disinfect frequently touched surfaces. Cleaning those super germy areas with a high-quality antimicrobial cleaner, like MonofoilD (http://www.monofoild.com ), will help to keep you healthy! MonofoilD (http://www.monofoild.com/?product=monofoil•d-32-oz) is the world’s only one-step sustainable product, that kills 99.9% of bacteria… and has an antimicrobial shield. Your kitchen counters, remote controls, and light switches will have never been so clean!

What Do You Do About Colds and Flus?

#8- Some cold and flu germs can survive on surfaces for up to 72 hours.

#9- The average school-aged child contracts 4 or more colds per year, resulting in more than 164 million lost school days.

#10- People with the flu can spread it to others up to 6 feet away through coughs and sneezes.

No amount of cleaning will keep everyone in your family 100% germ free. Everyone gets sick from time to time. But when you find yourself sneezing and coughing, be sure to cover your mouth with a tissue…then throw the tissue away and wash your hands! If you don’t have a tissue, then cough or sneeze into your arm. You’ve got to keep those germs from flying through the air. And if you are sick, the BEST thing to do is to stay home, so that you keep from passing your illness to others.

What are some of the things that you do to keep you and your space germ free? We would love to hear about it!

DSM & NHU Inaugurate PPS Compounding Joint Venture in China

Royal DSM and specialty chemicals producer Zhejiang NHU Special Materials Co., Ltd. (NHU), have recently officially inaugurated their joint venture company for polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) compounds, DSM NHU Engineering Plastics (Zhejiang) Co Ltd. 
The JV, which was announced in May 2015, has been established in Zhejiang province, close to NHU’s linear PPS polymer plant in Shangyu, for manufacturing of the high performance compounds.

DSM-NHU Joint Venture

• DSM has a 60% share in DSM NHU Engineering Plastics (Zhejiang) Co Ltd., with NHU holding the remaining 40%. 
• Products, which are branded Xytron™ PPS, are marketed globally and targeted principally at automotive, electrical and electronics, water management and industrial markets. 
• DSM will be marketing the product globally, including China.

The PPS polymer plant operated by NHU uses proven technology to provide high quality base polymer for the compounds. The joint venture will take over NHU’s existing compounding capacity. DSM for its part brings its long-standing expertise in application development and materials science, as well as access to its global customer network.

Roeland Polet, President DSM Engineering Plastics, said: 
“Xytron PPS compounds will further enhance DSM’s offering in the high temperature performance engineering plastics space, adding to our leadership positions with Stanyl® polyamide 46 and our ForTii® polyamide 4T. They also complement our offerings in Akulon polyamide 6 and 66, and in Arnite and Arnitel thermoplastic polyesters for engineering applications. We now have a strengthened portfolio of solutions for customers operating in key markets. Strategic customers have welcomed the addition of PPS to our portfolio and are eager for us to develop new materials and applications.”

DSM NHU Engineering Plastics (Zhejiang) Co Ltd. is initially offering two standard commercial grades. 

• Xytron G4010T, containing 40% glass fiber reinforcement
• Xytron M6510A, which contains 65% glass fiber and mineral filler

Recently DSM has added to its portfolio a 30% glass reinforced grade and a 40% glass reinforced low chlorine grade (especially important for electronic applications) which are currently being evaluated by customers. Grades under development include types with enhanced wear resistance and low friction, with high flow/low flash, and with increased impact strength.

PPS JV Business

• In the run-up to the official inauguration, the joint venture has already captured business in three important applications in both China and Europe, with materials currently being evaluated by numerous customers, including key automotive OEMs and Tier Ones. 
• One of the three products already commercialized is an engine block heater for electric generators, which is required to operate in continuous contact with water at temperatures between 35 and 50°C.

 

Source:DSM

Metabolix Enters into LOI with CJ CheilJedang for Biopolymer Business Sale

 Metabolix has announced that it has entered into a binding letter of intent ("LOI") with CJ CheilJedang Corporation ("CJ") for the sale of its biopolymer intellectual property and certain laboratory equipment for a total purchase price of $10 million. The first $2 million of the purchase price was paid by CJ on execution of the LOI and the remaining balance is payable on closing of the transaction, which is anticipated in mid-September. Completion of the transaction is subject to the negotiation of definitive agreements and other customary conditions.

Biopolymers Deal Finalized for USD 10 Mn:

Under the definitive agreements, Metabolix will transfer to CJ a portfolio of intellectual property including the platform microbial strains used to produce the Company's fermentation based products, as well as patent rights covering the production and use of PHA biopolymers. CJ will also acquire certain laboratory equipment associated with the biopolymers business. The arrangement is also expected to include a sublease to CJ of a portion of Metabolix's Woburn, Mass., facility.

"We believe this transaction will help put the Company on a more stable footing and enable us to move forward with our plan to make Yield10 Bioscience our core business," said Joseph Shaulson, president and CEO of Metabolix. "We are excited about our new direction and look forward to focusing our efforts on developing disruptive technologies for step-change improvements in crop yield."

Metabolix announced its new strategic direction in July and anticipates a staff of approximately 20 people with an annual net cash burn rate in the range of $5 million once it has completed its transition and related restructuring. Consistent with this new strategy, the Company plans to rebrand itself as Yield10 Bioscience in the coming months.

Source: Metabolix

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