Today's KNOWLEDGE Share: Cactus-based Artificial LEATHER:

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share:
Cactus-based Artificial LEATHER:

Most vegan leather goods are made from plastic, either PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or PU (polyurethane), which both contain toxic chemicals, phthalates, and traces of bisphenol A. These items are not biodegradable, and often end up in landfills when they are no longer wearable.

For one thing, many resources are needed to raise animals for leather, including huge amounts of land, water, and feed; livestock (especially cows, which are often used for leather) emit significant amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas; and their feces pollute the air, soil, and waterways, putting local communities in danger, according to the NRDC.

PROPERTIES OF VEGAN LEATHER
It is also flexible, breathable, and durable, making it an ideal replacement for animal and synthetic leather. The touch and feel of the material are also soft and very similar to real leather. The product is also highly sustainable with a lower carbon footprint than other leather alternatives.

It also happens to be:
Less water intensive
Free from phthalates
Free from toxic chemicals
PVC-free

The desserto cactus vegan leather has the technical specifications required by the fashion, leather goods, furniture, and even automotive industries. It is flexible, breathable and does not stain. With the durability of around ten years, the cactus leather’s basic features, elasticity, customizable and breathable, are like those of animal or synthetic leather. The features are complemented by earth-friendly traits that include being partially biodegradable and having no toxic chemicals, phthalates, and PVC.

USES OF PLANT LEATHER
Apart from being natural and cruelty-free, the material also meets the specifications of several industries and can be used in:
Fashion
Leather goods
Furniture
Automobiles

Vegan leather is on par, in terms of pricing, with genuine leather. So far, the company has created car seats, shoes, handbags, and even apparel. In another plus for the environment, cactus leather is partially biodegradable and does not contain any plastic—another issue with synthetic leather. This makes for a true alternative to animal leather that does not harm the planet

Cactus can grow without any materials, tools, and chemicals of modern farming, even water, making it a perfect renewable feedstock.

There are over 1,000 species of cactus and most can be found in Mexico. Two entrepreneurs have found a way to turn this hardy plant into an alternative form of leather. Desserto is out to offer sustainable alternatives to more than just the fashion industry.

Credit: Bloomberg
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Graphene nanotubes to combine conductivity and durability in polyimide film

 Such nanocomposite film can be used for friction units, including for operation under conditions of tribological contact, in such fields as printing, flexible electronics, tapes, labeling, and aerospace.

The polyimide films used for the rollers of industrial/office copiers and printers (fuser rollers for example) suffer from rapid wearing under high temperature and dry sliding friction conditions. Another challenge that occurs in this type of equipment is the formation of electrostatic charges caused by friction at high printing speed. All of these factors can lead to film deterioration, streaking, smudging, black lines, paper jams, or wrinkles. Product damage ultimately increases production costs, therefore manufacturers have to search for new advanced solutions, such as carbon black powder, which has traditionally been used as a conductive agent to eliminate the risk of ESD. But it shows drawbacks in most demanding applications.

Manufacturers of core components for laser composite machines and printers have developed a new high performance conductive polyimide film with graphene nanotubes with a thickness of <100µm. These advanced films offer an excellent balance of electrical, mechanical, physical, and chemical properties over a wide range of temperatures, extending the potential use of PI films to a broader range of applications.

“The presence of graphene nanotubes in an ultralow dosage of 0.1–0.4 wt.% has a significant effect, offering useful properties – from anti-static to conductivity – while preserving key PI characteristics such as resistance to wear, mechanical properties, heat resistance, light weight, and flexibility,” said Zhan Chao, Sales Manager for Polymers, OCSiAl Asian Division.

The new nanocomposite film demonstrates a surface resistivity of 103–109 Ohm/sq with a smooth surface and yellow color without black dots. Thanks to a combination of both high manufacturability and cost-effectiveness, the PI-based film enhanced with graphene nanotubes has applications for use in printing systems or other equipment having high friction performance requirements.

Source:www.tuball.com/www.jeccomposites.com

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Global Warming Effect Of Leaked Hydrogen is Almost 12 Times Stronger Than CO2, Shows a New Study by CICERO

Unlike exhaust from burning coal and gas that contains CO2, burning hydrogen emits only water vapour and oxygen. Rather, it is the leaking of hydrogen from production, transportation and usage that adds to global warming.

Hydrogen is not a greenhouse gas, but its chemical reactions in the atmosphere affect greenhouse gases like methane, ozone, and stratospheric water vapour. In this way, emissions of hydrogen can cause global warming, despite its lack of direct radiative properties.

The study was led by Dr Maria Sand, a senior scientist at CICERO, and her colleagues with collaborators from the UK, France, and the US, and was funded by the Research Council of Norway with contributions from five hydrogen industry partners.

“However, a few papers based on single model studies confirm our estimated global warming potential (GWP100) of 11.6”, said Sand.

“We used five different atmospheric chemistry models and investigated changes in atmospheric methane, ozone and stratospheric water vapour”, said Sand.

“Hydrogen interacts with various biogeochemical processes. In our estimates, we have included soil uptake, photochemical production of hydrogen, the lifetimes of hydrogen and methane, and the interactions between hydrogen and methane”, said Sand.

The study is the most comprehensive assessment of the climate effect of hydrogen to date, thanks to the advanced and novel use of existing climate models.

“We have assessed the uncertainties, and our study forms a robust foundation for political decision-making on hydrogen”, said Sand.

“A global warming potential of 11.6 is significant, and our study clearly shows the importance of reducing hydrogen leaks. We lack the technology to monitor and detect hydrogen leaks at the scale needed, but new technology is being developed as the industry adapts”, said Sand.

The potential benefit of switching to a hydrogen economy will depend on the magnitude of hydrogen leakages and to what extent hydrogen replaces fossil fuels.

“There are still many open questions, and our group will continue to expand our knowledge to ensure timely and accurate decision-making on a key mitigation technology”, said Sand.

Access the full paper here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-023-00857-8

Souce:Hydrogencentral

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Ilium Composites innovates glass fiber reinforcements with latest FLEXmat technology

 FLEXmat® is an innovative glass fiber pultrusion reinforcement, supplied in 1270mm wide rolls. It joins the company’s current offering of chopped strand mats and unique integrated veils for unprecedented composite safety and surface aesthetics.

FLEXmat® is made from long chopped glass fiber and thermo-bonded between two lightweight polyester veils. The integrated veil reaches a high melting point of 180oC, making FLEXmat® ideal for high temperature exposure during pultrusion processes. Its design also allows for a slower pull on thick profiles.

“The team at Ilium Composites has been hard at work to deliver the ultimate fiberglass reinforcement for primary use in pultrusion. FLEXmat® continues to offer benefits featured throughout the company’s product line, including low cost, chemical resistance, and no stitching.”

FLEXmat® offers unbeaten adaptability with significant advantages:

• Thermo-bonded without stitching

• No chemical binder

• Multi-resin compatibility

• Can incorporate other reinforcements

Produced in-house, FLEXmat® is resistant to osmosis and hazardous chemicals, without the need for additional barriers. During processing, the reinforcement displays unrivalled wet and dry tensile strength that reduces the potential for material stretching.

Ilium Composites has worked towards developing a healthy and clean work environment for pultrusion manufacture. Cost is reduced through the elimination of secondary veils while maintaining the company’s signature surface finish.

Source:www.iliumcomposites.com/www.jeccomposites.com

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Today's KNOWLEDGE Share: A visionary leader can only make a tenacious decision.

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share:

A visionary leader can only make a tenacious decision.

₹4,000 crores offer for buyout, yet Founder rejected. Building Balaji Wafers a 2,000 crore-plus brand with stubbornness!

Picture this: It's 2014 in Rajkot, Gujarat. Chandubhai Virani, the founder and director of Balaji Wafers, is facing a monumental decision. On one side of the table, Balaji Wafers, a homegrown snack maker that has tirelessly hustled for over three decades, generating ₹1,000 crore in revenue. On the other side, a multinational snacks and beverage giant, offering over ₹4,000 crore to acquire the company.

But Chandubhai, a man of unwavering determination, refused to be intimidated. He rejected the offer with a resolute spirit, stating, "This company is my daughter and my son. And I don't sell my family."

Fast forward six years, and Balaji Wafers has undergone a remarkable transformation. It has become the undisputed leader in four states, dominating markets that national food giants couldn't penetrate. The company's revenue nearly doubled to a whopping ₹2,374 crore by FY20.

What sets Balaji Wafers apart is the relentless determination and passion of Chandubhai. He firmly believes in building the company from within, without diluting the family's ownership or succumbing to external pressures.

Unlike multinational corporations that prioritize fixed targets and profit, Balaji Wafers operates with heart and brain combined. Their sole objective is to bring happiness to stakeholders: consumers, retailers, distributors, and employees. Chandubhai proudly states, "Business gives you profit; profit doesn't give you business."

Now, the next generation at Balaji, represented by Shyambhai Virani, is driving the company's pan-India expansion. They plan to set up manufacturing facilities across the country, starting with Uttar Pradesh, followed by Delhi-NCR, South, and East India. New products like wafer biscuits and ethnic snacks are also in the pipeline.

Despite the upcoming challenges, Balaji Wafers is determined to win over new territories. Experts caution that each region has its own unique taste preferences, making expansion a tricky endeavor. However, Chandubhai emphasizes that their goal is not merely market share but rather a share of consumers' love. Their vision to make a name for themselves has propelled them this far.

Balaji Wafers' inspiring story teaches us that big dreams can be achieved, even by the underdogs. With their tenacity and refusal to sell out, they have created a ₹2,000 crore-plus brand that captures the hearts of the youth and tech-savvy generation. Balaji Wafers, a brand built with stubbornness and unwavering spirit, stands tall as a true desi Goliath.

Source: ForbesIndia/Ankit Agrawal

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Today's KNOWLEDGE Share:Packaging:

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share:

Packaging:

When considering packaging options, glass containers offer both functionality and durability. Glass is an amorphous solid made from a mixture of sand, soda, and lime that is heated until it becomes molten and then rapidly cooled to a rigid condition without crystallization.

glass is naturally brittle, it can be strengthened through tampering, which creates residual compressive stress on the surface, or through lamination with a layer of plastic. Adding more silica to the molten mixture can also increase its resistance to breaking due to temperature fluctuation.

Colored glass, made by adding certain compounds to the liquid molten mixture, can serve both an aesthetic and functional purpose. For instance, amber glass is often used to protect light-sensitive substances by absorbing light in the ultraviolet region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Many of the glass containers are GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) and fully approved by the FDA, so you can rest assured that your products will stay fresh without any risk of contamination or harm.

Source:SKS Bottle & Packaging, Inc

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