Today's KNOWLEDGE Share: POM (part 1):

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share:

POM (part 1):

What is Acetal Plastic?
Acetal is a plastic that is generically referred to as polyacetal and polyoxymethylene (POM) and is a general purpose, semi-crystalline, engineered thermoplastic. Acetal is commonly used for parts that need to be very stiff, have low surface friction and good dimensional stability. Dimensional stability is the ability of a plastic part to maintain its original dimensions when it is exposed to changes in temperature and humidity.

What is an engineered plastic?

Engineered plastics have better mechanical properties and handle heat better than commodity plastics. This makes them tougher and more suitable for extreme environments. Commodity plastics are simply not as tough. Some familiar commodity plastics are PVC, polyethylene and polypropylene.

What are semi-crystalline plastics?
Semi-crystalline plastics have a very organized molecular structure and sharp melting points. They will not gradually soften as their temperature increases. Instead, they stay solid until their melting point is reached. When they are hot enough, semi-crystalline plastics quickly change from solids into low viscosity or thin liquids that flow easily.

The temperature range in which Acetal, with a melting point that varies by its type, can operate effectively is between -40F to 180F (40C to 82C).

Copolymer and homopolymer acetal plastics:
Acetal is made in slightly different formulation variations sold under various trade names. Each trade name acetal plastic is also usually made in a range of recipes that are adjusted to improve specific properties. One thing that all acetal plastics have in common is that they are either a copolymer acetal or a homopolymer acetal. The differences between copolymer and homopolymer acetal plastics are relatively small but they are measurable.

Some of the better-known acetal plastic trade names:
Acetron® - copolymer and homopolymer acetals made by Mitsubishi
Celcon® - copolymer acetals made by Celanese
Delrin® - homopolymer acetals made by the DuPont™
Duracon® POM - copolymer acetals made by Polyplastics
Hostaform® - copolymer acetals made by the Celanese
Kepital® POM – copolymer and homopolymer acetals made by KEP (Korea Engineering Plastics)
Sustarin® C – copolymer and homopolymer acetals made by Röchling
Tecaform® - copolymer and homopolymer acetals made by Ensinger
Tenac™-C - copolymer and homopolymer acetals made by Asahi Kasei
Tepcon® - copolymer acetals made by Polyplastics
Ultraform® - copolymer acetals made by BASF

(to be continued )
Source:industrialspec.com


#plastics #engineeringplastics #pom #acetal

HOFFMANN MINERAL Launches Eco-friendly Filler for Adhesives

HOFFMANN MINERAL launches Sillitin® N 75, a filler for adhesives. Sillitin® N 75 is a functional filler that is eco-friendly and manufactured in Germany.

Suitable for Construction and Chemical Industries:

It is used for adhesives in polishing- & protective agents, welding electrodes, construction and chemical industries.

In the field of elastomers, Sillitin® N 75 is excellently suited for all technical rubber articles and enables a low-compression set, a high-rebound resilience and a good matting effect.

Sillitin® N 75 is characterized by good dispersion properties, relatively low-yield point (even with high solids content), high-abrasion resistance and good matting effect.

Source: Hoffmann Mineral/specialchem

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#adhesives #filler #silica #kaolinite #extender #dispersion #polishing #chemicalindustry #protective #construction

Master Bond Introduces Thermally Conductive Epoxy for Encapsulation

Master Bond launches Master Bond Supreme 3DM-85, a no mix, non-solvent based, one component epoxy. This thixotropic paste material was formulated to serve as the damming compound in dam-and-fill encapsulation applications.

Suitable for Bonding & Sealin:

Master Bond Supreme 3DM-85 can also be utilized for bonding and sealing, especially where no flow is needed since the material cures in place and will not run or slump. The compound requires a relatively low heat cure of 85°C for 2-3 hours, is thermally conductive and electrically non-conductive.

“Master Bond Supreme 3DM-85is designed for heat sensitive components that cannot withstand high temperatures for curing. The fact that it is not premixed and frozen gives it an advantage in production situations where freezer storage may not be practical. Also, there are no special shipping requirements.

Resists Rigorous Thermal Cycling:

As a toughened system, Master Bond Supreme 3DM-85 resists rigorous thermal cycling. It is a reliable electrical insulator and features a thermal conductivity of 5-10 BTU•in/ft2•hr•°F [0.72-1.44 W/(m·K)]. It plays an important role in facilitating effective heat dissipation and preventing overheating, especially in densely packed electronic assemblies. The epoxy maintains a Shore D hardness of 75-85, offers excellent damp heat resistance and has a good physical strength profile.

Master Bond Supreme 3DM-85 forms strong bonds with an extensive range of substrates commonly found in electronics and semiconductors. Substrates include metals, composites, ceramics, silicon, and a wide array of plastics.

As a single part system, it is easy to handle and offers unlimited working life at room temperature. It is opaque black in color and can be applied manually or automatically. Serviceable from -100°F to +350°F [-73°C to +177°C], Supreme 3DM-85 is available for use in syringes and jars.

Source: Master Bond/Specialchem

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#composites #epoxy #thermal #encapsulation #semiconductors #temperature

Shell Seeks to Exit Petrochemicals in Singapore

Production assets may be up for sale, repurposing, or closure as the oil major targets net zero by 2050.

As Shell proceeds with its Energy Transition initiative that will see it become more of a natural gas giant than an oil major, its petrochemical assets in Singapore have come under the spotlight, with talk of divestiture, “repurposing,” or even closure if a suitable buyer or buyers cannot be found.

Shell operates or has stakes in multiple petrochemical plants producing ethylene, propylene, butadiene, styrene, benzene, polyols that can be used to make polyurethanes, and ethylene glycol, among other products. It also has an equity stake in The Polyolefin Company (TPC), a leading regional producer of polypropylene (PP), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). TPC is particularly strong in random copolymer and terpolymer grades of PP for sealant film applications and solar module encapsulant film grades of EVA.

Beyond steam cracking:

Shell is targeting net zero emissions by 2050 and, like other petrochemical and plastics suppliers, it sees reducing its dependence on these two energy-intensive product groups as a way to shrink its carbon footprint. The company’s Energy Transition Campus Amsterdam was launched in July 2022, creating opportunities for others to join in finding solutions to the world’s energy challenges. One such project is a collaboration between Shell and Dow to electrify steam cracking furnaces with renewable energy. Steam cracking is one of the most carbon-intensive processes in petrochemical production. E-cracking furnaces operated using renewable electricity have the potential to reduce Scope 1 emissions from steam cracking by up to 90%.

The issues with petrochemical and plastics operations in Singapore, however, are the space restrictions and unfavorable wind patterns that give the city-state little scope to establish renewable energy resources such as wind and solar. There had been talk of transmission of solar-generated electricity from Australia to Singapore over a distance of 2,800 miles, but the project collapsed. An exit from petrochemicals and plastics in Singapore, thus, appears to be the easiest solution.

Mitsubishi Chemical to reduce petrochemicals and plastics exposure:

Shell is not the only company looking to reduce its petrochemicals and plastics exposure on the road to 2050 carbon neutrality. In December 2021, under the leadership of its first foreign CEO Jean-Marc Gilson, Japan’s Mitsubishi Chemical said it would spin off its petrochemical and carbon operations by March 2024. The company did not clarify if the businesses would be sold to a third party or become its subsidiaries.

Source:Plasticstoday

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#shell #petrochemicals #netzero2050 #singapore

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share:Reducing curvature radius

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share:

Have you ever really understood why curved parts have a systematic tendency to warp as depicted here, reducing the curvature radius ?

The nature of "mold constraints" in molding leads to a "thickness shrinkage" systematically higher than the in-plane part shrinkage. This classical problem is well known in the composite molding world, and referred to as "spring forward" deformation. In the case of fiber filled materials the lack of fibers in the Z direction is the driving mechanism.

The moment you mold a part with any curvature, the law of Physics will create this type of deflection. When parts have a "corner" shape, this is called "corner effect", and has very little to do with cooling problems, contrary to common belief.

Source:Vito Leo
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#plastics #fiber #composites #mold #shrinkage #thickness

Amcor to Launch First Premium Wine Bottle Made from 100% Recycled PET

Amcor Rigid Packaging (ARP) is excited to partner with Ron Rubin Winery for the launch of BLUE BIN, the first premium wine packaged in a 750mL bottle made from 100% recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) plastic.

Lighter and Shatterproof:

PET allows BLUE BIN’s bottles to have several environmental advantages when compared to traditional wine packaging, including a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, global warming, and other environmental impacts.

Additionally, PET wine bottles are lighter and shatterproof, allowing wine enthusiasts to enjoy BLUE BIN at places they previously may not have been able to, including at the beach, by the pool, camping and other outdoor activities.

Glass bottles account for 30% percent of wine’s carbon footprint – the single largest environmental impact across the value chain of the product. A wine bottle made from PET is 85% lighter than one made from glass and has one-third the Greenhouse Gas emissions.

Thin Glass Layer Preventing the Wine from Touching rPET

In search of a planet-friendly alternative that allows consumers to enjoy the wine they love with less environmental impact, Ron Rubin Winery conducted a two-year assessment of wine packaging to develop a premium wine for eco-conscious wine lovers. The BLUE BIN bottles feature Plasmax technology, a thin glass layer preventing the wine from ever touching the rPET, fully protecting the taste and quality.

“Plasmax is a thin, glass-like oxygen barrier on the inside of the bottle. This protective barrier holds the wine, while the PET bottle holds the shape,” says Jonathan Jarman, Amcor Rigid Packaging marketing manager for spirits and wine. “This is truly a transformational moment for the North American wine market, ushering in an era where the product’s sustainable packaging is valued and celebrated as deeply as the product itself. We are proud to work with Ron and his team to bring BLUE BIN to customers across the country.”

BLUE BIN is produced and bottled by Ron Rubin Winery, a company with a long history of bottling sustainable, premium wine. The BLUE BIN name is a nod to where the recycled material comes from to produce the 100% rPET bottle.

For more than 30 years, Ron Rubin Brands has been driven by a desire to leave the world a better place, with beverages that carry certifications as testament to their mission. Ron Rubin Winery is a SIP-Certified (Sustainability in Practice) brand, Certified California Sustainable Vineyard & Winery and one of only thirty-three Certified B Corporation wineries in the world.

BLUE BIN is available now in four 2022 vintage varietals: Vin Rosé, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

Source: Amcor/Omnexus-Specialchem

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#pet #rigid #packaging #wineindustry #bottle #rpet #co2reduction #amcor

Researchers Develop Spirulina-based Plastics that Degrade as Quickly as a Banana Peel

A team led by researchers at the University of Washington has developed new bioplastics that degrade on the same timescale as a banana peel in a backyard compost bin.

These bioplastics are made entirely from powdered blue-green cyanobacteria cells, otherwise known as spirulina. The team used heat and pressure to form the spirulina powder into various shapes, the same processing technique used to create conventional plastics. The UW team’s bioplastics have mechanical properties that are comparable to single-use, petroleum-derived plastics.

The team published these findings June 20 in Advanced Functional Materials.

10 Times Stronger and Stiffer than Other Spirulina Bioplastics

“We were motivated to create bioplastics that are both bio-derived and biodegradable in our backyards, while also being processable, scalable and recyclable,” said senior author Eleftheria Roumeli, UW assistant professor of materials science and engineering. “The bioplastics we have developed, using only spirulina, not only have a degradation profile similar to organic waste, but also are on average 10 times stronger and stiffer than previously reported spirulina bioplastics. These properties open up new possibilities for the practical application of spirulina-based plastics in various industries, including disposable food packaging or household plastics, such as bottles or trays.”

The researchers opted to use spirulina to make their bioplastics for a few reasons. First of all, it can be cultivated on large scales because people already use it for various foods and cosmetics. Also, spirulina cells sequester carbon dioxide as they grow, making this biomass a carbon-neutral, or potentially carbon-negative, feedstock for plastics.

“Spirulina also has unique fire-resistant properties,” said lead author Hareesh Iyer, a UW materials science and engineering doctoral student. “When exposed to fire, it instantly self-extinguishes, unlike many traditional plastics that either combust or melt. This fire-resistant characteristic makes spirulina-based plastics advantageous for applications where traditional plastics may not be suitable due to their flammability. One example could be plastic racks in data centers because the systems that are used to keep the servers cool can get very hot.”

Creating plastic products often involves a process that uses heat and pressure to shape the plastic into a desired shape. The UW team took a similar approach with their bioplastics.

“This means that we would not have to redesign manufacturing lines from scratch if we wanted to use our materials at industrial scales,” Roumeli said. “We’ve removed one of the common barriers between the lab and scaling up to meet industrial demand. For example, many bioplastics are made from molecules that are extracted from biomass, such as seaweed, and mixed with performance modifiers before being cast into films. This process requires the materials to be in the form of a solution prior to casting, and this is not scalable.”

Not Yet Ready to Be Scaled Up for Industrial Usage:

Other researchers have used spirulina to create bioplastics, but the UW researchers’ bioplastics are much stronger and stiffer than previous attempts. The UW team optimized microstructure and bonding within these bioplastics by altering their processing conditions — such as temperature, pressure, and time in the extruder or hot-press — and studying the resulting materials’ structural properties, including their strength, stiffness and toughness.

These bioplastics are not quite ready to be scaled up for industrial usage. For example, while these materials are strong, they are still fairly brittle. Another challenge is that they are sensitive to water.

“You wouldn’t want these materials to get rained on,” Iyer said. The team is addressing these issues and continuing to study the fundamental principles that dictate how these materials behave. The researchers hope to design for different situations by creating an assortment of bioplastics. This would be similar to the variety of existing petroleum-based plastics. The newly developed materials are also recyclable.

“Biodegradation is not our preferred end-of-life scenario,” Roumeli said. “Our spirulina bioplastics are recyclable through mechanical recycling, which is very accessible. People don’t often recycle plastics, however, so it’s an added bonus that our bioplastics do degrade quickly in the environment.”

Co-authors on this paper are UW materials science and engineering doctoral students Ian Campbell and Mallory Parker; Paul Grandgeorge, a UW postdoctoral scholar in materials science and engineering; Andrew Jimenez, who completed this work as a UW postdoctoral scholar in materials science and engineering and is now at Intel; Michael Holden, a UW master’s student studying materials science and engineering; Mathangi Venkatesh, a UW undergraduate student studying chemical engineering; Marissa Nelsen, who completed this work as a UW undergraduate student studying biology; and Bichlien Nguyen, a principal researcher at Microsoft. This research was funded by Microsoft, Meta and the National Science Foundation.

Source: University of Washington/Omnexus-Specialchem