Reducing the structural weight of vehicles with light and sustainable materials

AIMPLAS coordinates the FOREST project, a new EU funded research to delve into advanced lightweight bio-based or recycled materials to facilitate the decarbonization of the transport sector. The project consortium is made of 14 partners from 8 different countries developing innovative bio-based polymers & additives and recycled carbon fibres for sustainable and safe transport applications.

The FOREST project will last until May 2026 and is fully aligned with EU 2030 Climate and Energy challenges. FOREST will reduce the structural weight of vehicles by providing light components made of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic #cfrp . In this way, less fuel and energy consumption will be necessary to cover the same distance, thanks to the development of novel lightweight multifunctional biocomposites as a competitive alternative to conventional #composites.

These biocomposite candidates will be obtained using one-shot manufacturing techniques, involving Out-of-Autoclave (OoA) processes to build and test prototypes with improved multifunctional properties (mechanical resistance, #fireretardant,#EMI-shielding) for #transport application.

In addition, new chemistries based on high-biobased content for polymers and additives will be developed. In this regard, the fossil sources dependency will be reduced.

Furthermore, FOREST is focusing on efficient methods to recover 100% of #carbonfibre carbon waste to develop high-quality semi-finished materials for valuable transport applications. And finally, the consortium will research the influence of the multifunctional properties on the biocomposite. Therefore, the project will combine the #biobased, #recycled and multifunctionality material nature to obtain sustainable solutions for the bus, aeronautic and automotive sectors.

More than 50% sustainable materials in lightweight products

This project is committed to effective circularity solutions applied to multifunctional biocomposite constituents with more than 50% #sustainable materials contained in lightweight products.

FOREST is funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and Innovation programme. Partners from Spain, France, Germany Turkey, Italy, Poland, Czech Republic and England collaborate to pave the way towards the decarbonization of mobility. The partners are #AIMPLAS, #Arkema, #BASF, #Clariant, #Fraunhofer, IRT Jules Verne, MBHA, #mercedesbenz , #AIRBUS Atlantic Composites, CRF, Angaz Tech, Fenix TNT, Bitrez and Gen2 Carbon.

Source:www.aimplas.net/jeccomposites.com

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Plastics Pretreatments Boost Biodegradability

The Bio Innovation of a Circular Economy for Plastics (BioICEP) project is making strides toward its goal of reducing waste plastic in the environment with help from Spain’s AIMPLAS, the Plastics Technology Centre, which has developed innovative pretreatment technologies that aid in the biodegradation of plastics.

BioICEP, a multi-country, multidisciplinary project that started in February 2020, is funded by Horizon 2020, a European Union research and #innovation program. BioICEP’s goal is to develop #sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics and to reduce the amount of plastic waste in the environment.

The BioICEP project uses a combination of chemical and biological methods to transform petroleum-based plastic waste into #biodegradable bioplastics. As a participant in the project, AIMPLAS is working on several plastics-pretreatment technologies.

One method is based on microwave-assisted #thermochemical #degradation . AIMPLAS has successfully used this method to convert nonbiodegradable plastic waste, such as low-density polyethylene (#ldpe ), into easily biodegradable materials; in tests, complete degradation occurred in fewer than 28 days.

Another AIMPLAS technology focuses on depolymerizing polyamides to create monomers. #Microorganisms are used to degrade the monomers, which can then be converted into bioplastics.

A third AIMPLAS method uses reactive extrusion technologies that change polymeric chain structures in ways that boost the plastic’s biodegradation.

BioICEP’s three-part plastic degradation approach:

BioICEP has focused on three technologies that enhance, accelerate, and increase plastics degradation far beyond what is possible today. The project’s triple-action depolymerization system breaks down plastic waste using these consecutive processes:

Chemical disintegration, including microwave-based technology that reduces the base polymers’ molecular weight and improves #biodegradation.

Biocatalytic digestion with improved enzymes. Enabling technologies include fluorescent sensors and directed evolution.

Microbial consortia (communities of diverse microorganisms) developed from individual, best-in-class microbial strains. The consortia can be engineered for highly efficient degradation of mixed #plasticwaste.

The products of this three-part degradation process can be used to synthesize new polymers and bioproducts, thus contributing to a circular, plastic waste-based economy.

Source:Plastics Today

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KRAIBURG’s TPE Tailored for Asia Pacific Market Ideal for Interdental Brushes

KRAIBURG #TPE’s THERMOLAST® R-RC/FC/PCR/AP series, designed for the #asiapacific market, is suited for #interdental #brush and other dental tools application.

Wide Hardness Range of 30-90 Shore A:

Using cutting-edge materials such as #thermoplastic #elastomers (TPE) from the bristles to the handle ensures that the design and functionality required for interdental brushes are met. The THERMOLAST® R-RC/FC/PCR/AP series from KRAIBURG TPE offers a wide hardness range of 30-90 Shore A, efficient processing via multi-component injection molding, and good adhesion with PP, among other benefits.

The THERMOLAST® R-RC/FC/PCR/AP series offers unique combination of features and properties to achieve design and functionality outcomes for interdental brushes, particularly grip, handle, and tip cover applications. The series features 9-35% post-consumer recycled content (hardness-dependent).

THERMOLAST® R-RC/FC/PCR/AP series allows for the customization of a wide range of surfaces, from soft-touch and smooth or silky feel to high surface friction, depending on the design requirement. The series' exceptional anti-slip feature makes it ideal for applications requiring an ergonomic grip and easy maneuvering.

Conforms with REACH SHVC and RoHS:

THERMOLAST® R-RC/FC/PCR/AP series conforms with #REACH SHVC and #RoHS, ensuring that the material is free of restricted chemical or hazardous substances, as required by #Europeanregulations. The series also meets food contact regulatory criteria including (FDA) CFR21.

THERMOLAST® R-RC/FC/PCR/AP series enables manufacturers to incorporate value-added features into their products. Furthermore, with precoloration options, the series, which is available in both natural and translucent colors, may be customized in a variety of hues for a vibrant and appealing look of the products.

Source: KRAIBURG/Specialchem

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Today's KNOWLEDGE Share :The differences between wetting agents and dispersants

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

What are the differences between wetting agents and dispersants?

Several types of additives can be used in the dispersion process in which solid particles, like pigments and fillers, are distributed and stabilised in a liquid.

Often two categories of additives, wetting agent and dispersants, are mentioned in one breath. However, the two materials differ strongly with respect to the role they play in the system and with respect to chemical composition and morphology of the molecules they are composed of.

Functionality

It is important to have a clear view on what each raw material that is used in a paint or ink should do. The job a raw material, like an additive, must do in a system is called functionality.

Wetting agents

Wetting is the first step in the dispersion process. The air that surrounds the solid particles in an agglomerate must be substituted by liquid. Wetting will take place when the surface tension of the liquid is low compared to the surface energy of the solid particles. Wetting will not occur when the surface tension of the liquid is too high. In that case, the surface tension of the liquid can be lowered by adding a wetting agent. A wetting agent does its job because the molecules adsorb and orient on the liquid-air interface.

Dispersants

Solid particles attract each other. For this reason, energy is needed to separate the particles from each other in the second step of the dispersion process. Also, solid particles must be stabilised after they have been separated from each other. The particles will move to each other and glue together again when particle-particle repulsion is insufficient. The spontaneous process of gluing together of solid particles in a liquid is called flocculation. The functionality of a dispersant is to prevent flocculation. Dispersants do their job because the molecules adsorb on the solid-liquid interface and assure repulsion between the particles.

Repulsion can result from two mechanisms that may either be used separately or in combination:

Electrostatic stabilisation: all particles carry a charge of the same sign.

Steric stabilisation: all particles are covered with tails dissolving in the liquid that surrounds the particles.

Source:essar.com

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#wettingagents #dispersants #polymers #polymerchemistry

SABIC’s Glass Fiber-reinforced Copolymer Earns UL Verified Mark

SABIC announced that its #STAMAX™ 30YH570 resin has earned the UL Verified Mark from Underwriters Laboratories.

This 30% #glass fiber-reinforced copolymer resin, a featured product offered under the company’s BLUEHERO™ electrification initiative, is the first polymer used in electric vehicle (EV) battery systems to receive UL Verification for marketing claims of thermal and mechanical performance.

UL Verification, based on an objective, scientific assessment by a respected third party, can give customers high confidence in the flame delay performance of this product.

Milestone in Evolving EV Battery Systems:

The vast majority of EV batteries perform without issues throughout their useful life. Although thermal runaway incidents are extremely infrequent, the safety-conscious automotive industry is highly focused on ensuring that the design and performance of EV battery systems prolong the time available to exit a vehicle by delaying the propagation of a fire beyond the battery pack for as long as possible.

A key consideration is the proper selection and deployment of fire protection materials used for battery pack components, including enclosures and covers, trays, thermal barriers that separate cells into groups, etc.

According to Venkatakrishnan Umamaheswaran (UV), SABIC’s global Automotive marketing director, “UL Verification for the thermal runaway protection of STAMAX™ 30YH570 resin is a significant milestone in our development of polymer materials for today’s rapidly evolving #EVbattery systems. This recognition not only underscores the exceptional performance and safety features of our polymer, but also reinforces the importance of our BLUEHERO™ initiative. By providing cost-effective, lightweight plastic solutions, SABIC is helping to advance EV technology.”

Thermoplastics Over Outdated Steel

Thermal runaway box testing according to #UL 2596, Test Method for Thermal and Mechanical Performance of #BatteryEnclosure Materials, demonstrated that STAMAX™ 30YH570 resin withstood an internal box pressure of 250 kPa and an internal box temperature of 420°C. Results were based on three replicate tests, with a panel thickness of 4mm. The SABIC material features an intumescent capability that helps with fire suppression. Its other key properties include high stiffness and strength and easy processing.

This UL Verification serves as further validation of #SABIC’s continued progress under its BLUEHERO™ initiative in demonstrating the performance advantages of #thermoplastics over outdated steel and other metals for #batterypacks. These benefits include weight and cost reduction, increased functional integration, and enhanced electrical and thermal insulation.

Source: SABIC/Omnexus-specialchem

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