Toray Advanced Materials to spur carbon fiber production in Korea

#Toray Advanced Materials Korea Inc. (TAK) broke ground on its new facility for carbon fiber production in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province on Monday, the South Korean subsidiary of Japanese chemical giant Toray Group said.Carbon fiber is used to make various products like high pressure vessels for hydrogen, aircraft parts, racing car bodies and golf club shafts.

The new facility, which is TAK’s third unit for carbon fiber production, will increase the annual manufacturing capacity in Korea by 3,300 tons to 8,000 tons.TAK produces special materials like films for industrial applications, carbon fibers, water treatment filters and resin chemicals. It began operating the first unit of carbon fiber production in 2013.

Established in 1972, TAK has invested more than $1 billion in #manufacturing materials like engineering plastics, wallpapers and car dash pads.

The company expects the demand for #carbonfiber to grow, enabling lightweight hydrogen vehicles and aircraft, thus reducing carbon emissions.

Among attendees at the groundbreaking ceremony on Oct. 23 were Deputy Minister for Trade Yang Byeong-nae, North Gyeongsang Province Governor Lee Cheol-woo, Gumi Mayor Kim Jangho, Japan’s Toray Industries Inc. Chairman Nikkaku Akihiro and President and CEO Ohya Mitsuo, TAK Chairman Lee Young-kwan and CEO Jeon Hae-sang.

The government will continue to support foreign investments in #Korea’s high-tech industry through regulatory reforms and expanded incentives, said Deputy Minister Yang.

TAK will create values with the world-class technologies and qualities, while closely cooperating with partners and contributing to local economic revitalization, said CEO Jeon.

Source:kedglobal.com

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SEGULA develops zero-waste technologies to produce sustainable carbon composites

SEGULA Technologies has set up the Z-WasTEK project with the aim of developing technologies for producing sustainable #carboncomposites.

Currently, parts made from composite materials have one major drawback: they are difficult to recycle and repair. The Z-WasTEK project, subsidised by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and the Basque Government, addresses this problem by combining the use of a “3R” resin (which enables materials to be reprocessed, repaired and recycled) and the development of digital programmes to define the best way of repairing parts.

For #SEGULA, the project consists of two main points: firstly, the design of software for inspecting curved parts through the acquisition, management and interpretation of sensors. By performing a high-precision scan on curved parts, this software makes it possible to obtain information on points showing cracks and, after repair, to check whether the finish is correct.

SEGULA has also developed a 3R #composite repair technology based on the creation of a digital twin. By capturing information about a part, the simulation (digital twin) makes it possible to define the best action for repairing it with 3R resin.

By acting locally and specifically, the system developed guarantees not only repair, but also the responsible use of materials and a reduction in the time and cost of materials.

The project’s main points of innovation are as follows:

– The development and optimisation of a competitive and sustainable repair process for damaged composite parts.

– The development and optimisation of a process for upgrading raw materials from production waste to recover both the 3R resin and the composite’s load-bearing capacity with the same initial quality at a competitive cost.

– The development of new high-performance, more durable and competitive 3R (removable, repairable and recyclable) composites based on high-quality upgraded carbon fibres.

The project supports the #circulareconomy and the use of low-impact, environmentally #sustainablematerials.

This cutting-edge technology covers a wide range of applications and can be used in mobility sectors such as aeronautics, automotive and rail.

Source:segulatechnologies.com/jeccomposites.com

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Today's KNOWLEDGE Share:Melt Flow Index

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Be very cautious when using Melt Flow Index for material comparison in Injection Molding.

MFI is actually measuring a very low shear-rate viscosity and when comparing two materials, you are not even comparing at same shear-rate (the test is constant load based). If shear-thinning is very different, moldability may be completely off from apparent MFI related conclusions (see picture).

The normalized very short dies used for MFI also lead to a very significant contribution of extensional viscosity to MFI values, which doesn't really help either...

When it comes to Injection Molding, make sure you have a comprehensive set of data describing shear viscosity vs. shear-rate and temperature. Entrance effects in capillary tests may also inform you about extensional viscosity importance.

Source:Vito leo

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#plastics #injectionmolding #plasticindustry #sherarviscosity #meltflowindex

Researchers Unveil the Potential of Cocoa Pod Husks as Flame-retardant Material

Millions of cocoa pods are harvested annually, while the beans and pulp go to make chocolate, their husks are thrown away.

Researchers reporting in ACS #SustainableChemistry & Engineering show that cocoa pod husks could be a useful starting material for #flameretardants.

Renewable Replacement for Petroleum-based Substances:

It’s estimated that about 24 million tons of leftover cocoa pod husks are produced yearly. #Wastehusks have been explored as a source of carbohydrates and sugars, but they also contain lignin, a tough #lipidpolymer found in many #woodyplants.

And lignin could be a renewable replacement for some substances typically derived from petroleum, such as flame retardants. While most methods to produce lignin have centered on hardwood trees, some scientists have processed other plant materials that would otherwise go to waste, such as rice husks and pomegranate peels.

Nicholas J. Westwood and coworkers wanted to see if high-quality lignin could be extracted from cocoa pod husks and determine whether it has the potential to make valuable, practical materials. The researchers obtained cocoa husks and milled them into a powder. After rinsing to remove fatty residues, they boiled the powdered husks in a mixture of #butanol and acid, a standard lignin extraction method called the butanosolv process. They next confirmed the isolated lignin’s quality and high purity, finding no evidence of carbohydrates or other contaminants.

Then, over the course of three chemical steps, the team modified the pure lignin biopolymer to have flame-retardant properties. They attached 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide, which is a fire suppressant molecule called DOPO, into the backbone of the #lignin polymer. In experiments, when the modified lignin was heated, it charred — but did not burn up — a sign that it could act as a flame retardant. The researchers recognize that human safety tests are important and plan to conduct them after the next phase of testing. In the future, the researchers say they will optimize the properties of their #cocoapodhusk-based flame-retardant materials.

Source: American Chemical Society/specialchem

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Today's KNOWLEDGE Share:Lithium Ion Battery

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Lithium Ion Battery

Do we need to depend on Lithium-ion batteries for Electric vehicles for a decade or more?

Climate changes have happened rapidly throughout many regions in the recent decade. On one side the deforestation takes place steadily in many regions and the natural resources are draining out a lot. Each country is losing its share of forest land every year drastically.

On the other side, the sudden interest among Electric vehicle manufacturers made the world depend on lithium-ion batteries more than expected a decade ago.

Some EV manufacturers are holding licenses for such minerals in the US for the lithium extraction for the Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery cells. The world needs many materials for the production of an EV battery. Mining and deforestation happen at the same time everywhere that is not safe for the environment that we humans aim to create for future generations.

Mining at depth will make the earth weaken as well as the water gets toxic too. Toxic rain will be the result.

Don't we have any other alternative?

Magnesium-based and sodium ion-based batteries the EV manufacturers can aim for the progress in that line and also witnessing the good results in the recent days.

Mining project numbers are increasing and the largest corporations are aiming to mint the money in the name of an alternate vehicle market. There is a strict and combined regulation the Energy associations must create as early as possible to avoid the blame game of each technology.

The more we destroy our soil and trees, the more we get unhealthy in the coming days, which is not a good sign for a healthy environment. We should not switch all of a sudden on one technology that seems to create more pain for humans in the days to come. China is supplying most of the minerals to the EV battery manufacturers today and the country is losing its beauty so we shouldn't forget it.

Despite depending on Electric vehicles, it is time to invest in more sustainable projects such as Green Hydrogen/Solid Hydrogen/Green Ammonia/LNG/Methanol, etc for a better alternative fuel market.

It is time to think about our future rather than the present comfortable life.

Let's hear the workable road map on this topic. Share your comments if possible so that we can make a better world for sure.

Muthuramalingam Krishnan

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TotalEnergies and Borealis start up Baystar JV polyethylene unit

TotalEnergies and Borealis celebrate the start-up of their Baystar joint venture’s new 625,000 metric ton-per-year Borstar® polyethylene (PE) unit - which more than doubles the current production capacity at its site in Bayport, Texas.

The new $1.4 billion (€1.3 billion) unit completes the partners’ integrated petrochemicals venture, which includes the expanded Bayport PE facility, and the ethane cracker at the TotalEnergies Platform in Port Arthur, Texas.

The new PE unit, referred to as Bay 3, increases the site’s total production to over one million tons per year, which includes two legacy #polyethylene production units.

Bay 3 features the state-of-the-art proprietary Borstar® 3G technology #licensed in North America for the first time.

Borstar technology delivers advanced value-added polymers with enhanced sustainability by enabling light-weighting and the incorporation of greater amounts of post-consumer recycled materials in a variety of end products, serving the energy, infrastructure and consumer products industries.

After the inauguration of the ethane cracker unit in Port Arthur last year, the start-up of the new PE unit is the second milestone of this joint venture aimed at establishing Baystar as a fully integrated U.S. petrochemical player.

“The fruition of this venture also advances TotalEnergies ambition to grow in the United States,” said Bernard Pinatel, President, Refining & Chemicals, #TotalEnergies.

“The arrival of Borealis’ proprietary #Borstartechnology in #NorthAmerica by way of Baystar marks, in line with our owners’ strategies, a crucial step for us in becoming a global leader in advanced and #sustainablechemicals and material solutions,” said Borealis CEO, Thomas Gangl.

“Expanding and deepening our footprint through Baystar enables us to better serve customers and partners by offering improved access to Borstar based products produced right here in North America.”

source:fuelhandlingmag.com

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DELO Introduces Flexible Semiconductive Adhesive for Autonomous Driving

DELO has developed DELO DUALBOND BS3770, a flexible electronics adhesive that permanently seals sensor housings airtight and thus reliably protects components such as image sensors. DELO DUALBOND BS3770 meets the stringent requirements of the #semiconductor and #automotive industries and helps drive innovation in autonomous driving.

Meet Stringent Industry Demands:

The autonomous driving trend comes with ever-stricter safety requirements. Therefore, reliable components such as image sensors are installed in LiDAR and #RADAR systems. Sensor housings on PCBs must be hermetically sealed throughout their entire service life in order to maintain their function permanently without interruption.

However, previous solutions for hermetically sealing the housing and filter glass are reaching their limits due to these stricter requirements, failing to withstand the tests of the automotive industry, according to standard AEC-Q100.

DELO has developed DELO DUALBOND BS3770, a special #electronics #adhesive for semiconductor manufacturers to meet the demanding reliability and qualification tests of automotive suppliers.

Unlike adhesives previously available on the market, the newly developed adhesive is a flexible product with a #Youngsmodulus of less than 5 MPa at room temperature. Due to its flexible properties starting from a temperature as low as approximately -50°C, the adhesive can compensate for pressure changes that occur, such as those caused by temperature changes, humidity differences, or heat input in the reflow process during production. As a result, defects such as pop-ups or #delamination do not occur, and the sensor is permanently protected.

Precise Application and Rapid Curing:

DELO DUALBOND BS3770 can be precisely applied by needle dispensing while maintaining narrow and high bondlines. #Curing takes place in two consecutive steps using UV light and heat. After dispensing, the adhesive is fixed in a few seconds by means of classic light fixation. Alternatively, it can be transferred to the B-stage, which is particularly relevant for bonding filter glasses with blackprint. At this stage, it achieves an initial adhesion comparable to tape. Afterwards, the second component can be joined. Thanks to the adhesive’s initial adhesion, the component is directly fixed so that it can be entirely processed further. Final curing takes place in a convection oven at +150°C within 40 minutes.

In addition to image sensors for LiDAR and RADAR applications, DELO DUALBOND BS3770 is also used in driver monitoring and for #5G applications.

This new adhesive and other high-tech solutions for the semiconductor industry will be presented by DELO at SEMICON Europe, which will be held in Munich on Nov. 14-17, 2023.

Source: DELO/specialchem

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