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Today's KNOWLEDGE Share
British technology company Hypetex has been awarded a significant grant from Innovate UK to develop the world’s first technical coloured flax fibre, which will have applications in the sustainable manufacturing of cars, boats and other products that are usually made with carbon fibre.
Called FlaxTex the material is strong, lightweight and 100 per cent biodegradable, having a net positive carbon footprint at point of manufacturing. It can be colourised whilst enhancing its performance properties, with the process adding some important manufacturing attributes compared to standard flax fibre.
As such, FlaxTex’s mechanical properties represent the closest sustainable substitute for robust and lightweight materials like glass fibre and carbon fibre in composite structures.
The performance of standard flax fibre is often hindered by its high moisture absorption, resulting in reduced structural integrity when used in composite construction. In addition, the natural brown colour of flax has been deemed unappealing for product use.
Flaxtex solves these issues by removing moisture through the colouring process and sealing the fibres, which waterproofs them and enabling their core mechanical properties. Hypetex’s patented nano-pigment technology changes the colour adding an aesthetic quality to the material.
This colouring process is set to transform industrial design possibilities of Flax natural fibres by enhancing the strength and performance while simultaneously reducing post-processing requirements and total energy usage. This also aligns with Hypetex’s commitment to supporting the green transition and helping manufacturers meet government expectations on the path to UK Net Zero targets and the European Green Deal.
Over the course of a 12-month industrial research project, Hypetex will further optimize its resin systems and processes, expanding the use of FlaxTex across various markets.
FlaxTex has a range of industry uses, including on construction, automotive, sports equipment and furniture products. Hypetex’s receipt of the Innovate UK Smart Grant marks another significant milestone in the company’s trajectory, cementing its position in the sustainable advanced materials market.
source: Hypetex/jeccomposites.com
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Lubrizol Launches Bio-based Thermoplastic Polyurethane for HMAs
Lubrizol announces the expansion of its bio-based thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) portfolio for adhesives with the addition of Pearlbond™ ECO 590 HMS TPU for hot-melt adhesives (HMAs).
Renewable Sourced High-performing Resin:
The high-performing resin from a renewable source can be applied by adhesive formulators or designers in furniture, edge banding, electronics, hot-melt film, textile lamination, seam tape, footwear, and transportation.
Pearlbond™ ECO 590 HMS TPU is a fast-setting solution with good adhesion properties for applications that require a toluene-free and more environmentally friendly alternative, as well as high temperature and hydrolysis resistance. In addition, it is designed for improved processability (versus previous existing solutions in HMAs) and has wide wettability.
“The high thermoplasticity of this new grade and the fact that it can be processed by extrusion, makes all the difference from previous bio-based HMA polymers available in the market,” said MariaJosep Riba, global sustainability manager for Lubrizol Engineered Polymers. “In addition, it is a bio-based resin with high bio content, up to 59%, which makes it the ideal choice going forward if you are looking for performance and carbon footprint reduction.”
The expansion of our Bio TPU solutions, commercialized as Estane® and Pearlbond™ ECO TPU, supports the acceleration of Lubrizol’s global sustainability journey. This journey is based on three strong pillars, including Bio TPU, biomass balanced, and post-industrial recycled TPUs.
source:Lubrizol/adhesives.specialchem.com
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Washi: the traditional Japanese paper, known for its beauty and strength, has been used in bookbinding, art, furniture, and architecture for hundreds of years. But more recently, washi's usage is on the decline, as people opt for more western style housing designs.
In a bid to revive interest in this traditional craft, a group of Tohoku University researchers has developed an environmentally friendly material from washi that boasts improved strength and biodegradability.
Details of the research were published in the journal Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing on May, 9, 2024.
Layered and Hot Pressed Sheets of Washi with Polybutylene Succinate:
Bio-based and biodegradable materials are increasingly sought after as the world seeks to move away from fossil based-plastic materials and build a more sustainable society. Green composites combine plastics with natural fibers, producing materials with higher strength, improved biodegradability, and a lower environmental footprint.
"We created a green composite from washi, which itself stems from plant fibers, improving its properties further whilst still maintaining its classical beauty," points out Hiroki Kurita, co-author of the paper and an associate professor at Tohoku University's Graduate School of Environmental Studies.
To produce the material, Kurita and his colleagues layered and hot pressed sheets of Washi with polybutylene succinate (PBS). To source the Washi, they worked with an artisan from a Miyagi-based washi-workshop. The material's ultimate tensile strength, i.e., the amount of stress the paper could withstand, stood at 59.85 MPa, representing an improvement of over 60%.
82% Biodegradation within 35 Days:
Washi has a lot of space between its entangled fibers. When combined with PBS, the plastic filled these spaces, thereby locking the fibers in place and preventing the fibers from moving.
PBS is also notable for its biodegradability, and the resultant composite material degraded much faster than pure plastic. After 35 days, it had biodegraded by 82%.The biodegradation was calculated by measuring the amount of CO2 released from the material when it was buried in compost. At the same time, researchers measured weight loss and loss of strength during degradation.
Not only was the team successful in producing a new material, but Kurita believes they were able to raise the standard of biodegradation testing and provide blueprints for future research into biodegradable composite materials. "We utilized both standardized and non-standardized methods for measuring biodegradability. The differing methods used will help researchers compare biodegradability between different materials moving forward."
Source: Tohoku University/omnexus.specialchem.com
The Innovation Award honors products, projects, and pioneering achievements that sustainably improve life
Arfinio® earns “Winner”-prize in the category "Excellence in B2B: Materials and Surfaces"
This technological breakthrough enables the rapid production of lightweight, repairable, and recyclable solid surface materials.
Covestro, one of the world's leading manufacturers of polymer materials and components, has been awarded “Winner” of the "German Innovation Award 2024" for outstanding innovation achievements in the category "Excellence in B2B: Materials and Surfaces" for its Arfinio® technology.
The award is presented by the "German Design Council." Candidates submit projects that have been launched on the market no longer than five years ago, but they can also be nominated by the council. The evaluation is carried out by an independent, interdisciplinary expert jury. The award ceremony took place on May 14 in front of around 300 invited guests at the Futurium in Berlin.
"We are very pleased that the German Design Council has honored us with this award," said Joan Miquel García Martínez, Senior Project Manager Arfinio® at Covestro. "Arfinio® is a real breakthrough for design, surfaces, and sustainability. This award shows the relevance of combining design, manufacturing technology, and materials for the development of new products and confirms that we are on the right track."
The Arfinio® technology, which Covestro has developed together with its partner Arcesso, a manufacturer of custom polyurethane parts, combines liquid high-performance polymers and unique minerals with the RIM process (reaction injection molding). This combination enables seamless shapes and surfaces – and was long considered impossible. The resulting products are durable, repairable, and lightweight, can be produced quickly, and allow for free designs. The material also contributes to sustainability as it can be produced with partially bio-based raw materials, can be mechanically recycled at the end of its life cycle, and reused for the production of new products.
source: Covestro
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Some molding compounds contain a so-called "external lubricant". It is essentially a second immiscible polymeric material with a much lower viscosity.
What happens when you mold such materials ?
In extrusion things are quite obvious. The hydrodynamic forces push the dispersed lubricant to the surface of the die where they can act as expected and promote slip of the major phase polymer.
In Injection Molding the combination of the Fountain flow, moving inner flow layers to the very edge, and the presence of a frozen skin, create a more complex situation.
The high shear layer where lubricant will accumulate is INSIDE the frozen skin ! While this can still help to reduce the pressure to fill, this situation will also induce a serious risk of blistering/delamination.
This delamination was well known for instance in the Xenoy grade made of PC/PBT. But other compounds, containing for instance a silicon based lubricant, will produce the same result, as reported by some of my customers.
So, keep in mind that the lubricant (possibly necessary at the outer surface of the molded part if the intention is to control friction coefficient) doesn't quite go where you'd hope to see it.
Note that this delamination can also occasionally be observed in pure HDPE if the molecular weight is high enough. In this case the low molecular tail (waxes) will accumulate at the frozen skin interface, promoting delamination.
Source:Vito Leo
#injectionmolding #plastics #lubricant
Syensqo, formerly part of Solvay Group, has announced the extension of its Ajedium™ Films offering for slot liners in electric motors to a range of polyphenylene sulfone (PPSU) based products. These films are developed to replace conventional paper slot liners in motors up to 400V.
Require Less Energy Throughout the Manufacturing Process:
In contrast to incumbent NKN (aramid paper and polyimide film) laminates, Ajedium™ PPSU films can help manufacturers reduce the thickness of slot liners by more than 42%. It maximizes the possible copper slot fill. In addition, PPSU slot liners require less energy throughout the manufacturing process. Their carbon footprint can be further reduced with optional grades using ISCC Plus mass balance certified circular feedstock.
The extended Ajedium™ slot liner films portfolio underscores Syensqo’s role as an innovator in this market segment. It responds to a growing trend towards greater sustainability and energy efficiency. The company is now offering advanced slot liner material solutions across the entire power range from below 400V to above 800V.
“The challenge with many paper and paper laminate slot liners in medium to low-voltage e-motors is two-fold. High moisture sensitivity requires additional humidity management, and quite often they must be deducted in a secondary step after insertion to remove excess scrap. Our new Ajedium™ PPSU slot liner films eliminate both of these issues, while also offering durable mechanical performance, including high stiffness to prevent breakage during assembly,” Brian Baleno, head of automotive marketing at Syensqo Materials.
Source: Syensqo/omnexus.specialchem.com
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