NOKIAN TYRES AND UPM PARTNER TO INTRODUCE THE FIRST CONCEPT TIRE MADE WITH A NEW RENEWABLE MATERIAL

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

NOKIAN TYRES AND UPM PARTNER TO INTRODUCE THE FIRST CONCEPT TIRE MADE WITH A NEW RENEWABLE MATERIAL WITH THE POTENTIAL TO REPLACE CARBON BLACK IN TIRES

Nokian Tyres, a leading developer and manufacturer of premium tires, and UPM, a leading biomaterials production expert, are partnering to further increase sustainability in the tire industry by introducing the first concept tire made with a new renewable material with the potential to replace a significant part of the carbon black currently used in tire production.

The innovative material, called UPM BioMotion™ RFF is a promising fully renewable lignin-based alternative for traditional carbon black, reducing the need for fossil materials and lowering carbon emissions in tire manufacturing.

Nokian Tyres has long been innovating to use the material and has registered a patent for using the material in tire applications. Nokian Tyres is now licensing its patent to UPM, which enables UPM to provide the raw material to the tire industry. UPM will produce the material at its soon to be ready biochemicals biorefinery in Leuna, Germany.

“Our partnership with Nokian Tyres marks the exciting entry of our Renewable Functional Fillers into the global tire markets. In successfully demonstrating their application value, it helps us to lay the groundwork for scaling our biorefinery business so that we can make a significant contribution to the sustainable transformation of the mobility sector and beyond,” says Michael Duetsch, Vice President Biochemicals at UPM.

Nokian Tyres Green Step Ligna - the first ever concept tire made with the fully renewable lignin raw material UPM BioMotion™ RFF

Nokian Tyres Green Step Ligna concept tire is the first ever tire made with UPM BioMotion™ RFF, a fully renewable wood-based lignin raw material produced by UPM. In the concept tire all fossil carbon black in the tire’s sidewalls is replaced by the new raw material.

“With the concept tire we demonstrate the usability of the groundbreaking new raw material in tires. Our concept tire marks a leap towards the use of renewable materials not only for us, but the whole tire industry. By prototyping this renewable material in our tires, we aim to set new standards for environmental responsibility,” says Teemu Soini, VP, Innovations & Development at Nokian Tyres.

Features superior to carbon black:

“We are constantly working on innovations that advance us towards our target of increasing the share of recycled or renewable raw materials in tires to 50 percent by 2030. Since 2022 a portion of the carbon black used by Nokian Tyres has been from recycled materials. We see lignin as a promising renewable alternative to traditional carbon black, and in the future, we hope to see that lignin based renewable filler materials would find their way to tires as well complementing an increasing share of recycled content.

source:Nokian Tyres

Chemique Adhesives Launches Water-based Fire Retardant Sprayable Adhesive

Chemique Adhesives launches ProAqua 3316, an easy-to-use, fire-retardant, two-part water-based sprayable adhesive. Its innovative formula boasts high initial tack and a soft, flexible glue line. It is the ideal option for a wide range of applications, particularly in the foam and furniture industry.

Adheres to Stringent Flammability Standards:

ProAqua 3316 fire retardant adhesive adheres to the most stringent flammability standards, meeting F2 CS 25.853(a) Amdt.27 App F Part.1a (1)(ii) and (b)(4) certifications. Water-based technology that’s environmentally friendly, minimizing the impact of dangerous pollutants.

The easy-to-apply adhesive allows for manual and automatic spray application, adapting to your production requirements. The adhesive offers a robust, long-lasting hold that offers flexibility without compromising the bond.

High initial tack means materials adhere immediately, reducing lifting and ensuring precise placement during assembly.

Source: Chemique Adhesives/adhesives.specialchem.com

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Bajaj Auto launches world’s first CNG-powered bike

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Bajaj Auto launches world’s first CNG-powered bike

The Bajaj Freedom CNG motorcycle offers significant fuel cost savings, potentially reducing expenses by around 50% compared to petrol motorcycles.

The Bajaj Freedom CNG motorcycle boasts significant fuel cost savings, with users potentially saving around 50 per cent compared to similar petrol motorcycles. It features a CNG tank that provides a range of over 200 km on just 2 kg of CNG fuel. Additionally, a 2-litre petrol tank acts as a range extender, offering an additional 130 km if the CNG supply is exhausted, ensuring an uninterrupted journey.

Environmentally, the Bajaj Freedom stands out by producing approximately 26.7 per cent less CO2 emissions than petrol motorcycles. Moreover, CNG vehicles emit 85 per cent lower non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) and 43 per cent less nitrogen oxide (NOx), contributing to a cleaner and greener environment.

Unique features

The design of the Bajaj Freedom CNG motorcycle integrates comfort, safety, and convenience. Despite the challenge of fitting a CNG system within the compact structure of a motorcycle, Bajaj Auto has managed to securely house the CNG tank and kit within a trellis frame. The bike has undergone rigorous testing to ensure safety. Featuring a horizontally inclined engine and a Link-Mono shock system, the motorcycle optimises space and provides a stable ride. Its design includes an 825mm saddle height and a narrow mid-section for easy ground contact. Despite the addition of a CNG tank, the motorcycle’s weight distribution maintains a similar center of gravity to petrol motorcycles, ensuring neutral handling and rider confidence. The mono-linked type suspension enhances wheel .

source:Bajaj/thehindu/torrentgas

#cng #naturalgas #cngtank

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share: ECHA Adds One New Chemical to Candidate List

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share 

ECHA Adds One New Chemical to Candidate List

The Candidate List of substances of very high concern (SVHC) now contains 241 entries for chemicals that can harm people or the environment. Companies are responsible for managing the risks of these chemicals and giving customers and consumers information on their safe use.

The newly added chemical, bis(α,α-dimethylbenzyl) peroxide, is toxic for reproduction and is used as a processing aid, e.g. as a flame retardant.

The List Now Contains 241 Entries

ECHA’s Member State Committee (MSC) has confirmed the addition of this substance to the Candidate List. The list now contains 241 entries – some are groups of chemicals, so the overall number of impacted chemicals is higher.

The substance may be placed on the Authorization List in the future. If a substance is on this list, companies cannot use it unless they apply for authorization and the European Commission authorizes its continued use.

Entries added to the Candidate List on 27th June 2024:

Bis(α,α-dimethylbenzyl) peroxide

EC Number:201-279-3

CAS Number:80-43-3

Reason for Inclusion:Toxic for reproduction (Article 57c)

Examples of use:Flame retardant

Other Substances

The MSC agreement seeking process to identify triphenyl phosphate (TPhP; EC no. 204-112-2) as an SVHC was foreseen for the committee’s June meeting. However, having consulted the committee members and the dossier submitter, ECHA decided to suspend the agreement seeking process for this substance because substantial new information became available in the days preceeding the meeting.

This suspension ensures that the newly provided data will be properly evaluated and considered in the SVHC identification process. This is an exceptional arrangement and applies only in the conditions specific to this case.

Consequences of Inclusion on Candidate List:

Under REACH, companies have legal obligations when their substance is included – either on its own, in mixtures or in articles – in the Candidate List.

If an article contains a Candidate List substance above a concentration of 0.1 % (weight by weight), suppliers have to give their customers and consumers information on how to use it safely. Consumers have the right to ask suppliers if the products they buy contain substances of very high concern.

Importers and producers of articles have to notify ECHA if their article contains a Candidate List substance within six months from the date it has been included in the list (27 June 2024). EU and EEA suppliers of substances on the Candidate List, supplied either on their own or in mixtures, have to update the safety data sheet they provide to their customers.

Under the Waste Framework Directive, companies also have to notify ECHA if the articles they produce contain substances of very high concern in a concentration above 0.1 % (weight by weight). This notification is published in ECHA’s database of substances of concern in products (SCIP).

Source: ECHA/adhesives.specialchem.com

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Understanding Autoclaves

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Understanding Autoclaves: Essential for Carbon Pre-Preg Production:

An autoclave is a high-pressure, high-temperature vessel used in various industrial processes, including the production of carbon fiber pre-preg composites. In this context, it is essential for several reasons:

1. Uniform Pressure and Temperature: Autoclaves provide a controlled environment where both pressure and temperature can be uniformly distributed. This is crucial for ensuring the even curing of carbon fiber pre-pregs, leading to consistent and high-quality composite materials.

2. Enhanced Mechanical Properties: The high pressure in an autoclave helps to eliminate voids and imperfections within the laminate. This leads to improved mechanical properties such as strength, stiffness, and durability, which are critical for aerospace, automotive, and other high-performance applications.

3. Optimal Resin Flow and Distribution: The combination of heat and pressure helps the resin to flow properly and fully impregnate the carbon fibers. This ensures that the fibers are well-bonded and the final composite has the desired structural characteristics.

4. Void Reduction: Voids or air pockets can significantly weaken composite materials. The high pressure in an autoclave compresses the laminate and helps to expel trapped air and volatiles, reducing the void content and increasing the integrity of the composite.

5. Consistent Quality: Using an autoclave ensures that the entire batch of carbon pre-preg materials is processed under the same conditions, leading to consistent quality across production runs.

In summary, the use of an autoclave in carbon pre-preg production is essential to achieve high-quality, reliable, and high-performance composite materials by providing uniform pressure and temperature, enhancing mechanical properties, ensuring optimal resin flow, reducing voids, and ensuring consistent quality.

source:Michal Harasymowicz

Trinseo Opens Next-Gen Depolymerization Facility in Italy

Trinseo, a specialty material solutions provider, announced today the opening of its polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) depolymerization facility in Rho, Italy, on June 25. The pilot facility represents a significant step forward in the Company’s commitment to sustainability, as the next-generation recycling technology helps advance a circular infrastructure for acrylic solutions and is aligned with Trinseo’s 2030 Sustainable Product Portfolio Goals.

We are thrilled about the opening of our depolymerization facility, which will help advance our goal to support a circular economy,” said Francesca Reverberi, Senior Vice President of Engineered Materials and Chief Sustainability Officer at Trinseo. “Our company remains committed to our sustainability goals, including investing in new recycling technologies that can support our customers in reaching their sustainability goals as well.”

Depolymerization is a chemical recycling process that returns acrylic solutions to the constituent monomer, methyl methacrylate (MMA). Complementary to other recycling technologies, depolymerization helps close the loop for acrylic recycling with several advantages over traditional processes. By utilizing this technology, acrylic solutions can be recycled—including PMMA sheets, which previously could not be mechanically recycled. Additionally, returning the material to its monomer form allows additives and contaminants to be removed from pre- and post-consumer acrylic products. This enables more PMMA to be recycled.

Trinseo’s PMMA depolymerization facility delivers a next-generation technology, utilizing an advanced continuous process to produce high-purity regenerated MMA from pre- and post-consumer acrylic solutions. Trinseo’s depolymerization technology leverages findings from the MMAtwo Consortium, a collaborative initiative funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, to develop a new value chain for pre- and post-consumer PMMA and a versatile recycling process for converting this waste into high-quality regenerated monomer with carbon footprint reduction versus virgin MMA.

“Today is a critical milestone in our sustainability journey,” said Han Hendriks, Chief Technology Officer at Trinseo. “Depolymerization expands our recycled feedstock capabilities, which in turn, will help us innovate new solutions. With this new capability, we can build a more robust recycled acrylics portfolio to better meet the evolving needs of our customers.”

The recycled MMA (rMMA) generated by Trinseo’s depolymerization facility is utilized in the Company’s ALTUGLAS™ and PLEXIGLAS® R-Life product portfolios. Through this new facility, Trinseo can produce rMMA that is comparable to virgin raw materials. This enables use in high-demand applications, such as vehicle taillights or caravan windows that require high optical quality.

source:Trinseo

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : WINGCOPTER

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

A composite delivery drone for healthcare logistics!

WINGCOPTER's W198 is a universal, all-electric composite (carbon and fiberglass) tiltrotor aircraft capable of carrying and operating a wide range of payloads, making it ideal for search and rescue, monitoring, inspection, survey, mapping, and delivery operations!

Check out some of the highlights of their new drone architecture:

1) OPTIMIZED FOR CARGO FLIGHTS: The unique aerodynamic design enables an efficient forward flight with a wide center of gravity, making it an optimal drone for cargo delivery.

2) ENHANCED FLIGHT CHARACTERISTICS: The winglets extend the surface of the wing making it more efficient in fixed-wing mode without compromising the compact size of the drone.

3) ADVANCED MANEUVERABILITY: The Wingcopter 198 can withstand strong winds and fly in harsh weather conditions thanks to its patented tilt-rotor technology.

source:#managingcomposites #thenativelab