Today's KNOWLEDGE Share :CO2 derived sustainable polyester fiber

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

World’s first supply chain established for more sustainable polyester fiber based on CO2-derived material as well as renewable and bio-based materials

A consortium of seven companies across five countries has jointly established a supply chain for more sustainable polyester fiber. Instead of fossil materials, renewable and bio-based materials as well as carbon capture and utilization (CCU*) will be used in the manufacturing of polyester fibers for The North Face brand in Japan. The consortium parties are Goldwin, in the role of project owner, Mitsubishi Corporation, Chiyoda Corporation (all three from Japan), SK geo centric (South Korea), Indorama Ventures (Thailand), India Glycols (India) and Neste. 

Neste will provide renewable Neste RE™ as one of the required ingredients for polyester production. The polyester fiber produced in the project is planned to be used by Goldwin for a part of The North Face products, including sports uniforms, in July 2024. After that, the launch of further Goldwin products and brands will be considered. 

The seven companies apply a mass balancing approach to ensure credible traceability of material streams throughout the supply chain and will jointly continue to proactively promote the defossilization of materials to contribute to a more sustainable society.

Regarding the production of para-xylene derived from CO2 as a raw material, the University of Toyama, HighChem Company Limited, Nippon Steel Engineering Co. Ltd., Nippon Steel Corporation, Chiyoda Corporation and Mitsubishi Corporation were granted a NEDO project (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization) status in 2020: "Technology Development for Carbon Recycling and Next Generation Thermal Power Generation/Technology Development for CO2 Emission Reduction and Effective Utilization". They are conducting joint research and development. This project is to supply CO2-derived para-xylene in the course of a trial. It has been produced during the operation process of a pilot plant installed in Chiyoda Corporation's Koyasu Research Park since March 2022.

source:Neste Corporation

Arkema Grants an Exclusive Technology License to SEQENS to manufacture PEKK for sale in Long Term Medical Implantable Applications

SEQENS, an integrated global player in solutions and ingredients for the pharmaceutical and specialty market, is excited to announce a new step in its collaboration with Arkema, a world leader in specialty materials, with the signature of an exclusive technology license for the manufacturing of PEKK for sale in long term implantable applications.

The two companies have partnered for 15 years, combining Arkema’s expertise and intellectual property in PEKK technology together with SEQENS’ recognized know-how in the production of polymers for the pharmaceutical and life sciences markets.

PEKK is a high-performance polymer family used in aerospace and other demanding markets, commercialized by Arkema under the Kepstan® trademark. SEQENS’ IMPEKK materials have been specifically developed for long term medical implantable applications. IMPEKK materials will be provided to the market by SEQENS through a global network of partners, including well-known manufacturers, 3D printing machine companies, and distributors.

source:SEQENS

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share:DOW's Bio-based EPDM

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Dow announces bio-based NORDEL™ REN EPDM at DKT 2024

 Dow is proud to announce at the German Rubber Conference (DKT) 2024 the launch of NORDEL™ REN Ethylene Propylene Diene Terpolymers (EPDM), a bio-based version of Dow’s EPDM rubber material that goes into automotive, infrastructure and consumer applications.

A key component of automotive weatherseals and hoses, Dow aims to support not just the automotive industry in achieving its sustainability goals with the launch of NORDEL™ REN EPDM, but as EPDM also goes into building profiles, roofing membranes, wire and cable, among others, NORDEL™ REN EPDM can help the decarbonization of building and construction and more.

The plant-based EPDM will be made through an ISCC PLUS certified mass balance system which traces the flow of bio-based raw material through a complex value chain and attributes it through verifiable bookkeeping.

Dow’s Path to Zero

The arrival of NORDEL™ REN EPDM is part of Dow’s continuous endeavors towards carbon neutrality. The technology behind NORDEL™ EPDM production, Dow’s Advanced Molecular Catalyst, already results in a highly efficient process that uses 24% less energy than the conventional Ziegler-Natta process, and thus 39% lower carbon footprint for the standard NORDEL™ EPDM grades, which has been validated by a third-party life cycle analysis (LCA).

Discover Dow’s portfolio of rubber technologies for decarbonization on show at DKT 2024

NORDEL™ REN is featured at the DKT 2024 along with a range of EPDM and Silicone rubber technologies on show that help lower the carbon footprint of diverse industries:

1. SILASTIC™ Solutions for Electric Vehicles (EV) including High Consistency Rubbers (HCR) and Liquid Silicone Rubbers (LSR) for fire protection and connectivity, advancing electrification of the automotive industry to reduce tailpipe emissions

2. SILASTIC™ Silicone for Self-Sealing Tires, designed to form a self-sealing layer on the inner surface of a tire, allowing long-distance driving without loss of air pressure and supporting easy disassembly of vehicle part for separate recycling of silicone

3. NORDEL™ EPDM innovation for Microdense Weatherseals, aiding in the reduction of overall density of weatherseals and of tailpipe emissions through lightweighting, by bringing enough strength to maintain critical performance of the rubber material

4. Dow’s patented innovation for the creation of LUXSENSE™ Silicone Synthetic Leather, the world’s first silicone-based luxury synthetic material bringing sustainability with lower carbon emissions cradle to gate, solvent-free fabrication process, and animal-free, while offering exceptional haptic feedback and remarkable abrasion resistance

Visit hall 8, stand 103a from 1 – 4 July in Nuremberg, Germany, to learn more about Dow’s innovative rubber options to advance a more sustainable future.

source:Dow

KBR Launches KCOTKlean℠ to Decarbonize Petrochemicals:

Integrating Catalytic Partial Oxidation (CPOx) technology from Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM).

KBR is pleased to launch KCOTKleanSM, a suite of low and zero-carbon technologies aimed at decarbonizing the catalytic olefins process. This technology integrates KBR’s Catalytic Olefins technology, K-COT®, with Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials’ (KIMM) CPOx technology. 

KCOTKleanSM achieves significant carbon reduction by leveraging circular feeds, cleaner fuels, electrification or carbon capture. This innovation builds upon KBR’s proprietary catalytic olefins process, K-COT®, known for efficiently converting low-value olefinic, paraffinic or mixed streams into high-value propylene and ethylene. KIMM’s CPOx technology to convert methane-rich fuel into hydrogen-rich fuel optimizes combustion in the catalytic regeneration environment and diversifies fuel options for the K-COT® catalyst regenerator.

“It is our ultimate goal to turn sustainable concepts into reality, supporting our customers as they transition into a more sustainable world,” said Hari Ravindran, senior VP and global head of KBR Technology Solutions. “KCOTKlean represents a step-change in cracking technologies. By integrating KIMM’s innovative technology with our own, we not only enhance the efficiency and performance of our processes, but also contribute to a more sustainable future.”

KBR has licensed over 100 grassroots ethylene plants utilizing its cost-effective and energy efficient cracking technologies and flexible plant designs to produce ethylene, propylene, and other byproducts from a variety of feedstocks.

source:KBR

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share :Graphene improved Masterbatch product

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

BLACK SWAN GRAPHENE LAUNCHES ITS FOURTH GRAPHENE ENHANCED MASTERBATCH PRODUCT

This new thermoplastic polyurethane ("TPU") masterbatch is a revolutionary addition to the GraphCore™ 01 product line ("GraphCore"). TPU is a versatile polymer that combines the properties of rubber and plastic, making it an ideal material for a variety of applications ranging from industrial to consumer goods; inflatable products are particularly well suited for this new GEM.

Using this new GEM, Black Swan has demonstrated a 25% improvement in lightweighting capability, along with other mechanical performance improvements.

The Company has launched this year the GraphCore Graphene Nanoplatelet (GNP) dispersion and powder products. The GraphCore Powder (GC1004) is the core building block used in the four GEM products released to date:

GEM X23M for use in Polypropylene, a commercial product typically used in the automotive industry for bumpers (fenders), interiors, battery casings and general packaging applications. The use of this Black Swan GEM can enhance impact resistance by approximately 20%;

GEM S24M, also for use in Polypropylene, improves tensile properties typically in fibre applications, often used in textiles, ropes and composites;

GEM D26M improves tensile properties of Polyamide Nylon 6, a versatile engineering plastic used in automotive under-hood applications, electrical component housing, seatbelts, industrial wire and cables; and

GEMbB25K for use in thermoplastic polyurethane, typically used in applications such as fan belts, conveyer belts, mobile phone covers, cable covers, consumer goods and footwear. This Black Swan GEM enhances tensile strength and elasticity, resulting in a weight reduction of up to 25%, as demonstrated in specific applications.

Michael Edwards, Chief Operating Officer of Black Swan, commented: "We are pleased with the launch of our fourth commercial GEM product which has been through rigorous industrial trials and is commercially ready. We have garnered commercial interest from several potential customers, showcasing our new GEM’s applicability in various industries, including clothing, inflatables, and sporting goods. Swan Chemical Inc., one of Black Swan’s distributors targeting the United States, expects demand for the product, which is now available for shipment in volume from their warehouse in Akron, Ohio. We also anticipate further interest directly from customers in the near future."

source:Black Swan Graphene Inc.

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : PLA does not produce microplastics

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Study shows PLA does not produce persistent microplastics

In the Netherlands, a new meta-study report commissioned by Holland Bioplastics, an association advancing bioplastics knowledge worldwide, concludes that the fundamental characteristics of polylactic acid (PLA), a biobased polymer made entirely from fermented plant sugars, and the hydrolysis process indicate that PLA does not produce persistent microplastics. The literature research, completed by HYDRA Marine Sciences, a research laboratory, shows that unlike non-biodegradable polymers, which will persist and permanently accumulate as nano- or microplastics in the environment, PLA will hydrolyze into molecules of ever-smaller size, becoming soluble in water and eventually fully biodegraded.

The report’s findings were drawn from an initial scan of over 30,000 reports, of which 500 were identified by HYDRA as relevant and of sufficient quality for deeper review. The research confirmed that the environmental degradation of PLA is mainly driven by hydrolysis, an abiotic process that occurs in the presence of moisture or humidity. As long as these conditions prevail, the molecular weight and size of any PLA objects or fragments will continually decrease via hydrolysis, at a rate determined by temperature, until the polymer chains are so short that the material becomes soluble in water. These soluble substances, oligomers and lactic acid monomers, will subsequently be biodegraded by microorganisms into biomass, water, and carbon dioxide.

source:biofuelsdigest.com

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : External Lubricant

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

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