Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Towpreg for TYPE 4 Cylinder applications

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

The Advantages of Towpreg:

Increased Winding Speed:

Towpreg enables faster winding speeds and facilitates the use of multi-spindle winding machines. This efficiency translates to enhanced productivity and reduced manufacturing time.

Consistent Resin Impregnation:

With Towpreg, resin impregnation is more uniform and consistent across the fibres, improving product quality and performance. This consistency ensures predictable mechanical properties and enhances the reliability of the final product.

Control Over Resin and Fibre Volume:

When using Towpreg, manufacturers can exercise greater control over the resin and fibre volume in the composite structure. This control allows for precise customisation of material properties to meet specific performance requirements.

Fibre Bandwidth Consistency:

Towpreg bandwidth can be monitored and controlled during production to ensure a lower coefficient of variation. This means products can be made with a tighter design tolerance, leading to potential savings from lower mass, weight, and wall thicknesses.

Safer Work Environment:

Towpreg minimises exposure to hazardous fumes and chemicals associated with traditional wet-winding processes and removes the fire risk from exothermic reactions in resin baths. The enclosed nature of Towpreg manufacturing reduces health and safety risks for operators, creating a safer working environment.

Potential for Automation:

The use of Towpreg opens up opportunities for automation and robotics in filament winding operations. Robotic systems can be employed for precise handling and placement of Towpreg materials, further enhancing efficiency and repeatability.

source:CST Composites/compositesaustralia.com.au

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : The EU Mandates Attaching Caps to Plastic Bottles and Containers

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

The caps and lids of single-use plastic bottles are a common kind of waste found on our beaches. Poor management of this waste has led to measures to reduce its environmental impact. In response to this problem, European Directive 2019/904 was developed to prevent and reduce the impact of certain plastic products, especially on the aquatic environment and human health. Specific design measures were introduced to minimize the impact and disposal of plastic products in the environment.

Responsible Design

The measure provided for Article 6 establishes that beverage containers and bottles, as well as composite beverage packaging, with a capacity of up to three litres can be placed on the market only if the plastic caps and lids remain attached to the container during the product’s intended use. Consequently, it creates the need to develop a harmonized standard whose compliance should presume conformity with these requirements.

To ensure manufacturers have sufficient time to adapt their production lines and comply with this design requirement, entry into force was postponed until 3rd July 2024.

Harmonized Standard

To ensure effective implementation of the Directive, development of a harmonized standard was prioritized. 30th May 2023, Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/1060 was enacted, which refers to the harmonized standard with test methods and requirements to demonstrate that plastic caps and lids remain attached to beverage containers.

This harmonized standard corresponds to UNE-EN 17665 “Packaging – Test methods and requirements to demonstrate that plastic caps and lids remain attached to beverage containers”. This standard applies to single-use beverage containers with a capacity of up to three litres.

Compliance Testing

At AIMPLAS, we can perform the tests corresponding to this standard in terms of attachment requirements and:

Attachment strength: we evaluate the tensile strength of caps and lids.

Attachment reliability: we perform repeated-use tests to check if caps stay attached to beverage containers.

source:Aimplas

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share :PEF based YARNS

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Avantium is proud to announce a strategic collaboration with textile innovators Royal Auping, Monosuisse AG and Antex.

Their mission is To develop PEF-based yarns for Auping mattresses!

Read our press release here: https://lnkd.in/ehuHcXAV

 Why is this important? PEF (polyethylene furanoate) is a plant-based polymer with remarkable environmental credentials. By partnering with Auping, Avantium aims to introduce PEF to everyday life, revolutionizing textile applications.

The Power of Partnership: Each partner brings unique strengths to the table:

- Avantium: Spearheading PEF development, production, supply, and recycling.

- Monosuisse: Specializing in monofilament PEF yarns.

- Antex: Supplying multifilament PEF yarns.

- Auping: Testing the design and manufacturing of mattresses utilizing the PEF-based fabric.

Auping’s Commitment to Sustainability Royal Auping, a certified B Corporation, is a sleep solutions pioneer. They’re testing PEF-based fabric for mattresses, combining sustainability with superior comfort. Their goal? A fully circular product range by 2030! ♻️

Bineke Posthumus, Director Business Development of Avantium, says: “We’re proud to collaborate with Auping, Antex, and Monosuisse. Together, we’ll transform the textile landscape and reduce environmental impact.”

source:Avantium

Econic and Changhua announce licensing agreement to develop and grow CO2 based polyurethanes in China

Econic Technologies, the deep-tech carbon-to-value pioneer, has today announced a ground-breaking partnership with leading independent Chinese polyol and polyurethanes company Changhua Chemical Technology Company Ltd, part of Jiangsu Changshun Group. The partnership was marked in a ceremonial signing on 8th June attended by the Mayor of Jiangsu province, where Changhua is based.

This multi-year partnership is born from both companies’ shared values – namely, the creation of a market for CO2 products, in line with the global drive to achieve net zero and to meet increasing consumer demand for more sustainable products. By replacing oil raw materials with waste CO2 in essential polyurethane products, both companies will sustainably grow the market. The collaboration is an important step in the emerging carbon-to-value sector.

The agreement involves both parties collaborating to develop CO2 based polyurethane products to be manufactured in China and sold under license in China and world-wide. It will involve Changhua building the first dedicated production plants for these products, to serve the growing demand for sustainable products. Both companies are aligned to make a serious contribution to carbon reduction and to drive the sustainable advancement of the polyurethane market.

Dr Gu, Chairman of Changhua Chemical Technology, commented: “In line with my company’s mission to grow and be recognized as the most innovative and sustainable polyurethane producer in the world, we identified Econic’s technology as being best-in-class for incorporating CO2 into polyurethanes. This long-term agreement demonstrates Changhua’s leadership and ambition in the sector.”

Keith Wiggins, CEO of Econic Technologies, commented: “We are honoured to be partnered with Changhua, China’s leading innovator of polyurethanes. Working with Changhua to this point has reinforced our shared values, and we are excited to build with them a sustainable future that creates value from CO2 to make essential polyurethane products better.”

The partnership with Changhua follows Econic’s recent announcement of the first round of a multimillion-pound capital raise, and receipt of a UK Government, BEIS funding award.

source:Econic Technologies

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Wetting Agents & 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 (EU) and dispersants (EU), 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

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Polyimide Vs PEEK

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

PEEK Vs Polyimide - Comparing Two of the Toughest Polymers

In the realm of high-performance polymers, PEEK (Polyether Ether Ketone) and Polyimide stand out as two exceptional materials. Both are undoubtably among the toughest polymers, exhibiting tensile and flexural strengths far higher than even their nearest competitors.

Comparing chemical structure:

PEEK is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic known for its excellent mechanical properties, chemical resistance, and high-temperature stability. Its molecular structure imparts exceptional resistance to chemicals, abrasion, and wear. 

On the other hand, Polyimide (often known by its brand names of Vespel is a high-performance polymer with a unique imide linkage in its molecular structure. This arrangement contributes to outstanding thermal stability, excellent dielectric properties, and exceptional resistance to radiation and chemicals. 

Mechanical Properties:

When it comes to mechanical properties, PEEK and polyimide both display distinct characteristics. PEEK offers a combination of high strength, stiffness, and toughness. Its tensile strength and modulus are comparable to some metals, making it a preferred choice in structural applications where mechanical integrity is crucial. PEEK's inherent toughness allows it to withstand repeated loading and impact without sacrificing performance. PEEK can also be enhanced with the addition of Glass, Carbon, and Graphite (Carbon-Graphite reinforced PEEK, also called HPV PEEK, is among the toughest polymer compounds known), which adds to PEEK’s versatility.

Polyimide, while not as stiff as PEEK, excels in maintaining its mechanical properties at elevated temperatures. Its ability to withstand prolonged exposure to high temperatures without significant degradation makes polyimide suitable for aerospace, electronics, and automotive applications.

When it comes to wear resistance, polyimide take the edge, as it exhibits a slightly lower coefficient of friction. While PEEK can be improved with the addition of PTFE, the base wear rate of polyimide is both low and constant over a range of loads.

Thermal Stability:

Thermal stability is a key consideration in many high-performance applications, and both PEEK and polyimide offer exceptional heat resistance. PEEK is known for its thermal stability up to 260°C, making it suitable for applications in aerospace, automotive, and oil and gas industries. However, polyimide surpasses PEEK in terms of thermal stability, with some formulations capable of withstanding temperatures exceeding 300°C. This makes Polyimide the material of choice in extreme temperature environments such as electronics and aerospace applications.

Chemical Resistance:

Chemical resistance is another critical factor in material selection, especially in harsh operating conditions. PEEK exhibits excellent resistance to a wide range of chemicals, including acids, bases, and hydrocarbons.

source:Poly Fluoro Ltd

BRB Introduces Hydrolytically Stable Wetting Additive for Adhesives

BRB introduces BRB Siloen® WA 264, a hydrolytically stable substrate wetting additive based on polyether siloxane technology. It is designed for water-based coatings, overprint varnishes, printings inks as well as adhesives.

Low in SVHC Content:

BRB Siloen® WA 264 provides a considerable reduction of surface tension thus improving the substrate wetting. It shows a good hydrolytically stability and can be used in a pH range in between 4 to 10 without noticeable degradation of the surface tension.

BRB Siloen® WA 264 is particularly suitable for system not containing co-solvents. It has limited or no foam stabilization and it doesn’t impact the intercoat adhesion (recoatability). Also it doesn’t increase surface slip.

BRB Siloen® WA 264 is low in SVHC content, being Cyclotetrasiloxane (D4), Cyclopentasiloxane (D5) and Cyclohexasiloxane (D6) <0.1% respectively.

Source: BRB/adhesives.specialchem.com