Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : rinseo and Lapo Jointly Develop Lenses Containing Recycled PMMA Material

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Lapo Srl, a global leader in eyewear lenses manufacturing, and Trinseo, a specialty and sustainable material provider, today announced their collaboration to develop demonstration lenses made of recycled polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) resins with a minimum of 86% recycled content. 

“As a lens manufacturer for high-end eyewear, we are joining the sustainability journey with our customers and end-users,” said Luigi De Donà, owner of Lapo. “This inspiring partnership with Trinseo paves the way for more sustainable solutions to come to life.

“We are honored to partner with Lapo and encouraged to see more of our recycled materials becoming part of daily life,” said Aldo Zanetti, Global Sustainability Business Development Leader for Engineered Materials at Trinseo.

Typical material for lenses

PMMA, also known as acrylic, is typically used for making lenses due to its high transparency for optical performance, lightweight and hardness. PMMA is the polymer obtained after polymerizing the methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer. For this project, Lapo tested and approved Trinseo’s ALTUGLAS™ R-LIFE V046 CR88, which is an acrylic resin made with at least 86% recycled content.

Incorporating recycled content into the material

Trinseo uses its next generation depolymerization technology to produce recycled MMA. Depolymerization is a type of chemical recycling in which end-of-life PMMA is transformed back into MMA. With its capabilities in waste collection, the recent addition of its new cutting-edge depolymerization demonstration plant in Rho, Italy, and years of expertise in plastic resin manufacturing, Trinseo is able to handle end-of-life PMMA collection, turning it back into high-quality recycled PMMA resins through advanced recycling and manufacturing technology. 

Difference between recycled and virgin PMMA

Trinseo’s recycled PMMA meets the mechanical, thermal, processing, scratch, chemical resistance, and demanding optical performance necessary for Lapo’s lenses. Made with 86% recycled MMA, Trinseo’s recycled content-containing PMMA achieves a 27% reduction in product carbon footprint compared to virgin PMMA.

source:Trinseo

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : PS200 is our revolutionary 98% bio-based resin system

 Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

PS200 is our revolutionary 98% bio-based resin system derived from a low-carbon source – bagasse, a by-product of sugar cane processing. Highly flame retardant, PS200 offers thermal and fire protection with continuous service possible up to 150-200°C (dry), depending on the application.

Having a unique ability to cope with high pressures and rapid temperature excursions >500-1000°C, which are typical of a Lithium-ion battery thermal runaway, PS200 meets fire protection and insulation standards ISO 2685 and AC 20-135, Revised 1990. Ideal for manufacturing battery boxes, PS200 has many other applications with high abuse temperatures including brake ducts and engine covers.

We are committed to working with the composites supply chain in our combined efforts to achieve Net Zero by 2050. To achieve that, we must accurately quantify and minimise the emissions embodied in our products as well as emissions created by the company as a whole.

We have partnered with Eunomia Research & Consulting - Certified B Corp. to create a detailed GHG profile for PS200. The study spans cradle-to-gate from the cultivation of the raw material, through formulation and prepreg manufacture, to the finished packaged product as it leaves our factory.

Read more about the project here: https://lnkd.in/e7VT96T3

source:SHD Composite Materials

Avantium and Amcor Rigid Packaging Partner to Advance More Sustainable Packaging with Plant-Based Polymer Releaf®

Avantium N.V., a leading company in renewable and circular polymer materials, has signed a joint development agreement with Amcor Rigid Packaging USA, LLC a leader in responsible packaging solutions. This partnership aims to explore the use of Avantium's plant-based polymer PEF - branded as releaf® in rigid containers for various products, including food, beverage, pharmaceutical, medical, home, and personal care.

Additionally, Amcor has committed to a multi-year capacity reservation for PEF from a future industrial-scale facility, based on a technology license from Avantium. This agreement guarantees Amcor preferred access to PEF volumes produced by Avantium's future licensee network.

Avantium has developed a proprietary process technology to produce FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid), the key building block for PEF (polyethylene furanoate), and is currently in the process of starting up the world’s first commercial FDCA plant in Delfzijl, the Netherlands. This FDCA Flagship Plant will be pivotal for Avantium's licensing strategy, allowing the Company to sell FDCA and PEF directly to customers while also offering technology licenses to industrial partners. Ensuring sufficient commercial demand is crucial for future licensing partners. The capacity reservation agreement with Amcor demonstrates Avantium's ability to meet this demand effectively.

Releaf® is a 100% plant-based, high-performance polymer that can be recycled in existing PET (polyethylene terephthalate) recycling streams. It is included in the Critical Guidance Protocol from the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), one of the most universally accepted measures for assessing recyclability in plastic packaging design. Releaf® furthermore stands out due to its superior barrier properties, which extend the shelf life of food and beverages, its higher mechanical strength that reduces material usage, and its lower processing temperature that cuts energy consumption compared to traditional fossil-based plastics. Additionally, with its lower carbon footprint, releaf® will support Amcor’s net-zero ambitions by 2050.

“This partnership between Amcor and Avantium represents a significant step forward in advancing responsible packaging solutions. It combines Amcor's expertise in innovative packaging with Avantium's renewable and circular polymer releaf®. This partnership enhances our efforts to offer customers innovative, packaging that is better for products, people and the planet ” said Terry Patcheak, Amcor’s vice president of research & development and program management excellence. 

source:Avantium

Panacol Launches Epoxy Adhesive for High-Strength Magnet Bonding

Panacol launches Structalit® 5859, a new adhesive system developed specifically for magnet bonding. The adhesive can be used for magnet/rotor bonding as well as for joining magnets in pole housings.

 

Structalit® 5859 is a one-component epoxy resin adhesive that cures at temperatures as low as 100°C. At 150°C, the curing time can be reduced to just five minutes. The product has an impressively long open time and can be processed for seven days at room temperature.

 

Due to its high glass transition temperature (Tg) of 143°C, Structalit® 5859 has a tensile shear strength of 17 MPa on steel - even at 150°C.

 

In addition, the adhesive has high impact strength and good elongation at break, which enables it to be used with material combinations with different thermal expansion coefficients. Good gap bridging to compensate for production-related tolerances, resistance to aggressive contact media such as oils or coolants and excellent damping properties round off the versatile performance of this new product.

source:Panacol/ echemi.com

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : PPS & mould surface temperature as key to high crystallinity and performance

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

PPS & mould surface temperature as key to high crystallinity and performance

Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) is a high-performance thermoplastic that is used in a variety of applications, including automotive, aerospace, and electronics. Injection moulding is a common method for processing PPS, but it is important to control the mould surface temperature in order to achieve optimal crystallinity and performance in the molded parts.

In this blog post, we discuss the importance of mould surface temperature for PPS injection moulding.

📌 Key points to consider with PPS & injection moulding:

1️⃣ Mould surface temperature for PPS should be between 135° and 150°C in order to obtain high levels of crystallinity.

2️⃣ "Hot mould" temperatures (above 135°C) are preferred for precision parts as they promote crystallization, resulting in the best overall appearance, thermal stability, and dimensional stability.

3️⃣ After moulding the PPS part, use DSC to check if the part was fully crystallized and as a consequence, all important properties such as thermal and chemical stability, as well as dimension stability are fully developed.

📌 This brings me to the figure below:

It shows the results of two DSC curves. The upper curve shows a not fully crystallized PPS, having a so-called cold crystallisation peak at 114°C (exothermal) and a melting peak at 282°C. The lower curve shows a fully crystallised PPS part having only a melting peak at 282°C.

Check out the full post here 👉 https://lnkd.in/dAAxXHTJ

🔥 New post: PPS & mould surface temperature as key to high crystallinity and performance

Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) is a high-performance thermoplastic that is used in a variety of applications, including automotive, aerospace, and electronics. Injection moulding is a common method for processing PPS, but it is important to control the mould surface temperature in order to achieve optimal crystallinity and performance in the molded parts.

📌 Key points to consider with PPS & injection moulding:

1️⃣ Mould surface temperature for PPS should be between 135° and 150°C in order to obtain high levels of crystallinity.

2️⃣ "Hot mould" temperatures (above 135°C) are preferred for precision parts as they promote crystallization, resulting in the best overall appearance, thermal stability, and dimensional stability.

3️⃣ After moulding the PPS part, use DSC to check if the part was fully crystallized and as a consequence, all important properties such as thermal and chemical stability, as well as dimension stability are fully developed.

📌 This brings me to the figure below:

It shows the results of two DSC curves. The upper curve shows a not fully crystallized PPS, having a so-called cold crystallisation peak at 114°C (exothermal) and a melting peak at 282°C. The lower curve shows a fully crystallised PPS part having only a melting peak at 282°C.

Check out the full post here 👉 https://lnkd.in/dAAxXHTJ

source: Herwig Juster

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Researchers Use Lignin as an Alternative to Fossil Fuel-based Chemicals in Foam

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

A Washington State University-led research team used an environmentally-friendly preparation of lignin as a substitute for 20% of the fossil fuel-based chemicals in the foam. The bio-based foam was as strong and flexible as typical polyurethane foam. They report on their work in the journal, ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering.

New Class of Renewable Building Blocks for Bio-based Value-added Products:

Petroleum-based plastic materials are an increasing waste problem. They take centuries to break down, but they are expensive and difficult to recycle, most often producing an inferior second-generation product. Because it costs more to recycle than to generate new plastic, the plastics recycling rate has consistently stayed below 20%.

“It’s quite novel in terms of the material we generate and the process we have,” said Xiao Zhang, corresponding author on the paper and professor in the Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering.

“Our extracted lignin offers a new class of renewable building blocks for the development of bio-based value-added products. It’s basically a no-win situation if you’re using petroleum-based plastics. The ultimate solution is to replace them with naturally derived materials,” said Zhang.

Homogenous with Good Thermal Stability:

Lignin is the second most abundant renewable carbon source, making up about 30% of the non-fossil fuel-based carbon on Earth. It is also notoriously difficult to extract from plants. The material is usually separated during papermaking and biorefining, but these processes often contaminate and significantly alter its chemical and physical properties, decreasing its value. So most lignin is either burned to produce fuel and electricity or used in low-value products, such as for cement additives or as a binder in animal feed.

In their work, the researchers used a mild, environmentally friendly solvent to separate a high-quality lignin from pine. Compared to other lignin formulations, their formulation was homogenous with good thermal stability similar to native lignin. The structural homogeneity is important in being able to produce high-value products.

When they tested their formulation, their product was stable and performed as well mechanically as the conventional foams.

“This work demonstrates that our prepared lignin formulation has a great potential for generating flexible, bio-based polyurethane foams,” said Zhang.

The interest in developing lignin-based polyurethane (PU) flexible foam work was also validated by industrial partners. Zhang’s team will now work with the industrial partners to optimize and scale up lignin PU foam production.

source:Washington State University/omnexus.specialchem.com

Berry incorporates 30% PCR content into its NorDiVent® Dry Packaging Solution to Deliver Sustainability Benefits While Maintaining Marlon’s Mortar Quality

Berry Global’s NorDiVent® Form-Fill-Seal (FFS) film is playing a key role in helping Danish dry mortar specialist Marlon meet its sustainable packaging goals.

Marlon is dedicated to leading the way in sustainability within the construction materials sector, focusing on reducing its carbon footprint, enhancing energy efficiency, and promoting responsible sourcing.

By working in partnership with Berry, Marlon has been able to switch from NorDiVent bags made from 100% virgin plastic to a version containing 30% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic. Alongside this, the film has also been successfully downgauged by 7% while maintaining its strength characteristics.

These reductions are part of ongoing initiatives between Berry and Marlon that will eventually see the inclusion of greater levels of recyclate and further downgauging for which successful trials have already been conducted. Increasing the use of circular polymers is one example of Berry’s commitment to sustainability, which also includes improved recyclability and reducing the carbon footprint of its products as well as utilising renewable resources and refill and reuse systems.

“The ongoing reduction in virgin material usage and incorporation of recycled plastic are critical elements in improving the sustainability of our packaging,” said Søren Hammer, Production Manager of Marlon.

“Nevertheless, specialist products such as ours also need the best packaging in terms of protection and convenience to ensure the highest quality and user experience for our customers. Through our partnership with Berry and thanks to the company’s technical know-how, we have been able to ensure that both requirements have been achieved with no compromise.”

Marlon Dry Mortar is a practical, high-quality dry mortar that only requires the addition of water for it to be used on construction sites. Full protection from water and moisture during transport, logistics, and storage is therefore essential. The durable and waterproof construction of Berry’s patented NorDiVent film, which lets out air in a dust-free manner, provides moisture protection, enabling the Dry Mortar to be stored outdoors.

Importantly, the recycled polymers used by Berry have been independently certified to provide traceability and reassurance on chain-of-custody claims, while ensuring that the NorDiVent film maintains high technical performance, consistency, and quality.

“Berry and Marlon share an ongoing commitment to sustainability in all areas of our operations,” said Neal Geryl, Business Development Director for Berry Global Flexible Films.

“It is very pleasing when partnerships like ours can achieve positive results that deliver real benefits for ourselves and our customers.”

source:Berry Global