polymerguru

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share Kyoto University successfully synthesizes graphene nanoribbons for use as rare-earth-free, inexpensive, lightweight, and rustproof carbon magnets Professor Hiroshi Sakaguchi and Associate Professor Takahiro Kojima of the Institute of Advanced Energy, Kyoto University, in collaboration with the National University of Singapore and the University of California, Berkeley (USA), announced that they have successfully developed carbon magnets. By designing a precursor molecule and using a unique stereoregularly controlled synthesis method, they succeeded in synthesizing graphene nanoribbons (GNRs), which exhibited magnetic properties by localizing spins of the same orientation on only one side. The GNRs were named "Janus GNRs" after Janus, the two-faced god in Greek mythology. Theoretical calculations showed that the magnetic strength of the GNRs can be tuned via molecular design. These results are expected to lead to the development of lightweight, rust...

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share  When trying to model Injection Molding one has to determine the transient frozen layer thickness. And it is more tricky than most might think. For amorphous polymers the best transition temperature would be available straight from the PvT data and will even include the important pressure dependence. It will however not include any cooling rate dependence and Tg is extremely sensitive to cooling rate, as people observe daily with DSC PvT is essentially measured in a quiescent state close to thermodynamic equilibrium (very slow heat/cool rates). For semi-crystalline materials the problem is worse. We need to capture the crystallization temperature which is pressure dependent also (that can be seen in PvT) but extremely dependent on cooling rate (crystallization kinetics aspects). Furthermore, the strong nucleation effect of shear-stress close to the outer layers will dramatically increase, locally, this transition temperature. Which means the transition tempe...

Airbus Helicopters has signed a contract with the Hellenic Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection for the purchase of 8 H215 helicopters (with an option for 2 additional aircraft) to support the combat of wildfires in the country following a tender conducted by the Project Preparation Facility of Growthfund (the National Fund of Greece) on behalf of the Ministry. This contract is supported by 2 European funds and aligns with the Ministry’s Aegis Programme aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the Civil Protection forces. The contract will be based on a “government owned contractor operated” (GO-CO) model for which Airbus Helicopters will be partnering with experienced H215 firefighting operators, Airtelis and SAF Hélicoptères, for the technical and operational support.  “The signing of the contract for the purchase of new H215 helicopters represents an important step in our efforts to mitigate the devastating consequences of the climate crisis in our country,” said Panagi...

Röhm, one of the world’s leading chemical manufacturers of methacrylates, announces the successful start-up of its new plant in Bay City, Texas, USA, implementing its proprietary C2-based LiMA technology on a large industrial scale.   The start-up of the Bay City plant is a milestone in the company’s history and the starting point for us to deliver the next generation of MMA based on our proprietary LiMA technology, which not only benefits the environment but also increases the security of supply for this growing market,” said Dr. Hans Bohnen, CEO of Röhm. I am very grateful for the hard work of our partners and suppliers who have played an important role in bringing this new technology to the market. The strong demand for our products has already led to commitments from many long-term customers. This is a strong demonstration of the benefits that our new MMA technology brings to all stakeholders.”   Once fully operational, the Röhm Bay City plant will produce 250,000 metric t...

Mitsui Chemicals, Inc and Hagihara Industries Inc. today announced that they have carried out joint development for technology to homogenize the viscosity of recycled plastics, resulting in the successful demonstration of this technology. Background to the joint development  Due to inconsistent quality among plastic waste, recycled plastics made using that waste can exhibit heterogeneous viscosity, leading to issues such as lower yields and an inability to use the recycled plastics outside of low-quality applications. In an effort to resolve these issues, Hagihara Industries and Mitsui Chemicals decided to take in-line viscosity measurement technology jointly developed by Mitsui Chemicals and the Nagaoka University of Technology and fit it to recycled pellet extruders to pursue the joint development of technology for homogenizing viscosity.   Mitsui Chemicals is aiming to achieve ongoing growth driven by solutions to social issues – and with this goal in mind, the company is w...

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share Study shows okra and fenugreek extracts can remove microplastics from water The substances behind the slimy strings from okra and the gel from fenugreek seeds could trap microplastics better than a commonly used synthetic polymer. Previously, researchers proposed using these sticky natural polymers to clean up water. Now, they report in ACS Omega that okra and/or fenugreek extracts attracted and removed up to 90% of microplastics in ocean water, freshwater & groundwater. Rajani Srinivasan and colleagues have been exploring nontoxic, plant-based approaches to attract and remove contaminants from water. In one set of lab experiments, they found that polymers from okra, fenugreek & tamarind stick to microplastics, clumping together,sinking for easy separation from water. Also spoke about successful demonstrations of the plant extracts in freshwater and ocean water at ACS Spring 2022, a meeting of the American Chemical Society. In this next stage of the ...

Avecom, a provider of solutions in environmental remediation and biomass fermentation, has partnered with Green Alchemy ApS, a consultancy dedicated to turning complex regulatory and policy challenges into opportunities. Together, they aim to help companies valorize industrial waste streams for food and feed, bio-based materials, agriculture, and other sectors. Transition opportunity to circular economy: This partnership creates a one-stop shop, offering technical, economic, and regulatory feasibility assessments to companies that seek to valorize their waste streams. The current global economic model is largely based on a linear resource flow, which is unsustainable in the long term. A shift to a circular economy presents a viable solution, and the EU has been increasingly prioritizing efforts in this direction to enhance strategic autonomy and competitiveness. Bio-based solutions and biomanufacturing are key to the transition, as they enable converting agricultural and industrial was...