Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : ARKEMA UNVEILS ZENIMID™ POLYIMIDE

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

ARKEMA UNVEILS ZENIMID™ NEW BRAND NAME FOR ITS ULTRA-HIGH-PERFORMANCE POLYIMIDE RANGE

#Arkema and its affiliate #PIAdvancedMaterials announce the launch of a new brand name for the flagship high-performance #polyimide product: #Zenimid™. This move marks a significant milestone in PI Advanced Materials’ commitment to expand the product range’s global reach across various markets such as aerospace, automotive, electronics and industrial sectors. 

Zenimid™ Polyimide is the material engineered to perform in the most demanding environments, offering exceptional dimensional stability, flexibility, heat resistance, chemical resistance, and electrical insulation. The material is available in film, varnish and stock shape, and some applications include FPCBs and graphite sheet in smart devices, battery management systems (BMS) and 5G infrastructure. PI Advanced Materials is the first manufacturer of the world's first non-stretched ultra-thin polyimide film with a thickness of 4 micrometers (μm) with the biggest market share in global polyimide film market. “The name “Zenimid™” combines “Zenith” and “Polyimide”, symbolizing PI Advanced Materials’ commitment to best-in-class polyimide performance.

The launch of Zenimid™ brand reflects its evolution into a standalone brand known for cutting-edge performance, innovation, and durability,” said HeeJoon Ham, Chief Financial and Strategy Officer at PI Advanced Materials. “This strategic move allows us to more clearly communicate the product’s unique value to our customers and support its continued growth across global markets.” Following Arkema's acquisition of a 54% stake in PI Advanced Materials, Zenimid™ Polyimide strengthens Arkema's portfolio of high-performance polymers, including its flagship Rilsan® PA11, Rilsamid® PA12, Pebax® TPE, Kynar® PVDF, Orgasol® PA12 powders and Kepstan® PEKK materials. 

source: ARKEMA

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : European Commission consults on new rules for chemically-recycled content in plastic bottles

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

European Commission consults on new rules for chemically-recycled content in plastic bottles

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on rules for calculating, verifying and reporting recycled content in single-use plastic (SUP) beverage bottles, including chemically-recycled content.

The adoption of the rules will enable chemical recycling in the EU and will help economic actors meet the ambitious recycled content targets set under the Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD).

By incentivising investments and supporting new recycling technologies, the rules will boost the competitiveness of both the EU chemical industry and manufacturers that use plastics in their production, helping to establish Europe as a leader in sustainable innovation. The measures will also benefit the environment, as they will economically incentivise producers to reuse plastic waste, rather than disposing of it in landfills, littering or incinerating it.  

The rules are part of the new Action Plan for the EU Chemicals Industry, designed to strengthen the sector’s competitiveness and drive its transition toward safe, sustainable, and innovative chemical production.  

The EU faces increasing volumes of plastic waste, highlighting the urgent need to scale up plastic waste collection, sorting and recycling.

To achieve its recycling targets, the EU supports all recycling technologies that are better for the environment than incineration or landfill disposal. Among these technologies, mechanical recycling is typically preferred as it is less polluting and more energy-efficient than chemical recycling.

However, when mechanical recycling is not feasible or when higher quality standards are needed, for instance for food packaging, chemical recycling provides a valuable alternative. 

The new rules will ensure transparency in calculating the amount of chemically recycled content in new single-use plastic bottles for beverages. By setting up a clear calculation methodology, the rules will create a level playing field and provide investment security for the sector in a technology-neutral way.  

The methodology for calculating this is based on the “fuel-use excluded” allocation rule, which means that waste used to produce fuels or energy recovery cannot be counted as recycled content, in line with the definition of “recycling” in the Waste Framework Directive. 

The rules aim to balance transparency with minimal administrative burden for companies and national authorities. Annual third-party verification will be required for the most complex stages of the value chain, i.e. during chemical recycling.

The requirements will be lighter for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), with verification required every three years. Companies will be responsible for checking their business partners’ self-declarations, while national authorities will conduct risk-based controls. 

This is the first time the EU has laid out rules for chemically recycled content. The calculation methodology will serve as a model for future recycled content rules in other sectors, such as packaging, automotives and textiles. This approach is designed to give investors confidence in the long-term stability and potential of these technologies. 

Next steps

Stakeholders are invited to provide feedback on the draft implementing act on the EU’s Have Your Say portal by 19 August.  

Following a thorough review, the Commission will present the final draft to the technical committee, made up of Member States’ representatives, for a vote, with the adoption planned for autumn 2025.

Background

The SUP Directive sets ambitious recycled content targets, including 25% recycled content in SUP beverage bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) by 2025 and 30% in all SUP beverage bottles by 2030.

The Commission will set the rules on calculating recycled content, verification and reporting via implementing acts. 

The Commission has adopted a two-step approach to implement these targets: 

The first step introduces a methodology focused on the mechanical recycling of PET, based on existing food contact regulations (Implementing Decision 2023/2683).  

The second step expands the methodology to encompass all recycling technologies, including chemical recycling, by establishing rules to calculate the proportion of recycled materials in PET bottles. 

source: European Commission

Covestro India and CSIR-NCL Tie-Up to Transform Polyurethane Waste

#Covestro (India) Private Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the #CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) launching an innovative Corporate Social Responsibility project aimed at developing sustainable upcycling solutions for polyurethane materials, addressing the critical limitations in current recycling technologies. 

The collaborative project will explore innovative approaches to transform polyurethane waste into valuable chemical building blocks. This research aims to develop commercially viable technologies that could greatly improve the circularity of polyurethane materials while reducing environmental impact. 

Currently, #polyurethanerecycling is limited primarily to mechanical methods and a few emerging chemical processes. These existing approaches face significant limitations including degradation of material properties, high energy requirements, potential generation of harmful byproducts, and limited applicability across different polyurethane types. The development of efficient chemical recycling technologies for polyurethanes represents a critical industry need that this project aims to address. 

Commenting on the launch of the project, Avinash Bagdi, Director & Head of Sales & MD Solutions India & Projects - Tailored Urethanes said "This partnership strengthens our commitment to finding innovative solutions for polyurethane waste and directly supports Covestro's vision of becoming fully circular. By developing effective methods to upcycle polyurethanes, we're taking concrete steps toward creating a more sustainable future in line with our corporate vision of driving the transition to a circular economy." 

The project addresses the critical global challenge of #polyurethanewaste management. Unlike conventional plastics, polyurethanes present unique recycling challenges due to their complex chemical structure and cross-linked nature. Currently, the polyurethane economy largely follows a linear model where these specialized materials, widely used in furniture, automotive components, insulation, and countless other applications, are often discarded after use, eventually accumulating in landfills. 

Further commenting on the need for such solutions, Dr. Ashish Lele, Director of NCL, said - "CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory is excited to partner with Covestro (India) in this groundbreaking initiative to develop novel chemical upcycling methods for polyurethane waste. The conventional and electrochemical strategies we're developing address the critical limitations of current recycling technologies and align perfectly with our shared vision of a circular economy. This collaboration represents a significant step toward sustainable plastic management in India and globally, with potential to transform polyurethane waste into valuable chemical resources." 

source: Covestro India

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Shape Memory Polymer Dry Adhesive Technology Paves the Way for Micro-LED Innovation

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Shape Memory Polymer Dry Adhesive Technology Paves the Way for Micro-LED Innovation

A research team at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), led by Professor Seok Kim in collaboration with Professor Kihun Kim (POSTECH), Professor Namjoong Kim (Gachon University), Professor Haneol Lee (Chonbuk National University), and Dr. Chang-Hee Son (University of Connecticut, USA), has developed a novel dry adhesive technology that allows everything from microscale electronic components to common household materials to be easily attached and detached. The study was recently published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications.

 Micro-LEDs, a next-generation display technology, offer significant advantages such as higher brightness, longer lifespan, and the ability to enable flexible and transparent displays. However, transferring micro-LED chips—thinner than a strand of hair—onto target substrates with high precision and minimal residue has been a persistent challenge. Conventional methods relying on liquid adhesives or specialized films often result in overly complex processes, poor alignment accuracy, and residual contamination.

 In addition, researchers have struggled with the so-called adhesion paradox—the theoretical prediction that surfaces should strongly adhere at the atomic level, contrasted by the real-world difficulty of achieving strong adhesion due to surface roughness that limits actual contact area.

 The POSTECH team ingeniously leveraged this paradox. Their solution lies in the use of shape memory polymers (SMPs) featuring densely packed nanotips. At room temperature, the surface remains rough, exhibiting low adhesion. When heated and pressed, the surface smooths out much like ironing wrinkles and achieves significantly stronger adhesion. Upon reheating, the surface returns to its original rough state, drastically reducing adhesion and enabling easy release.

This technology provides over 15 atmospheres of adhesion strength during bonding and near-zero force detachment through a self-release function. The difference in adhesion strength between the "on" and "off" states exceeds a factor of 1,000, outperforming conventional approaches by orders of magnitude. The team demonstrated precise pick-and-place of micro-LED chips using a robotic system, and confirmed stable adhesion even with materials such as paper and fabric.

“This innovation allows for the precise manipulation of delicate components without the need for sticky adhesives,” said Professor Seok Kim of POSTECH. “It holds significant potential for applications in display and semiconductor manufacturing, and could bring about transformative changes when integrated with smart manufacturing systems across various industries.

This research was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT of Korea.

source: Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7yKx_AwlM4

Alstom delivers first driverless metro train for São Paulo

The six-car Metropolis train was delivered to the Patio Morro Grande depot from the plant in Taubaté, Brazil. It is reported that the vehicle can accommodate 2,044 passengers and reach peak speeds up to 90 km/h.

The train is fitted with the GoA4 level automation system as well as passenger counting, video surveillance, smoke detection and fire suppression systems. The manufacturer says that the vehicle’s stainless-steel structures are designed for durability to last over 40 years. Compared to previous carbon steel-bodied models, this design offers significant weight reduction. The train was developed using virtual reality tools of Alstom's Lab 4.0 (see https://lnkd.in/d4vFH7hg for details).

The contract to supply 22 six-car LRVs for São Paulo’s Line 6 was received by Alstom in 2020. The first 15.3 km section of the route with 15 stations is expected to be launched in the second half of 2026. The line is expected to carry approximately 630,000 passengers daily.

Images: Governo de SP/Alstom /ROLLINGSTOCK

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Fenugreek and Okra Extracts Remove Up To 90% of Microplastics

 Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Fenugreek and Okra Extracts Remove Up To 90% of Microplastics from Water Sources, Study Shows

In a new study by Tarleton State University scientists, okra and/or fenugreek extracts attracted and removed up to 90% of microplastics from ocean water, freshwater and groundwater.

Microplastics are new, emerging contaminants that are becoming detrimental to aquatic environments on a global scale.

These water-insoluble, solid polymers less than 5 mm in size originate from the fragmentation of large plastic litter or environmental emissions.

Conventional wastewater treatment using inorganic and organic polymeric flocculants is nonbiodegradable and toxic to ecosystem.

Dr. Rajani Srinivasan and colleagues at Tarleton State University 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 and tamarind stick to microplastics, clumping together and sinking for easy separation from water.

To extract the sticky plant polymers, they soaked sliced okra pods and blended fenugreek seeds in separate containers of water overnight.

They then removed the dissolved extracts from each solution and dried them into powders.

Their analyses showed that the powdered extracts contained polysaccharides, which are natural polymers.

Initial tests in pure water spiked with microplastics showed that: (i) one gram of either powder in a quart (one liter) of water trapped microplastics the most effectively; (ii) dried okra and fenugreek extracts removed 67% and 93%, respectively, of the plastic in an hour; (iii) a mixture of equal parts okra and fenugreek powder reached maximum removal efficiency (70%) within 30 minutes; (iv) the natural polymers performed significantly better than the synthetic, commercially available polyacrylamide polymer used in wastewater treatment.

The researchers tested the plant extracts on real microplastic-polluted water.

They collected samples from water bodies around Texas and brought them to the lab.

The plant extract removal efficiency changed depending on the original water source: okra worked best in ocean water (80%), fenugreek in groundwater (80-90%), and the 1:1 combination of okra and fenugreek in freshwater (77%).

The scientists hypothesize that the natural polymers had different efficiencies because each water sample had different types, sizes and shapes of microplastics.

“Polyacrylamide is currently used to remove contaminants during wastewater treatment, but okra and fenugreek extracts could serve as biodegradable and nontoxic alternatives.

Utilizing these plant-based extracts in water treatment will remove microplastics and other pollutants without introducing additional toxic substances to the treated water, thus reducing long-term health risks to the population.

source : ACS Omega

EU to unify SUPD and PPWR with broader definition of ‘recycling’

The European Union has two major policies concerning single-use plastic beverage bottles: the Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD) and the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWR).

The SUPD entered into force in July 2021; the PPWR became law in February 2025.

The SUPD sets recycled content targets for PET bottles of at least 25% by 2025 and of 30% for all single-use plastic beverage bottles by 2030. The PPWR also sets a 30% recycled content target for all single-use plastic beverage bottles by 2030.

The Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2683 of November 2023 implements rules for the application of the SUPD. According to that act, the 25% target for PET ‘can only be achieved using post-consumer plastic waste generated from plastic products that have been placed in the EU market,’ a spokesperson for the European Commission told Sustainable Plastics. That confirms that plastic waste from outside the EU cannot currently count towards SUPD targets.

The PPWR, on the other hand, allows for post-consumer plastic waste from outside the EU to count towards its targets, under some conditions.

Paragraphs 3(a) and 3(b) of article 7 set out the PPWR’s controversial ‘mirror clause’. This clause states that if imported plastic is to count towards meeting the PPWR’s recycling content targets, it must be collected in line with EU standards for separate collection and then processed in facilities that comply with the same pollution and emissions limits that apply to domestic producers.

The SUPD and the PPWR are thus not in line when it comes to waste feedstock.

Moreover, the PPWR’s definition of ‘recycling’ refers back to Directive 2008/98/EC, which leaves the legal status of chemical recycling uncertain, particularly for pyrolysis. The SUPD, on the other hand, is explicit in only recognising mechanically recycled material as counting towards its targets.

A spokesperson told Sustainable Plastics that the European Commission is preparing an implementing act that ‘will extend the calculation, verification, and reporting methodology to cover all recycling technologies, including chemical recycling’. That act will repeal and replace the existing one, aligning the SUPD and the PPWR.

The broader definition of ‘recycled plastic’ will cover recyclates made from post-consumer plastic waste placed on markets outside the EU.

The implementation act is expected in the fourth quarter of 2025. It will also have its say on accounting methodologies like mass balance, critical to chemical recycling technologies like pyrolysis. Previous reports suggest that a ‘vast majority’ of EU member states are in favour of adopting a fuel-exempt mass balance approach.

In mass balance, a certified volume of renewable or recycled material is input across a production run but may not be evenly distributed across each individual product output.

Using the mass balance method allows economic operators to state that they use a certain percentage of recycled or renewable material in their products, without having to prove that each individual product produced has that percentage of recycled or renewable material.

Given that pyrolysis oil is blended with virgin feedstocks in a cracker, and that the two feedstocks cannot be physically separated once co-fed, many argue that recognising mass balance is essential for allocating recycled content via this chemical recycling technology. 

source: Sustainable Plastics