A Monumental Milestone: 100,000 Members in the Polymer Experts LinkedIn Group

Subject: A Monumental Milestone: 100,000 Members in the Polymer Experts LinkedIn Group

Dear Esteemed Members,

It is with immense pride and profound gratitude that I announce a remarkable achievement: our Polymer Experts LinkedIn Group has now surpassed an extraordinary 100,000 members. This milestone represents not just a number, but the culmination of years of dedication, collaboration, and expertise since our humble beginnings in 2008.

This success is a direct result of your unwavering support and intellectual contributions. As of 2025, we are honored to hold the distinction of being the preeminent polymer group on LinkedIn, a testament to the collective strength and vision of our community. Under our committed management and leadership, we have fostered a dynamic environment where knowledge sharing thrives and industry expertise flourishes.

New Endeavors to Foster Growth and Knowledge:

In our ongoing mission to create a platform of unparalleled value, we are thrilled to introduce several new initiatives aimed at enhancing the collective knowledge and engagement within our group:

Today's Knowledge Share: Our daily (excluding Sundays) expert-led posts delve into diverse topics ranging from polymer technologies to advanced processing techniques, ensuring that members remain at the cutting edge of industry trends and innovations.

QuizTime (Poll Sessions): Over the past year, our Poll Sessions—affectionately known as QuizTime—have garnered widespread acclaim from thought leaders and trailblazers in the polymer industry. This initiative has sparked vibrant discussions and deepened our collective understanding of the latest advancements in the field.

Our group is further enriched by contributions from experts in fields such as Polymeric Material properties and various processes. The frequent exchange of ideas and insights makes this space truly unique—a dynamic forum where professionals not only share their knowledge but also learn from one another, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

 Amplifying Your Company’s Presence:

To further bolster the visibility of your brand within this esteemed community, we are pleased to announce a new promotional opportunity:

Top Placement for Company Posts: We will now offer your company the chance to have your product-related posts featured prominently at the top of the group for a period of 12 hours. This will ensure that your content reaches a global audience of industry professionals, sparking engagement and creating opportunities for networking across multiple regions.

We believe this initiative will not only elevate your company’s presence but will also contribute to the continued success and vibrancy of our collective network.

Wishing you all continued success in your business endeavors, and I look forward to seeing our community thrive even further in the years to come.

With deepest regards,

Muthuramalingam Krishnan

Group Administrator

Polymer Experts LinkedIn Group

Borealis Partners with IMCD for Bormed™ Distribution in Americas

Effective August 1, 2025, Borealis has appointed IMCD as the official distribution partner for its Bormed™ portfolio in the Americas. This agreement covers the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, significantly enhancing access to Borealis’ healthcare polyolefins in these regions.

Bormed™ Portfolio

The Bormed™ portfolio consists of specialized #polyethylene and #polypropylene grades designed for medical devices, pharmaceutical packaging, and diagnostic applications. These materials are suitable for various processing technologies, including injection molding, and are built on the principles of service, commitment, and conformance.

Partnership Background

IMCD, with its extensive knowledge of polyolefins for healthcare applications, has been #Borealis’ Bormed distributor in most European markets since 2021. The new agreement extends this successful partnership model to the Americas, aiming to meet the healthcare industry's demand for reliable supply and regulatory compliance.

Strategic Goals

The collaboration between Borealis and IMCD is a strategic move to strengthen their presence in the Americas and ensure that the Bormed™ portfolio is represented by a partner with the expertise and reach to serve this critical market. The partnership focuses on providing high-quality materials, technical guidance, and reliable local service to meet the strict regulatory and performance demands of the healthcare sector.

source : Borealis/Chemxplore

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Adsorption vs. Absorption

 Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

🌍 Adsorption vs. Absorption: What’s the Difference? 🔬

In the world of materials science and water treatment, the terms adsorption and absorption are often confused. But understanding their differences is crucial for developing efficient filtration systems, energy storage materials, and sustainable environmental solutions.

✨ Adsorption (📌 Surface Phenomenon)

🔹 Definition: Adsorption is the process in which molecules, ions, or particles adhere to the surface of a solid or liquid material without penetrating into its bulk.

✔ Common in activated carbon, zeolites, and nanocomposites for removing contaminants.

✔ Used in water purification, gas separation, and catalysis.

💧 Absorption (🧽 Bulk Phenomenon)

🔹 Definition: Absorption occurs when a substance is fully taken up into the bulk of another material, either dissolving or diffusing into it.

✔ Found in polymeric membranes, sponges, and hydrogels for liquid retention.

✔ Plays a key role in desalination, biomedical applications, and energy storage.

🔎 Why Does It Matter?

Understanding these mechanisms helps in designing advanced composite materials for applications like:

✅ Water purification 🌊 (removal of heavy metals, fluoride, dyes)

✅ Air filtration 🌬️ (capturing pollutants & toxic gases)

✅ Energy storage ⚡ (improving electrode performance in batteries)

📢 The choice of material depends on the target contaminant and desired efficiency.

Let's innovate for a cleaner, more sustainable future.

source: Sana Gharsallah

#Adsorption #Absorption #Filtration #Sustainability

Effect of Alumina Microparticle-Infused Polymer Matrix

Effect of Alumina #Microparticle-Infused #Polymer Matrix on Mechanical Performance of #Carbon #Fiber Reinforced Polymer (#CFRP) Composite

by Ganesh Radhakrishnan et al.

J. Compos. Sci. 2025, 9(7), 360; https://lnkd.in/ddh-RXhY

Abstract

In recent times, fiber reinforced polymer composite materials have become more popular due to their remarkable features such as high specific strength, high stiffness and durability. Particularly, Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) composites are one of the most prominent materials used in the field of transportation and building engineering, replacing conventional materials due to their attractive properties as mentioned. In this work, a CFRP laminate is fabricated with carbon fiber mats and epoxy by a hand layup technique. Alumina (Al₂O₃) micro particles are used as a filler material, mixed with epoxy at different weight fractions of 0% to 4% during the fabrication of CFRP laminates. The important objective of the study is to investigate the influence of alumina micro particles on the mechanical performance of the laminates through characterization for various physical and mechanical properties. It is revealed from the results of study that the mass density of the laminates steadily increased with the quantity of alumina micro particles added and subsequently, the porosity of the laminates is reduced significantly. The SEM micrograph confirmed the constituents of the laminate and uniform distribution of Al₂O₃ micro particles with no significant agglomeration. The hardness of the CFRP laminates increased significantly for about 60% with an increase in weight % of Al₂O₃ from 0% to 4%, whereas the water gain % gradually drops from 0 to 2%, after which a substantial rise is observed for 3 to 4%. The improved interlocking due to the addition of filler material reduced the voids in the interfaces and thereby resist the absorption of water and in turn reduced the plasticity of the resin too. Tensile, flexural and inter-laminar shear strengths of the CFRP laminate were improved appreciably with the addition of alumina particles through extended grain boundary and enhanced interfacial bonding between the fibers, epoxy and alumina particles, except at 1 and 3 wt.% of Al₂O₃, which may be due to the pooling of alumina particles within the matrix. Inclusion of hard alumina particles resulted in a significant drop in impact strength due to appreciable reduction in softness of the core region of the laminates.

source: Journal of Composites Science

#carbonfiber #composites #alumina #epoxy

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Tackifiers in Tire Manufacturing

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Tackifiers in Tire Manufacturing

* Tack is considered the ability of two uncured rubber compound surfaces to adhere together. Because most synthetic rubbers are less tacky than natural rubber, it is often necessary to add tackifying substances. These substances should give rubber compounds sufficient tack that is maintained during storage and facilitate processing, in order that the components of a green tire will hold together until the curing process and prevent tearing during molding in the curing press.

* Changes in environmental conditions can dictate adjustments to the tackifier level. For instance, in hot summer months, you might need to decrease the tackifier to prevent the compound from becoming too sticky. Conversely, in cold months, it might be necessary to increase the tackifier to ensure sufficient adhesion is maintained. Therefore, tack properties must be optimized to avoid possible defects due to unsuitable tack levels.

* Tackifying resins generally have a softening range of 80°C to 110°C and should be incorporated early in the mixing cycle (masterbatch) to ensure proper dispersion.

* One of the preferred tackifier resins in tire manufacturing is phenol resin. General tackifying resins form weak Van der Waals forces, through which tackiness forms, whereas phenolic resins form stronger hydrogen bonds with the rubber surface so with lower loading , the compound achieves sufficient tack.

source : Ahmed Awad

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Rice researchers develop superstrong, eco-friendly materials from bacteria

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Rice researchers develop superstrong, eco-friendly materials from bacteria

Scientists at Rice University and University of Houston have developed an innovative, scalable approach to engineer bacterial cellulose into high-strength, multifunctional materials. The study, published in Nature Communications, introduces a dynamic biosynthesis technique that aligns bacterial cellulose fibers in real-time, resulting in robust biopolymer sheets with exceptional mechanical properties.

Plastic pollution persists because traditional synthetic polymers degrade into microplastics, releasing harmful chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates and carcinogens. Seeking sustainable alternatives, the research team led by Muhammad Maksud Rahman, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at the University of Houston and adjunct assistant professor of materials science and nanoengineering at Rice, leveraged bacterial cellulose — one of Earth’s most abundant and pure biopolymers — as a biodegradable alternative.

“Our approach involved developing a rotational bioreactor that directs the movement of cellulose-producing bacteria, aligning their motion during growth,” said M.A.S.R. Saadi, the study’s first author and a doctoral student in material science and nanoengineering at Rice. “This alignment significantly enhances the mechanical properties of microbial cellulose, creating a material as strong as some metals and glasses yet flexible, foldable, transparent and environment friendly.”

Bacterial cellulose fibers usually form randomly, which limits their mechanical strength and functionality. By harnessing controlled fluid dynamics within their novel bioreactor, the researchers achieved in situ alignment of cellulose nanofibrils, creating sheets with tensile strength reaching up to 436 megapascals.

Moreover, incorporating boron nitride nanosheets during synthesis resulted in a hybrid material with even greater strength — around 553 megapascals — and improved thermal properties, demonstrating a heat dissipation rate three times faster than control samples.

“This dynamic biosynthesis approach enables the creation of stronger materials with greater functionality,” Saadi said. “The method allows for the easy integration of various nanoscale additives directly into the bacterial cellulose, making it possible to customize material properties for specific applications.

Shyam Bhakta, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of BioSciences at Rice, played an important role in advancing the biological aspects of the study. Other Rice collaborators included Pulickel Ajayan, the Benjamin M. and Mary Greenwood Anderson Professor of Materials Science and NanoEngineering; Matthew Bennett, professor of biosciences; and Matteo Pasquali, the A.J. Hartsook Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.

“The synthesis process is essentially like training a disciplined bacterial cohort,” Saadi explained. “Instead of having the bacteria move randomly, we instruct them to move in a specific direction, thus precisely aligning their cellulose production. This disciplined motion and the versatility of the biosynthesis technique allows us to simultaneously engineer both alignment and multifunctionality.”

The scalable, single-step process holds significant promise for numerous industrial applications, including structural materials, thermal management solutions, packaging, textiles, green electronics and energy storage systems.

“This work is a great example of interdisciplinary research at the intersection of materials science, biology and nanoengineering,” Rahman added. “We envision these strong, multifunctional and eco-friendly bacterial cellulose sheets becoming ubiquitous, replacing plastics in various industries and helping mitigate environmental damage.

The research was supported by the National Science Foundation (2234567), the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (23-JV−11111129-042) and the Welch Foundation (C-1668). The content herein is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the funding organizations and institutions.

source: Rice University

video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRYi0ulIB7I