Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : The Future of Lubrication

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

The Future of Lubrication: Why Synthetic Base Oils are Revolutionizing Performance

The lubricants industry is evolving rapidly, and at the heart of this transformation are synthetic base oils. Unlike conventional mineral oils, synthetic bases deliver superior performance, longer service life, and enhanced reliability—even under extreme conditions.

At Ruijie Ester, we specialize in producing high-purity synthetic base oils tailored for industrial, automotive, and specialized applications. Our products are engineered to provide:

1️⃣ Exceptional thermal stability – reducing oxidation and sludge formation;

2️⃣ Lower volatility – minimizing oil consumption and emissions;

3️⃣ Improved viscosity index – ensuring consistent performance across temperatures;

4️⃣ Longer drain intervals – cutting downtime and maintenance costs.

Whether you're formulating next-gen engine oils, industrial lubricants, or hydraulic fluids, using premium synthetic base oils can significantly elevate product performance and sustainability.

Let’s innovate together! Reach out to discuss how our solutions can meet your specific needs.

source : Michael Wang

#lubricants

Porsche, BASF and BEST successfully complete chemical recycling pilot project

Porsche AG and BASF SE, in cooperation with the technology partner BEST Bioenergy and Sustainable Technologies GmbH, have successfully completed a joint pilot project for the recycling of mixed waste from end-of-life vehicles. The project demonstrates the recyclability of high-performance plastics contained in the so-called automotive shredder residue (ASR) - a mixture of shredded parts such as foams, plastics, films and paint particles, mainly from end-of-life vehicles. Currently, the complex mixture of a variety of materials can only be thermally recovered.

Porsche aims to promote the #circulareconomy in the manufacturing of its vehicles and has set itself the goal of increasing the proportion of #recycled materials in its vehicles.

Gasification is a form of chemical recycling that can be used to convert mixed waste streams into valuable new raw materials, for example for plastics production. In the future, it could be an alternative to the current thermal recovery process and complement Porsche's circular economy strategy. Chemical recycling enables the processing of plastic waste that cannot be mechanically recycled for technical, economic or ecological reasons.

The pilot project serves to evaluate the potential of #automotiveshredder residue as a future source of recyclate. The completed trial used a recycling process that, for the first time, completely dispenses with fossil-based input and instead uses bio-based raw materials such as wood chips in addition to automotive waste. Advanced gasification technology is used to convert plastic waste into synthesis gas at high temperatures.

Within the BASF production network that integrates this synthesis gas, new plastic is produced for component manufacturers a so called polyurethane formulation. As part of the pilot project, the formulation was used for new steering wheels. The recycled raw material was attributed to the new plastic using a mass balance approach.

Pilot projects like these allow us to evaluate how we can further develop the circular economy as a sustainability field at #Porsche and how we can anchor chemical recycling in our strategy in the long term. We are testing new recycling technologies with our partners in order to increase recyclate quotas, gain access to previously unusable recyclate sources and evaluate new processes for waste streams that are currently being thermally utilised.’

#BASF offers a wide range of recycling solutions and we strongly believe that different recycling technologies have to add up to a wide spectrum to achieve recycling targets. We prioritize #mechanicalrecycling and continuously improve its efficiency. The type of #waste and the level of sorting determine which technology is most suitable. We are convinced that complementary technologies like #chemicalrecycling are needed to deal with the remaining waste that is still incinerated today.

source : Porsche

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Why IV Matters in Scrap PET?

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Why IV Matters in Scrap PET?

A recent buyer came to us struggling with unpredictable performance in recycled PET. Their flakes and lumps looked fine, but the results in production weren’t.

When we ran testing and analysis, the cause was clear: Intrinsic Viscosity (IV) loss.

Here are the main IV-impacting factors we identified in their feedstock:

🚨      Weather Exposure – Sunlight & rain degrade PET, lowering IV & causing yellowing

🚨     Thermal Degradation – Overheated or burned lumps = major IV drop

🚨     Mixed Sources – Bottles, sheets, and fibers blended together → inconsistent IV

🚨     Contamination & Lamination – Impurities reduce melt quality & IV stability

✅ Quick Check Tip:

Drop test lumps → if they break easily = degradation is high and IV is likely low.

The Lesson - Always check the feedstock!

-     For Bottles Application: Must keep trays out — they lower IV.

-     For Sheets Application: Use bottle-grade PET, avoid fiber-origin PET.

The Outcome:

By helping the customer understanding their feedstock and apply the right sampling checks, we ensured a more consistent IV range, improving bottle-grade rPET quality and reducing processing issues.

👉 Our Role: At Vanden, we don’t just supply material, we provide the testing, analysis, and insight that gives customers certainty.

source : Beril Baykal Yashirmak

#PlasticsTesting #Recycling #Polymers #PET

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Are Compostable materials really effective in the cold Nordic climate?

 Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

❄️ Are traditional compostable materials really effective in the cold Nordic climate? 🌱

In regions like Sweden, Norway, and Finland, the demand for disposable tableware is still there — from cafés and ski resorts to large-scale events. But in such cold environments, the biodegradation process slows down dramatically.

This means that some “compostable” materials, like PLA or other plant-based plastics, don’t break down as promised unless industrial facilities are available — and those aren’t always widespread in the Nordics.

That’s why many businesses here are turning to natural tableware, like wood and bamboo. These materials are strong, practical, and — even if decomposition takes longer — they don’t leave harmful microplastics behind.

The key lesson: sustainability must be measured in real-world conditions, not just on labels.

What’s your view — should “biodegradable” standards adapt to the local climate, especially in colder regions?

source : Sven Wang

#Sustainability #compostable #Nordics

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Xenia presents new range of more impact-resistant thermoplastic materials

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Xenia Materials, global player in engineering and manufacturing reinforced thermoplastic composites, introduces the new ST Upgrade, a technology designed to enhance the impact resistance of its fibre reinforced materials.

Fibre-reinforced thermoplastics are well established for their exceptional balance of mechanical strength, stiffness and reduced weight. However, certain applications are subject to conditions that require performance superior to that offered by standard grades.

The ST Upgrade just launched by Xenia — in which ST stands for Super Tough — delivers a remarkable increase in impact resistance, achieving an average improvement of 60% compared with original formulations and ensuring reliable performance both at room and low temperatures. Simultaneously, it enhances flexibility and elastic behaviour, with elongation at break increased by an average of 40% compared with non-upgraded formulations.

The ST Upgrade can be selected and applied across a defined range of Xenia formulations, including the registered:

Xecarb – #carbonfibre reinforced thermoplastic composites

Xeglass – glass fibre reinforced thermoplastic composites

Xebrid (registered trademark) – thermoplastic composites engineered by combining carbon and glass fibre reinforcement

Xegreen – sustainable thermoplastic composites combining recycled carbon fibre and recycled polymers

The ST Upgrade can be applied to applications that demand advanced performance, from aerospace and motorsport, where lightweight and high-stiffness components are essential, to consumer goods requiring structural reliability, such as ski boots, bindings, mountain boots, hockey skates and shoe soles and plates.

#Xenia’s portfolio already includes carbon- and #glassfibrereinforced materials based on PA6, PA66, PA11, PA12, PA6.12, PA4.10, PA6.10, and PA10.10 upgraded with ST technology for enhanced performance. Thanks to its versatility, the ST Upgrade can be applied to any polymer base and reinforcement processed by Xenia, offering maximum design freedom and delivering tailored solutions for the most demanding applications.

source : Xenia Materials/Jeccomposites

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : BYD's SHIPPING VESSEL

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

BYD has developed a fleet of specialized shipping vessels, including the BYD Explorer No.1 and the BYD Shenzhen, to transport electric vehicles globally. These ships are designed to enhance BYD's logistics and support its international expansion, with a focus on reducing emissions through advanced dual-fuel technology.

Overview of BYD's Shipping Vessel

BYD Shenzhen Specifications:

Type: Roll-on-roll-off (RoRo) ship

Length: 219 meters

Width: 37.7 meters

Draft: 9 meters

Capacity: Up to 9,200 vehicles

Fuel Type: Dual-fuel (marine diesel and LNG)

Battery System: Hybrid 1 MW battery power system for low-emission zones

source : Massimo Galli

BASF, Porsche chemically recycle automotive waste in gasification pilot

In a first for the automotive industry, #BASF, #Porsche, and Bioenergy and Sustainable Technologies (BEST) have used gasification to recycle plastic waste from end-of-life vehicles into raw materials for new car components.

The project demonstrated the recyclability of automotive shredder residues a combination #plastics, foams, paints, and films together with biomass. The partners used BEST’s thermochemical #gasification technology to transform Porsche’s automotive waste into syngas and subsequently syncrude. BASF then used the oil to produce polyurethane foam for new steering wheels via a mass balance approach.

“Pilot projects like these allow us to evaluate how we can further develop the circular economy as a sustainability field at Porsche and how we can anchor chemical recycling in our strategy in the long term,” said Robert Kallenberg, head of sustainability at Porsche. “We are testing new recycling technologies with our direct partners in order to increase recyclate quotas, gain access to previously unusable recyclate sources and evaluate new processes for waste streams that are currently being thermally utilised.

The project comes as the #EuropeanUnion is readying to introduce mandatory recycled plastic quotas in new vehicles.

The pilot marks the first time that fossil inputs have been fully replaced by a blend of automotive waste and biomass in a gasification process. BEST, based in Vienna, adapted its gasification technology to handle plastic waste together with biomass. The research firm has experience in converting biomass like wood or straw into chemicals via gasification.

For BASF, the initiative underlines the company’s commitment to a broad recycling portfolio. “We prioritise mechanical recycling and continuously improve its efficiency. At the same time, the type of waste and the degree of sorting determine which technology is best suited. We are convinced that complementary technologies such as chemical recycling, which includes pyrolysis, depolymerisation and gasification, are necessary to further promote the circular economy and reduce the plastic waste that still ends up in landfills or is incinerated today.

The pilot feeds into a broader push by the chemical and automotive sectors to unlock new circular pathways.

This month, the Global Impact Coalition (GIC), of which BASF is a founding member, announced a research collaboration with ETH Zurich and five major chemical companies to study the feasibility and environmental impacts of gasification on complex waste streams. The partnership will examine the technical feasibility and environmental impact of converting complex waste streams directly into chemical feedstocks through gasification.

source : BASF/Sustainable Platics