Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Blister Pack Recycling in Turkey

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Let’s talk about blister pack recycling - and what we can do now.

Blister packs are everywhere in pharmacies, but most end up in landfill or incineration because their mix of plastic and aluminum makes recycling tough.

In Türkiye, we estimate that over 1 billion blister-pack doses are used every year - that’s around 300 tonnes of plastic and aluminum waste.

Across the EU, this figure rises to between 5 and 7 billion blister doses annually, generating nearly 2,000 tonnes of packaging waste.

Here’s the opportunity :

- Separate collection: Pharmacies and retailers can set up dedicated collection points for empty blister packs. This keeps them out of regular waste streams and prepares them for specialised recycling.

- Partner with recyclers: Companies like TerraCycle and Pharmacycle have proven that collecting and recycling blister packs is feasible - turning waste into new materials rather than trash.

- Push for mono-material packaging: The industry is advancing mono-material blisters (like polypropylene or polyethylene or PET only), which are much easier to recycle locally. Major packaging firms including Amcor , Constantia Flexibles , and Klöckner Pentaplast already offer these solutions.

These steps can significantly reduce plastic and aluminum waste, cut CO₂ emissions (potentially over 1,000 tonnes annually in Türkiye alone), and support circular economy goals - without waiting for perfect infrastructure.

source : Dogan Ilter/UN Sustainable Development Group

#blisterpackrecycling #sustainablepackaging

Milliken & Company Launches Millad ClearX™ 9000: The Clear Choice for Polypropylene

Milliken & Company proudly announces the launch of Millad ClearX™ 9000, the next generation clarifying technology for polypropylene (PP) developed to deliver ultra-clear transparency at reduced additive loading levels. Ideal for food packaging, home storage and medical applications, #MilladClearX™ 9000 sets a new standard for value, aesthetics, and operational efficiency in transparent #PP applications.

Building on the proven Millad® platform, Millad ClearX™ 9000 provides manufacturers with an advanced solution that:

Achieves ultra-clear PP using more efficient loading levels, reducing the amount of clarifying additives needed.

Lowers extraction and migration rates in PP packaging and parts—critical for food-contact and medical applications.

Improves processing compatibility compared to prior generations, supporting enhanced operational efficiency.

Eliminates the need for segregated virgin and PCR resin streams, enabling greater composition flexibility.

“Millad ClearX™ 9000 is a breakthrough for the polypropylene industry, delivering ultra-clear transparency with less clarifying additive and greater flexibility for our customers”, said Wim Van De Velde, SVP and Managing Director of #Milliken’s plastic additives business. “This launch reflects Milliken’s ongoing commitment to advancing material science and helping our partners meet evolving market demands.

Millad ClearX™ 9000 has broad FDA conditions of use approval (A-J), opening doors for its use across a wide spectrum of food-contact applications. By enhancing additive compatibility, it helps resin producers and converters experience less downtime, less waste, and quicker changeovers delivering measurable improvements in manufacturing efficiency. The technology also allows for improved compatibility with other Millad #clarifyingagents, giving producers the flexibility to optimize formulations for both virgin and post-consumer recycled (PCR) PP, supporting sustainability initiatives.

Milliken, through its Millad platform, pioneered the application of clarifying agents to create transparent PP parts and packaging incorporating PCR content, and the company’s latest clarifying technology builds on that legacy.

source : milliken

MEL Composites and Aresa Shipyards collaborate on four fishing vessels:

Based in Barcelona, MEL Composites has worked closely with Aresa Shipyards to supply a comprehensive package of materials and engineering services for a series of four commercial #fishingboats.

The collaboration aimed to streamline manufacturing processes and reduce build times through an integrated approach. MEL was responsible for mould preparation, technical design, and engineering consulting for the vessel’s key structural elements, including the main deck, upper deck, and structural hull and deck bulkheads. According to initial estimates, this organization enabled Aresa to reduce overall production time, while improving process consistency and repeatability.

Integrated Composite Structures

From a technical perspective, the project stands out for its advanced #vacuuminfusion technology, applied to glass fibre sandwich bulkheads. The structures are built using MEL Composites’ Aircell HR80 PVC core, precisely CNC-cut to ensure optimal accuracy and allow the integration of all longitudinal and transverse reinforcements within a single infusion process.

Another innovation is the use of a grooved foam core, which eliminates the need for mesh vacuum consumables during the infusion. This approach reduces both material waste and processing time while minimizing overall production waste.

The composite manufacturing was carried out in collaboration with the Catalan company Fibervent, which specializes in the repair and production of composite structures for the wind energy and marine industries. The components were produced off-site, with the transverse and longitudinal beams integrated directly into the infused part.

This off-site production strategy enabled just-in-time delivery to Aresa’s shipyard, optimizing scheduling and assembly efficiency.

Innovation Rooted in the Black Falcon V2.0

This new program follows the success of the Black Falcon V2.0 project, jointly developed by MEL Composites and Aresa Shipyards. The 15.2-meter high-speed interceptor, powered by four 450 hp Yamaha engines, can exceed 65 knots – a benchmark of performance and structural optimization.

For this earlier project, MEL provided a complete turnkey package, including kitted materials, consumables, infusion support, and on-site technical assistance.

Today, #MELComposites positions itself as a fully integrated composite solutions provider, covering the entire supply chain, from resins, reinforcements, foam cores, and consumables to tools and processing equipment.

With its in-house facility for core pre-processing and structural kit production, the company now offers ready-to-install composite components, helping #shipbuilders achieve significant gains in production efficiency, material optimization, and quality consistency.

credits: Mel Compoistes/Jeccompoistes

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Why Amorphous Polymers Show Less Orientation and Anisotropy in Injection Molding

 Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Why Amorphous Polymers Show Less Orientation and Anisotropy in Injection Molding

Despite similar Melt Flow Index (MFI) values, amorphous polymers consistently demonstrate reduced molecular orientation and anisotropy following injection molding compared to semi-crystalline counterparts.

This phenomenon is attributed to three primary factors rooted in their distinct molecular structures and thermal behaviors.

Shorter Chain Lengths and Faster Relaxation Times:

Many engineering amorphous polymers incorporate bulky aromatic moieties, leading to a higher molecular weight per monomer unit. Consequently, for a given total molecular weight, amorphous polymers possess significantly shorter polymer chains than semi-crystalline polymers. Shorter chain lengths result in shorter relaxation times, allowing stress-induced orientation to dissipate more readily before solidification, leading to less locked-in molecular orientation in the final part.

Greater Temperature Difference Between Processing and "Freeze-Off":

The relative difference between the typical melt processing temperature and the material's "freeze-off" temperature significantly influences molecular relaxation. Amorphous polymers are considerably more viscous and necessitate processing at temperatures significantly above their Tg. This larger processing window means they remain in a highly mobile state for a longer duration during cooling in the mold. This extended period allows for greater molecular relaxation and a more complete dissipation of flow-induced orientation, contributing to lower overall locked-in anisotropy.

Absence of Crystallization-Induced Anisotropy:

The process of crystallization itself is a substantial contributor to anisotropy in semi-crystalline polymers. As polymer chains align and organize into crystalline structures, they impart unique anisotropic properties. This inherent contribution to anisotropy is entirely absent in amorphous grades, which by definition lack crystalline domains. Consequently, amorphous polymers avoid this additional source of orientation, further contributing to their lower overall mechanical properties anisotropy.

In a subsequent article, we will specifically address the higher anisotropic shrinkage observed in crystalline materials compared to amorphous ones.

source: Vito leo

#polymers #molecularorientation #rheology

One tiny change = sales us by 30%

One tiny change = sales us by 30%

No new offer. No flashy copy. Just… eye contact.

Sounds too simple, right?

But when two versions of an ad were tested - one with the model looking at the camera, and one with her looking away - the results were clear.

One small shift. Big difference in conversions.

So what’s the psychology behind it?

Here’s what top-performing marketers already know:

—> For aspirational products (fashion, beauty, lifestyle), models should look away.

This helps viewers imagine themselves in the scene. It sells the feeling.

—> For functional products (tools, services, anything utility-driven), eye contact works better.

It builds trust. It feels personal. It says, “This is for you.”

The real flex?

Not tweaking headlines or chasing trends, but knowing exactly which signal your audience needs to see.

Because people don’t buy just based on logic.

They buy based on what the image makes them feel before they ever read a word.

source : Nagessh Pannaswami

Fast Charging is Murdering EV Batteries

 🚨 Fast Charging is Murdering EV Batteries — And Chemistry Doesn’t Lie

Look at the image 👇

A car owner facing 50kW, 100kW, 150kW, 200kW, 250kW, 300kW, 350kW chargers.

Confused. Which one is safe for my battery?

The truth: It’s not about which charger you pick. It’s about whether your battery’s chemistry can actually handle it.

🔬 Our lab research shows:

A 300V 75Ah pack is comfortable at ~22kW.

At 45kW, chemistry is already stressed.

At 100–150kW, you are violating electrochemical limits.

Beyond that? 🚑 Cooling and clever software won’t save it.

👉 This is why packs fail early.

👉 This is why warranties collapse.

👉 This is why fleets bleed money.

⚡ The formula is simple:

Charging rate = Chemistry limit.

Respect it, and batteries live long. Ignore it, and the system breaks.

👉 That’s why fleets under our supervision never violate chemistry.

Because EV reliability isn’t luck — it’s discipline, diagnostics, and chemistry-first decisions.

At Yanti, we don’t blame users or chargers. We decode the real failure mechanisms and guide fleets, hashtag

💡 For OEMs, fleets, and investors betting on fast charging — the question isn’t speed, it’s survival. Let’s discuss reliability before packs collapse.

📌 Note: These insights come directly from the diagnostics of EV packs that arrive in our lab every week.

source : Romesh Gupta