Italy postpones plastic tax to 2027

The Italian government has postponed the implementation of the plastic tax to Jan. 1, 2027 from the previous July 1, 2026.

The decision was included in the government’s draft budget plan for 2026-2028 on Tuesday, which also postponed the introduction of a sugar tax on sweetened beverages to 2027.

Since plans for a plastic tax were introduced in Italy’s superbonus legislative decree in 2020, implementation has been postponed eight times. 

The law aims to reduce the production and consumption of plastic. It introduces a tax of €0.45 per kilo of non-recyclable plastic packaging (MACSI). Examples of products affected by the tax include bottles, carrier bags, #PEfoodcontainers, tetra pack containers, #EPSpackaging and #plasticcaps. #Disposable packaging produced from compostable bioplastics or recycled materials, as well as packaging of medical devices, pharmaceutical or medical packaging are exempt.

The law also stipulated high penalties for those that fail to pay the #plastictax. This penalty is between two and five times the unpaid tax – but at least 250€. Late payments are also sanctioned and incur an administrative fee of 25% of the tax owed, or at least 150€.

Rome’s new draft budget approved €18 billion in tax cuts over the next three years.

source: Sustainable Plastics

NCC highlights the importance of ceramic matrix composites for British defence

Strategic materials essential for aerospace and hypersonic systems. This is how the National Composite Centre (NCC) defines #ceramicmatrixcomposites (CMCs). The organisation stresses the urgency of developing national production capacity to secure the supply chain and strengthen the UK’s technological sovereignty.

According to the NCC, CMCs now occupy a central place in advanced defence technologies because they offer thermal and mechanical performance far superior to that of metal alloys or monolithic ceramics.

At hypersonic speeds, exceeding Mach 5, components are exposed to temperatures exceeding 1,500°C. Traditional ablative heat shields quickly reach their limits, while conventional ceramics often fail due to their fragility. CMCs, on the other hand, combine thermal stability, strength and durability, making them indispensable for the design of next-generation propulsion and thermal protection systems.

However, the market for these materials remains dominated by foreign suppliers subject to strict regulations. “That dependency creates a clear vulnerability in the UK defence supply chain and a real limit on our ability to innovate and deploy independently“, warns the NCC.

The foundations of sovereign capability:

To meet this strategic challenge, the NCC has invested in high-temperature processing equipment capable of producing large-scale, non-oxidised CMC components that can operate at temperatures of up to nearly 3,000°C.

Previously, in 2023, the organisation contributed to the HASTE-F project, developed in partnership with the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), which aimed to perfect the manufacture of silicon carbide (SiC/SiC) composites, materials that are damage-tolerant, radiation-resistant and capable of operating at 1,600°C. Already considered suitable for fusion reactors, these composites could also transform the propulsion and protection of military systems. “#Siliconcarbidecomposites have the potential to enhance fusion by enabling reactors to operate at higher temperatures for improved thermal efficiency, greatly increasing the commercial viability of fusion energy production.

For defence, these advances mean accelerated access to critical materials, manufactured on British soil and incorporating national intellectual property.

source : NCC / Jeccomposites

Joint Research on Application of Antithrombogenic Thermoplastic Elastomer ‘ZELAS AMP’ to Medical Devices

#MitsubishiChemicalCorporation has initiated a collaborative research project (hereinafter referred to as “the Joint Research”) in partnership with Professor Masaru Tanaka of the Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering, Kyushu Univ. and Professor Shigeru Miyagawa of #OsakaUniversity Graduate school of medicine, Cardiovascular surgery (Suita City, Osaka Prefecture), focusing on application of our antithrombogenic thermoplastic elastomer ‘ZELAS™ AMP’ to medical devices. Through this Joint Research, MCC aims for market launch of ZELAS™ AMP in 2027 and its global expansion.

In medical devices such as cardiac #catheters and cardiopulmonary bypass circuits, anticoagulants have conventionally been coated onto the base resin to prevent blood coagulation and thrombus-related occlusion. However, since the cost of coating processes can only be justified for certain advanced medical devices, there is demand for materials that can provide #antithrombogenic properties at a lower cost.

 

MCC has accumulated advanced formulation and compounding technologies for the medical-grade compound resin ‘ZELAS™ AMP’ over many years and has expanded its global supply system for medical materials※. The key polymer in ZELAS™ AMP is an amphiphilic polymer that combines blood compatibility, derived from its hydrophilic structure, with substrate affinity, derived from its hydrophobic structure. By adding this key polymer of ZELAS™ AMP to resins used as base materials for #medicaldevices (such as polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, and engineering plastics), antithrombogenic properties, low protein adsorption, and low bacterial adhesion can be imparted to the base material.

 

The Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering, Kyushu Univ. specializes in elucidating material structure and function from the atomic, molecular, and nanoscale to the macroscale, and has particular expertise in the surface design of medical devices. Osaka University Graduate school of medicine, Cardiovascular surgery is a world leader in research and development of advanced medical fields such as heart transplantation, assisted circulation, and regenerative medicine.

 

In this Joint Research, MCC will pursue the optimal addition and formulation design of ZELAS™ AMP key polymer for various resins used as base materials for medical devices. By developing ZELAS™ AMP in response to the needs of medical professionals, MCC aims to reduce the use of anticoagulants through antithrombogenic properties and eliminate the need for coating processes, thereby lowering risk and manufacturing cost for medical devices that come into direct contact with blood, such as cardiac catheters, cardiopulmonary bypass circuits, and dialysis and transfusion components.

 

source : Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Think composite performance is just about fiber and resin?

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

⚡ Think composite performance is just about fiber and resin? Think deeper—it's all about the layup strategy!

Here's how layup design drives real-world performance in critical applications 🔬👇

🧱 What is a Composite Layup?

A layup is the engineered sequence of fiber plies (layers) with specific orientations—think [0°/45°/-45°/90°]s. Each ply contributes directional properties, and the total laminate behavior emerges from this strategic combination.

🎯 Key Layup Parameters That Drive Performance:

1️⃣ Ply Orientation & Sequence 📐

Unidirectional (UD): [0°]n = maximum strength along fiber direction

Cross-ply: [0°/90°]s = balanced in-plane stiffness

Quasi-isotropic: [0°/45°/-45°/90°]s = near-isotropic properties

Angle-ply: [±θ]s = optimized for specific load cases (shear, torsion)

2️⃣ Stacking Sequence Effects 🔄

Identical plies in different orders = different performance!

[0°/90°/0°/90°] ≠ [0²/90²] even with same total thickness

Coupling effects (bending-stretching, twisting-bending)

Interlaminar shear distribution

Thermal residual stresses

3️⃣ Ply Thickness & Count 📏

Thin plies (0.1-0.2mm): Better damage tolerance, complex curves

Thick plies (0.3-0.5mm): Manufacturing efficiency, cost reduction

Rule of thumb: Avoid >4 consecutive plies in same direction (delamination risk)

🔧 Performance Impacts:

Mechanical Properties 💪

In-plane stiffness: Ex, Ey, Gxy controlled by ply ratios

Flexural behavior: Outer plies dominate bending stiffness

Interlaminar strength: Critical for thick laminates, impact resistance

Failure Mechanisms ⚠️

First ply failure (FPF): Initial matrix cracking

Last ply failure (LPF): Ultimate structural failure

Progressive damage: Ply-by-ply degradation modeling

Thermal & Environmental 🌡️

CTE mismatch: Different ply orientations = residual stress

Moisture absorption: Affects matrix-dominated properties

Fatigue life: Load redistribution as plies fail

🏭 Manufacturing Considerations:

Drape & Formability 🎨

Balanced layups drape better over complex geometries

±45° plies enable tight radii without wrinkling

Unidirectional fabrics need careful handling

Curing & Defects 🔥

Thick sections: Exotherm control, void management

Asymmetric layups: Warpage during cure

Autoclave vs. out-of-autoclave: Pressure affects void content

🎯 Design Optimization Strategies:

Load-Based Design 📊

FEA-driven ply optimization (topology, orientation)

Tsai-Wu, Hashin criteria for failure prediction

Multi-objective optimization (weight, cost, performance)

Industry Examples 🚁

Aerospace: [45°/0°/-45°/90°]2s for wing skins

Automotive: [±45°]2 for torsion boxes

Wind energy: Thick UD plies for blade spars

Sports: Tailored layups for flex patterns (golf, tennis)

What's your most challenging layup design problem? Share your experience! 🚀

source: Brian Lopez

#composites

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share The Critical Role of Pre-Drying in Injection Molding

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

The Critical Role of Pre-Drying in Injection Molding

Bubbles, silver streaks, weak parts? Often, it’s due to one thing: wet material.

🔍 Why dry?

Plastics like Nylon (PA), PC, and PET absorb moisture from air. When processed, this moisture turns to steam—causing defects, weaker properties, and even part failure. Even hydrophobic materials (e.g., PP, PE) can benefit from drying for better appearance and consistency.

With more regrind materials (often wetter) and stricter regulations, drying is becoming essential.

🌬️ How to dry?

Hot Air Drying: Good for hydrophobic materials such as PP, PE. Simple, low-cost.

Desiccant Drying: The best choice for hygroscopic materials and a must for hydrolyzable types like PA, PC, and PET. It's highly efficient in humid conditions.

📊 Key parameters:

Temperature

Drying time

Airflow

Dew point

✅ Best Practices:

Store material sealed & dry

Avoid over-drying

Check moisture with analyzers

Monitor dryer performance & dew point

Bottom line: Pre-drying isn’t optional—it’s critical for quality. Smart molders don’t guess; they measure and control moisture.

How do you handle material drying in your process? Share below.

source : Kevin Zou