From Air to Plastics: Norsk e-Fuel and Braskem Partner to turn Captured Carbon into Long-Lasting Products

Norsk e-Fuel AS, a pioneer in Power-to-Liquid (PtL) technology, and Braskem, a global leader in polymers and biopolymers, have announced a strategic collaboration to explore the possible integration of e-Naphtha into the plastics value chain. This partnership aims to accelerate the development of plastics derived from carbon that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere, reinforcing both companies' commitment to a circular future.

Norsk e-Fuel is driving the industrial rollout of PtL technology by building large-scale facilities that convert fossil-free electricity, water, and captured CO² into synthetic fuels and feedstocks. The company's plan foresees at least three plants in operation by 2032, with a combined annual capacity of more than 200,000 tons of e-Fuels. Around a quarter of this output could be supplied as e-Naphtha - a versatile feedstock used to produce plastics.

Braskem's sustainability strategy, "Keeping Carbon in the Loop", focuses on retaining carbon within products and the economy through renewable, circular, and carbon-optimized solutions. The company already produces I'm green TM  bio-based polyethylene at an industrial scale-a renewable plastic made from sugarcane ethanol-and offers mass balance certified solutions for markets where segregated routes are not yet feasible.

By potentially processing e-Naphtha into polypropylene and other essential materials, Braskem aims to expand its portfolio with innovative plastics that could have a significantly reduced climate footprint.

"e-Naphtha is more than a by-product; it is a valuable feedstock for creating long-lasting, circular products," said Lars Bjørn Larsen, CCO of #NorskeFuel. "By capturing carbon and embedding it into durable, recyclable materials, we keep carbon in use and out of the atmosphere.

"Plastics are essential to modern life, and by producing them with captured carbon, we keep that carbon in the economy not in the air," said Walmir Soller, Vice President for North America, Europe, and Asia (NAMEA) and CEO of #BraskemBV. "This collaboration reflects our commitment to innovation and to building value chains that enable circularity and carbon neutrality."

The collaboration will focus on developing a framework for integrating e-Naphtha into plastic production, assessing market opportunities, and engaging with customers seeking circular solutions. It also highlights the role of carbon capture utilization (CCU) in creating new value chains for the plastics industry, circulating carbon through products, not emissions.

source : Braskem BV

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Nylon vs. Polyester Yarn:

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Nylon vs. Polyester Yarn:

Two popular synthetic fibers, nylon and polyester, are widely used in various applications, from apparel to carpets. Here, we will delve into the characteristics and differences between nylon and polyester, shedding light on their unique properties and helping you make informed choices when selecting materials for your needs.

1. Composition

Nylon

Nylon is a synthetic polymer that belongs to the family of polyamides. It is made by combining different chemicals and undergoing a process known as polymerization. Nylon fibers are known for their high strength, resilience, and elasticity.

Polyester

Polyester, on the other hand, is a synthetic polymer belonging to the polyester family. It is made from petroleum-based chemicals through a process called polymerization. Polyester fibers are known for their exceptional durability, wrinkle resistance, and ease of care.

2. Strength and Durability

Nylon

Nylon fibers are incredibly strong, making them suitable for applications that require high tensile strength and resistance to abrasion. It is commonly used in products like ropes, outdoor gear, and hosiery. Nylon has excellent elastic recovery, allowing it to maintain its shape even after stretching.

Polyester

Polyester fibers are also strong and durable, but they are generally not as strong as nylon. However, polyester has superior resistance to UV rays, moisture, and mildew, making it a popular choice for outdoor and water-resistant applications. Polyester fibers retain their shape and color well over time, making them suitable for garments and home furnishings.

3. Moisture Absorption and Quick-Drying

Nylon

Nylon has relatively high moisture absorption properties, meaning it can absorb and retain moisture. While this can be advantageous in certain applications, it can also make nylon garments feel damp and take longer to dry. However, advancements in technology have led to the development of moisture-wicking nylon fabrics that help manage perspiration and keep the wearer dry.

Polyester

Polyester fibers have low moisture absorption rates, making them hydrophobic. They do not retain much moisture, allowing them to dry quickly. Polyester is often used in activewear, swimwear, and outdoor gear where moisture management and quick-drying are essential.

4. Breathability and Comfort

Nylon

Nylon fibers are not as breathable as polyester. They tend to trap heat and moisture close to the skin, making them less suitable for hot and humid conditions. However, nylon fabrics can be engineered with special additives or weaves to enhance breathability and improve comfort.

Polyester

Polyester fibers are more breathable than nylon and offer better moisture-wicking properties. They allow air to circulate and moisture to evaporate, providing a comfortable wearing experience, especially in active or warm environments. Polyester is often blended with other fibers to enhance breathability and comfort.

source : Beekaylon

Wind turbine blade made from recycled materials

Today’s good news for circular wind. On 11 November 2025, the #REFRESH consortium reported a real-world milestone: a wind turbine blade section manufactured with a nonwoven mat made from glass fibres recovered from end-of-life blades. EireComposites built the section using recycled fibres produced via Gjenkraft’s patent-pending pyrolysis process in Høyanger, Norway.

This is a move from lab tests to a tangible component. It shows that recovered GFRP can re-enter blade manufacturing, not just downcycled into lower-value products. Nearly full material recovery is the target, including glass and carbon fibres, oils and gases, turning waste into feedstock.

European collaboration is the engine here. CETMA, Gjenkraft AS, EireComposites and nine partners under Horizon Europe’s REFRESH program are pushing blade circularity from concept to practice. It signals a shift from linear to circular production in wind, where sustainability includes the materials we use, not only the energy we generate.

Read more: https://lnkd.in/eRCCSfi5

source: Pontis Engineering

#composites #windenergy

Sunday's THOUGHTFUL Post : The most underrated danger of 2025: things we still think are harmless.

Sunday's THOUGHTFUL Post

The most underrated danger of 2025: things we still think are harmless.

Bans don’t happen because something becomes dangerous.

They happen because we finally measure the damage.

The data is always late to the party.

Every generation’s miracle becomes the next generation’s cautionary tale.

“Forever chemicals” replaced asbestos.

“Natural supplements” replaced regulated medicine.

“Synthetic dopamine” in social feeds is just the new nicotine.

The pattern never changes.

We normalize first, regulate later, and realize too late that our “everyday habits” were quiet experiments in public health.

If history teaches anything, it’s that what feels harmless today is usually what blinds us tomorrow.

That’s why lists like this matter: not for nostalgia, but for foresight.

🕰️ 10 Things That Were Once Legal

1️⃣ Cocaine in cough syrup

2️⃣ Lead in gasoline

3️⃣ Asbestos insulation

4️⃣ Radium face cream

5️⃣ Thalidomide during pregnancy

6️⃣ Bloodletting for fever

7️⃣ Smoking on airplanes

8️⃣ DDT pesticide on playgrounds

9️⃣ Mercury in thermometers and fillings

🔟 Lobotomy as therapy

15 “Harmless” Things That Might One Day Be Illegal- Med Edition, BuzzFeed Inspired

1️⃣ Kids using social media

(Linked to anxiety, depression, and rewired brain reward circuits in teens.)

2️⃣ Unregulated AI in healthcare

(Deepfakes, biased algorithms, and chatbots replacing clinicians without oversight.)

3️⃣ Unpaid medical or research internships

(Exploiting early-career professionals under the guise of “experience.”)

4️⃣ Tanning beds

(A controlled-dose carcinogen already banned in Australia.)

5️⃣ Direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical ads

(Driving overprescription and medical self-diagnosis.)

6️⃣ Predatory student loan interest for healthcare training

(Trapping medical and nursing students in decades-long debt.)

7️⃣ Five-day hospital and clinic work weeks

(When 12-hour shifts already cause burnout and clinical errors.)

8️⃣ Factory farming

(Source of zoonotic disease, antibiotic resistance, and endocrine disruptors.)

9️⃣ The supplement industry’s lack of regulation

(A massive market built on minimal evidence and frequent contamination.)

🔟 Private equity owning hospitals

(Driving patient harm and cost-cutting disguised as efficiency.)

1️⃣1️⃣ Separating dental, eye, and medical insurance

(When oral and ocular disease are proven systemic indicators.)

1️⃣2️⃣ Disposable “fast fashion” materials

(Shedding microplastics now found in lungs, placentas, and blood.)

1️⃣3️⃣ Data-harvesting health apps

(Selling biometric data without consent or long-term transparency.)

What do you think we’ll look back on and say,

“How did we ever think that was okay?”

Activat

source : Olga R

Exel to integrate Polynt’s bio-based monomers into its composite solutions

Exel Composites, a global technology company that designs and manufactures composite solutions, has partnered with Polynt, a leading global producer of specialties for industrial, transportation, building and construction markets, to integrate bio-based monomers into its composite solutions. This collaboration aims to develop more sustainable composite materials with a reduced carbon footprint.

Exel has entered into a new purchasing agreement with global resin specialist Polynt to purchase hundreds of tonnes of its bio-based unsaturated polyester resin (UPR). The collaboration represents another significant step in Exel’s transition towards lower-carbon composites manufacturing, with the resin available for European customers’ orders now. 

The resin, developed by Polynt, contains about 20% bio-based content thanks to the introduction of a renewable monomer. The Italian producer sources this monomer from second- and third-generation biomass; feedstocks that do not compete with food crops. This sustainable material offers a drop-in replacement for traditional fossil-based resins, ensuring full compatibility with Exel’s existing pultrusion processes. 

Compared with conventional UPR, independent lifecycle analyses (LCAs) show that the bio-based formulation delivers a 20% reduction in carbon footprint according to Ecoinvent v3.11. Polynt sources the monomer in Europe and produces most of the raw materials in its Italian plants. The resin is produced in Polynt’s production facilities in Poland and France, and will be used in Exel’s European plants. This ensures minimal transportation-related emissions throughout the entire supply chain. 

“Our internal testing shows no measurable difference in performance between this bio-based resin and the fossil-based equivalent.

Exel and Polynt share a similar global footprint, with multiple production sites across the world. This regionalised structure allows both companies to supply customers locally, reducing delivery times and logistics-related emissions. 

Polynt is committed to helping customers like Exel reduce their environmental impact through practical, scalable solutions. Introducing bio-based building blocks into high-volume resin systems is one of the most effective ways to move our industry toward lower emissions.” 

Exel’s customers will have the choice of adopting this resin as part of their product specification. By working with long-term partners such as Polynt, Exel continues to advance sustainable manufacturing in composites. For contractors bidding for tenders, lower-carbon materials can be an excellent way to increase their proposal’s appeal.

source: Jeccomposites/Exel Composites

Hallink Moulds highlights labelless bottle, 3D printed molds

 Hallink Moulds Inc., a Cambridge, Ontario-based division of Big 3 Precision Products, is showcasing two new developments: a labelless bottle project and a new approach to 3D printed molds.

For the labelless bottle, Hallink created a mold with enhanced venting technology that allows detailed lettering to appear directly on the bottle surface. The project was developed for the Panamanian market and is now in commercial use for a spring water brand.

“It’s totally legible as far as all the different information, nutritional facts and so forth,” said Jason Warmington, general manager at Hallink. “It’s basically venting in the font. The design was done in Peru, but it was the technology and the mold that allowed the letters to be fully vented and show that detail.”

Warmington said the client had worked with Hallink in the past and returned with the challenge of producing a mold that could handle intricate lettering. Traditional pin-venting methods would have required too many holes, potentially compromising mold strength. Hallink’s new venting approach allowed venting for each individual letter, improving clarity and durability.

“We’ve done some experiments in the past where it wasn’t legible enough for certain markets,” Warmington said. “With this new technology, we could go back and improve on what we had done before.”

The company is also advancing its work with 3D printed molds. Hallink traditionally uses aluminum molds, but cost and lead times can be a barrier for customers. Its new system uses liquid 3D printing with specific materials, enabling molds to be printed overnight and shipped quickly.

While Hallink has worked with 3D printing for years, the ability to create one-off sample molds is a newer development. The focus is on reducing time to market and providing customers with more affordable options.

“Instead of doing a costly aluminum mold or a production mold that might cost $10,000, this option allows you to make a mold for $1,000 to $2,000,” Warmington said. “Whereas a lead cavity might take a week, with this printing technology we can do it in a day.

Hallink is still testing different materials to improve the durability of sample molds, but Warmington emphasized the purpose is not for production molds. Instead, the printed molds give customers a fast turnaround to see samples and validate designs before committing to full-scale production.

source : Plastics News