polymerguru

Ask anyone in the automotive design or engineering community what technologies they are working on to lower emissions and improve fuel economy and half the time you'll hear "lightweighting," according to the results of a July WardsAuto survey sponsored by DuPont. Also topping the list are engine efficiency programs, vehicle electrification and adoption of diesel for engines. Sixty six percent of the nearly 900 respondents said again this year that the 2017-2025 CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards) could get more stringent as a result of the upcoming mid-term reviews. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards require, on an average industry fleet-wide basis, 163 g/mile of CO 2  in model year 2025, which would be equivalent to 54.5 mpg (4.3 L/100km) if this level were achieved solely through improvements in fuel efficiency. "The automotive industry is racing to develop safe, fun and affordable vehicles that are much more fuel efficient a...

LAUNCH is an open innovation platform that was founded by NASA, NIKE, The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and The U.S. Department of State to identify and foster breakthrough ideas for a more sustainable world. LAUNCH aims to move beyond incremental change and make an impact at a system-wide level. LAUNCH is currently focused on positively transforming the system of materials and manufacturing, which can have dramatic social, environmental and economic impacts on the world. In order to harness the innovation needed to advance this system, LAUNCH has issued a series of global challenges to address key barriers. Its current challenge focuses on green chemistry, a crucial component in a sustainable materials and manufacturing system. A portfolio of approximately 10 innovators will be selected for support, networking, and mentoring from influential business and government leaders. With this LAUNCH System Challenge: Green Chemistry, LAUNCH seeks innovations that l...

Genomatica announced that major nylon intermediates – including hexamethylenediamine, caprolactam and adipic acid (HMD, CPL and ADA) – are the focus of its third publicly-disclosed development program. Genomatica is developing complete process technologies for the biobased production of these intermediates, which it will then license to major firms in the nylon value chain. These three chemicals, with a total market of over $18 billion per year, are used primarily in the production of nylon 6 and nylon 6,6, also referred to as the polyamides PA 6 and PA 6,6. Genomatica has been building a comprehensive set of nylon program assets over the last few years. The nylon program builds on a large body of intellectual property (IP), which includes but is not limited to eight issued U.S. patents and numerous pending applications worldwide, as well as trade secrets that include engineered strains, with some of the IP developed internally and some from a recent IP acquisition. A number of the...

Foodservice packaging supplier, Fabri-Kal, recently announced that Greenware® On-The-Go Boxes have been recognized for being made entirely from plants, earning the USDA Certified Biobased Product Label. Containing 100 percent biobased content, the containers provide foodservice operators an innovative packaging solution to present food for grab-and-go consumption, increased consumer appeal and reduced environmental impact. Under the USDA BioPreferred™ program, products are labeled "biobased" if they are composed wholly or significantly of biological ingredients, such as renewable plant material. The fundamental goals of the USDA BioPreferred™ program include spurring the development of the biobased industrial base to meet sustainability goals, enhancing energy security by substituting biobased products — such as Greenware® products — for petroleum-based products and promoting products that reduce environmental impact. "Fabri-Kal's mission to act responsibly ...

Teijin Limited and Teijin Frontier Co., Ltd., the Teijin Group's fiber product converting company, jointly announced that they will accelerate their automotive rubber materials business in Thailand by establishing Teijin FRA Tire Cord (Thailand) Co., LTD. in partnership with Ayaha Corporation, a Japanese company specializing in tire cord production. Teijin also announced that it will expand the production capacity for automotive hose cord at a separate subsidiary, Teijin Cord (Thailand) Co., Ltd. The Teijin Group will develop midstream business by accelerating sales to Asia's expanding automotive industry, aiming to strengthen its local supply of automotive rubber materials, such as tire cord and hose cord, to customers in China and the ASEAN region. The new joint venture will be established on the premises of Teijin (Thailand) Limited located in Bang  Pa -in Industrial Estate, Ayutthaya, in June. It will begin operating with a 16,000-ton annual capacity from October 2015...

At Eurosatory 2014, DSM Dyneema, the manufacturer of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMwPE) fiber, branded as Dyneema®, and among the world leader in life protection materials and high-performance fibers, showcased innovative vehicle armor solutions based on its industry-leading Dyneema® Force Multiplier Technology. Aerospace and naval armor solutions from TenCate Advanced Armour and Rheinmetall Ballistic Protection GmbH, respectively, leverage this radical breakthrough in protection to address three major trends for light tactical interdiction vehicles: new operating environments, increasing weight from electronics and extended fuel supply chains. Dyneema® Force Multiplier Technology platform delivers exceptional ballistic performance and the lightest weight and lowest profile for enhanced protection. "We are spotlighting two major vehicle protection applications to showcase the extreme performance and multiple benefits of Dyneema® Force Multiplier Technology,"...

FRX Polymers, Inc. (FRX), a manufacturer and marketer of Nofia®, a family of environmentally friendly inherently flame retardant plastics, announced that it has recently been awarded an EPA Environmental Merit Award. The company was presented the award during the EPA New England Merit Awards ceremony on April 22, 2014 at Faneuil Hall, Boston, MA. The EPA's New England Environmental Merit Awards program honors businesses, among others, who have made outstanding contributions on behalf of the region's public health and natural environment. In the last few years FRX Polymers has taken several important steps in making its products available globally, including the December 2013 start-up of its first commercial scale plant. Nofia® replaces halogenated flame retardants, which are widely used and are being phased out due to toxicity concerns. Nofia® products have been registered globally and have a very favorable toxicological profile. Also, Nofia® products are produced using sustai...