polymerguru

A Korean research team, affiliated with UNIST has presented a new type of underwater adhesives that are tougher than the natural biological glues that mussels normally use to adhere to rocks, ships, and larger sea critters. Innovative Tougher Underwater Adhesives This has attracted much attention as a technology that surpass the limits of conventional chemical-based adhesives that significantly lose adhesion capability when exposed to moisture or when reused. This breakthrough has been led by Professor Hoon-Eui Jeong in the School of Mechanical Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering and his research team at UNIST. According to the research team, stable adhesion between surfaces under wet conditions is highly desirable for many practical applications, particularly in the bioengineering and medical fields, where most surfaces are wet. However, limitations in complicated surface treatment and expensive protocols restrain the extensive use of these natural protein adhe...

Recent regulatory and market drivers, including cost pressures, are generating a material choice debate about polyvinyl chloride (PVC), thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and rubber materials, according to Colorite, a Tekni-Plex business unit specializing in custom medical-grade compounds.  TPE-replaces PVC Many companies are trying to proactively address new regulatory dynamics, both in the United States and in many other global regions. Pressure is being applied by healthcare systems that are already implementing strategic initiatives for phthalate-free patient environments. TPEs are being viewed as a replacement for PVC in applications where phthalate- or plasticizer-free materials are desired. Globally, IV therapy producers are among the first in the medical device industry to transition from PVC to TPE materials.  TPE-replaces Thermoset Rubbers TPEs also are replacing thermoset rubbers (silicone, polyisoprene and butyl rubber) used in elastomeric medical applications such a...

Solvay further established itself as one of the emerging leaders in specialty polymers for additive manufacturing (AM) with the news that high-performance KetaSpire® PEEK AM filament will be the first polyetheretherketone polymer included in e-Xstream engineering’s Digimat® simulation software due for launch in June 2018.  Specialty Polymers for Simulation 3D Printing Platform: Christophe Schramm, business manager for additive manufacturing at Solvay’s Specialty Polymers global business unit, said: “KetaSpire® PEEK’s inclusion in Digimat® represents Solvay’s latest step toward becoming the industry’s leading resource for successfully applying advanced polymers in 3D printing processes. Solvay is building on its long-standing partnership with e-Xstream engineering to quickly expand the number of specialty polymers available for simulation on the Digimat® platform, and ultimately enable our customers to ‘print it right the first time’ when using Solvay’s high-performing thermopl...

Dear groups members,  If you have been looking for an opportunity to study your MSc in Germany, this is your best chance!  As the blog owner, I would like to personally invite all of you to join a webinar, taking place in April 25, about a MSc in Biofabrication at the Bayreuth University, in Germany. As an international student, you won't have to pay any tuition fees for the programme. Read more:  https://bit.ly/2J1HSRa   This is a great opportunity for those members who are interested in kickstart their careers with an state of art Master’s of Science in Biofabrication, the emerging technology currently shaping the future of Medical Engineering. I highly recommend anyone to join. Register now and don't miss this opportunity of studying for free in Germany. We have limited places:  https://bit.ly/2J1HSRa   Thank you and see you online on the webinar! Kind regards, Muthuramalingam Krishnan 

Nestlé has recently announced its ambition to make 100% of its packaging recyclable or re-usable by 2025. Its vision is that none of its packaging, including plastics, ends up in landfill or as litter. Nestlé believes that there is an urgent need to minimize the impact of packaging on the environment. Aiming 100% Sustainable Packaging Nestlé CEO Mark Schneider said: "Plastic waste is one of the biggest sustainability issues the world is facing today. Tackling it requires a collective approach. We are committed to finding improved solutions to reduce, re-use and recycle. Our ambition is to achieve 100% recyclable or reusable packaging by 2025." The company focuses on three core areas:  Eliminate non-recyclable plastics Encourage the use of plastics that allow better recycling rates Eliminate or change complex combinations of packaging materials Need of Circular Economy Recognizing the need for developing a circular economy, Nestlé is committed to: Playing an active role in th...

The recycled carbon fiber bogies will now undergo extensive tests on the Institute of Railway Research £3.5 million test rig at the University of Huddersfield RAIL vehicle bogies made from recycled carbon fibre could lead to major savings for operators, with a 50 per cent reduction in weight meaning a huge reduction in track wear and energy and maintenance costs. Now, a research team at the University of Huddersfield will carry out exhaustive tests to ensure that the concept can fulfil its potential. The University is home to the Institute of Railway Research (IRR). It has joined a consortium that includes ELG Carbon Fibre Ltd, which has developed cost-effective means of recovering carbon fibres from manufacturing waste and end-of-life components, and Alstom Transport, a rolling stock vehicle manufacturer and maintainer and the Sensors and Composites Group, University of Birmingham. The consortium chose Magma Structures as their preferred manufacturer. Magma has produced carbon co...

Reincarnation/Re-Birth of polymers & plastics is a revolution underway taking the environmental & sustainability efforts to all-time new heights, thereby leading to preservation of petroleum resources, reduction of air-land-ocean pollution, and utilization of free/undesirable raw materials. Highlights of the subject conference are:  ………………………………………………… (1) BIO-SOURCED Raw-Materials as an offset to Petroleum for Polymers & Plastics ………………………………………………….. (2) RECYCLED Plastics as a resource for High-Quality Plastics & other Applications.  …………………………………………………… (3) NETWORKING: As of now, there are representatives from 14 countries and Brand-Owners such as PEPSICO, PROCTER & GAMBLE, and ITALERI will be speaking on their leading role in supporting PHA Bioplastic & Recycling. Register for the Conference via (973) 801-6212 or preferably on our website @ http://innoplastsolutions.com/bio.html ………………………………………………………………………………………… Polymer Problem Solving Course Poly...