polymerguru

  Today's KNOWLEDGE Share  It is fairly common knowledge that a loss of molecular weight, as possibly induced by degradation, will produce parts with lower mechanical performances. Some people however believe that a simple test like a stiffness/modulus check can confirm the absence of degradation. Wrong ! If you take, say, PP, a loss of molecular weight will actually speed-up crystallization kinetics typically resulting in slightly stiffer parts. However, should you focus on strength, impact, creep performance, fatigue, crack growth, fracture toughness or similar long term properties, you would see a clear loss of performance. Also, remember that chain scission in Injection Molding typically does not produce any smoke, discoloration or other easily spotted defects. This is why one should cautiously check molecular weight, one way or another, when chain scission is suspected. Failing to do so creates a huge risk of part failure in the field with serious financial consequences and li

  Today's KNOWLEDGE Share CNSL RESINS FOR RUBBER APPLICATIONS Cardolite offers a wide variety of Cashew Nutshell Liquid (CNSL) derived resins for rubber applications. CNSL-based resins can substitute petroleum based phenolic resins as rubber modifiers to improve carbon footprint and lower toxicity of the final compound. CNSL resins can be used as tackifying resins and as plasticizers for polar and non polar rubber while providing additional benefits that could include antioxidant properties and adhesion improvement. PLASTICIZER AND ANTIOXIDANT FOR ISOPRENE RUBBER Cardolite CNSL-based phenolic resins can be formulated into synthetic natural rubber to act as plasticizers or process aids that also provide antioxidant properties. These higher molecular weight CNSL polymers are rubber modifiers that help reduce compound Mooney viscosity to similar levels to paraffinic process oils. Moreover, the incorporation of CNSL resins results in enhanced resistance to aging by heat as indicated by

Renewable resources based phenolic resin The conventional phenolic resin was prepared from formaldehyde and phenol. Formaldehyde used as a raw material in phenolic resins having high toxic nature. Which damages human eyes, and skin, and causes harm by inhalation.In comparison with the others referenced above, furfural is a sort of sustainable heterocyclic aldehyde with a brilliant industrialization prospect. It is primarily yielded from biomass wastes, for example, corncobs and sugarcane bagasse as of now, which is likely use to replace formaldehyde in the synthesis of phenolic resins. In a furfural structure, a furan ring with an aldehyde functional group is attached to in the second position. The replacement of formaldehyde by furfural promotes the thermal stability of the phenolic resin. Among the agricultural byproduct, Cashew nutshell liquid (CNSL) is the byproduct of the cashew industry and one of the renewable resources is special because it contains cardanol, anacardic acid, wh

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share Chemists develop new sustainable reaction for creating unique molecular building blocks Scripps Research chemists and additional collaborators have developed a new reaction to create unique monomers in a controlled way. This reaction, which uses nickel as a catalyst, ultimately enables scientists to create polymers with unique and modifiable properties for drug delivery, energy storage, microelectronics and more. The study was published in Nature Synthesis on August 8,2024. "This study shows how earth-abundant metal catalysts can unlock the path toward previously unknown materials with unparalleled structural and functional diversity," says senior author Keary Engle, PhD, a professor in the Department of Chemistry and dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies at Scripps Research. The Engle lab at Scripps Research focuses on developing new chemical reactions to build a wide and diverse array of small molecules, typically with applications in drug di

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share Heat deflection temperature (HDT): HDT is a measure of the stiffness of the material as the temperature increases. HDT test measures the temperature at which the specimen loses its “load-bearing” capability. A material can have only “one” HDT. HDT for material is affected by the addition of reinforcement, fillers, plasticizers, or any other type of additive. Vicat softening temperature (VST) : The vicat test is used to identify a temperature at which a needle of specified dimensions penetrates a plastic specimen at a specified distance under a given load. It reveals the temperature at which the specimen loses its “stability-form” and softens. The vicat point is closer to the actual melting or softening point of the polymer. The Vicat number will typically be higher. The difference between HDT and Vicat testing: The main difference between heat deflection temperature testing and Vicat softening point testing is associated with the elements the material being

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share Researchers Claim New Process Destroys Forever Chemicals — Forever! You may not be familiar with Ritsumeikan in Kyoto, Japan, but researchers there say they may have an answer to the curse of so-called “forever chemicals,” also known at PFAS, the class of chemicals used in many commercial applications that are so durable that they resist breaking down for decades, or longer. That might not be a problem were it not for the fact that they have been identified as risk factors that contribute to a variety of human health concerns such as cancer. They also are thought to affect the development of human embryos in the womb, and not in a good way. The scientists at Ritsumeikan say they have developed a groundbreaking, eco-friendly method to eliminate harmful forever chemicals using visible LED light. The process has achieved a nearly complete breakdown of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a persistent pollutant, at room temperature. This innovative approach not onl

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share Mechanical Properties of the Epoxy Resin Composites Modified by Nanofiller under Different Aging Conditions Epoxy resin (EP) is a typical cross-linked thermosetting polymer material, which has many outstanding advantages, such as good mechanical properties, strong stability and bonding ability, low shrinkage, excellent heat resistance, chemical resistance, and fire-retardant . Therefore, it is widely used in the field of surface coating, adhesives, composite manufacturing, civil engineering, etc..  However, the performance of EP is degraded in harsh environments, including humidity, high-temperature, hygrothermal, and radiation conditions, which decreases their lifetime and durability . The hygrothermal aging condition has strongly deteriorated the mechanical performance of the EP . Under the hygrothermal aging condition, EP will absorb water, leading to the deterioration in the physical and chemical properties of the resin because of hydrolysis, plasticizat