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Today's KNOWLEDGE Share Toray Advanced Composites announces launch of high-performance Toray Cetex® PESU thermoplastic composite material Toray Advanced Composites, a leading innovator in advanced material technology, today announces the launch of Toray Cetex® TC1130 PESU thermoplastic composite material. This high-performance thermoplastic composite material is specifically engineered to address the growing need for lightweight and environmentally sustainable materials in aircraft interior applications, offering significant benefits to the aerospace industry. Suited for monolithic and thermoplastic-based sandwich panel constructions, Toray Cetex® TC1130 PESU (PolyEtherSulphone) continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite enables the creation of mono-material sandwich structures when combined with core materials of the same chemistry. Compared to materials currently used, this not only achieves additional weight savings and cost-effective post-processing, but also ensures f

Ingevity Corporation will participate in the FEICA European Adhesive & Sealant Conference and EXPO 2024 in Noordwijkerhout, the Netherlands,. The company will launch Capa® L, the next generation of sustainable and innovative polycaprolactone polyols for polyurethane adhesives that can be used in flexible food packaging, construction and industrial applications. “The latest generation of Capa polyols provides formulators with the performance and sustainability benefits they are seeking,” said Ingevity senior vice president and president, Advanced Polymer Technologies, Steve Hulme. “We’re excited to debut our newest Capa polyol technology, Capa L, which offers liquid products at room temperature, an enhanced rate of biodegradation and is food contact compliant in the EU.” Ingevity’s advanced polymer technologies business is the global leader in caprolactone technology and innovation, with a 50-year history of improving performance in a wide variety of end-use applications. Ingevity s

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share Risk Evaluation for Tris(2-chloroethyl) Phosphate (TCEP) Risk Evaluation Findings: EPA reviewed the exposures and hazards of TCEP uses and made risk findings on this chemical substance. EPA considered relevant risk-related factors, including, but not limited to: the hazards and exposure, magnitude of risk, exposed population, severity of the hazard, and uncertainties, as part of its unreasonable risk determination. EPA has determined that TCEP poses an unreasonable risk of injury to human health and the environment. TCEP has the potential to cause kidney cancer, damage the nervous system and kidneys, and harm fertility. EPA assessed TCEP exposure to potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulations (PESS), like workers, pregnant women, infants that breastfeed, children, people living in fenceline communities near facilities that emit TCEP, and people and Tribes whose diets include large amounts of fish. EPA identified health risks for PESS, including neurolo

The BIOFAST Project has successfully concluded and achieved its main objective: to reduce the time taken to carry out biodegradation tests on bioplastics in composting environments. This research was coordinated by the Plastics Technology Centre (AIMPLAS) with the participation of the Materials Technology and Sustainability Research Group (MATS) in the Chemical Engineering Department of the ETSE School of Engineering at the Universitat de València, and the company Prime Biopolymers. Greater Efficiency in Compostable Bioplastics Development: The BIOFAST Project received funding from the Valencian Institute of Business Competitiveness and Innovation (IVACE+i) through the Strategic Projects in Cooperation Program and ERDF. It not only demonstrated an effective reduction in the time taken to perform biodegradation tests applied to bioplastics, but also generated significant economic and environmental impact. Speeding up biodegradation studies allows for greater efficiency in the developmen

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share BASF and Bemis win SPE Automotive Composites Conference & Expo for the largest known injection molded polyamide hydraulic tank on compact excavators BASF and Bemis Manufacturing Company received honorable mention at the Altair Enlighten Awards in the enabling technology category for their collaboration on large hydraulic tanks for compact excavators. By leveraging a combination of injection molding and vibration welding techniques, the team was able to lower costs by approximately 20% and reduce mass by approximately 5% compared to the traditional roto-molding process while providing a more eco-efficient solution delivering both environmental savings (reductions in life cycle CO2 emissions) and reducing life cycle cost. “We needed a way to produce large, complex parts with shorter cycle times, while reducing secondary processing waste,” said Jeff Lallensack, Senior Project Engineer, Bemis Manufacturing. “The BASF team understands our business and their e

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share EPS vs XPS insulation Performance Attributes: 1. Long-term Thermal Performance Over time, the insulation performance of both materials can degrade due to various factors. However, XPS tends to maintain its thermal resistance better than EPS. This is partly due to its superior resistance to moisture absorption, which can significantly impact insulation effectiveness. 2. Freeze-Thaw Resistance In applications where freeze-thaw cycles are a concern, XPS demonstrates superior performance. Its closed-cell structure and low water absorption rate make it highly resistant to damage from repeated freezing and thawing, maintaining its insulative properties and structural integrity over time. 3. Fire Performance Both EPS and XPS are combustible materials and require proper fire protection measures in building applications. However, both can be treated with flame retardants to improve their fire performance. It’s worth noting that the specific fire ratings can vary depe

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share Extruded Polystyrene XPS Vs EPS Expanded Polystyrene Physical Properties: 1. Thermal Conductivity Both materials offer excellent thermal insulation properties, but XPS generally outperforms EPS in this regard. XPS typically has a lower thermal conductivity (λ-value) of 0.029-0.036 W/mK, compared to EPS’s range of 0.032-0.040 W/mK. This means that, for the same thickness, XPS provides slightly better insulation. 2. R-Value Comparison When it comes to thermal performance, both EPS and XPS offer impressive insulation values, but their R-values differ significantly. The R-value measures a material’s resistance to heat flow; the higher the R-value, the better the insulation. EPS typically has an R-value ranging from 3.6 to 4.2 per inch, depending on the density and specific formulation. This makes it an effective choice for various insulation applications, especially where cost is a concern. XPS, however, boasts a higher R-value, generally around 5.0 per inch. Th