polymerguru

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share EPA Finalizes TSCA Risk Evaluation for Diisononyl Phthalate (DINP): Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the final risk evaluation for diisononyl phthalate (DINP) conducted under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). EPA has determined that DINP presents an unreasonable risk of injury to human health, because workers could be exposed to high concentrations of DINP in mist when spraying adhesive, sealant, paint, and coating products that contain DINP. DINP can cause developmental toxicity and harm the liver and can cause cancer at higher rates of exposure. Also, DINP can harm the developing male reproductive system, known as “phthalate syndrome” (e.g., decreased fetal testicular testosterone, male reproductive tract malformations, male nipple retention, and decreased male fertility). Therefore, EPA is including DINP in its cumulative risk analysis for six phthalates that demonstrate effects consistent with phthalate syndrome. This...

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share A paper published by researchers at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU) focuses on a method to remove brominated flame retardants (BFRs) from plastic before it is recycled. BFRs are considered a toxic compound but are found in commonly used and recycled items, including laptops, keyboards and smartphones. When landfilled, BFRs can leach out from discarded electronics and if a recycling process involves heating plastic, that also can release the toxic compounds. NTU says a research team led by Associate Professor Lee Jong-Min at its School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology has come up with a way to make BFR-contaminated plastic recycling safer. Using a mixture of 1-propanol and heptane, the process dissolves and removes BFRs from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), a resin commonly used in the casings of keyboards and laptops. According to NTU, the solvents dissolved predominantly BFRs, enabling the researchers to recover ...

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share TSRC develops a range of new VECTOR SEBS products for medical applications. A key distinguishing feature of medical grade SEBS versus typical materials is plasticizers free. Moreover, VECTOR SEBS products also provide superior mechanical strength, high clarity and excellent polyolefin compatibility. TSRC VECTOR SEBS meets stringent quality standards and delivers outstanding performance in medical applications such as IV bags / film, tubing, stoppers, liners, syringe plunger tips and closures. VECTOR SEBS: VECTOR SEBS (Styrene-Ethylene/Butylene-Styrene copolymer) is designed for medical applications as alternative to PVC due to its eco-friendly feature. VECTOR SEBS passed ISO 10993-5 cytotoxicity test, USP Class VI test, complied with medical GMP production, and is well suited for general modification of articles in medical applications. *Alternative to Polyvinylchloride (PVC) without plasticizer *Wide formulation latitude – processable both in Oil Free ...

Vioneo and Honeywell announced today that Honeywell’s technology will be used by Vioneo as part of its plans to produce plastics using green methanol, at a new facility to be built in Antwerp, Belgium. Vioneo will use Honeywell’s advanced methanol-to-olefin (MTO) conversion technology to produce plastics without the need for traditional feedstock made from fossil fuels. Honeywell's advanced MTO technology will enable Vioneo to use green methanol, containing only biogenic carbon dioxide, in place of coal and crude oil in its plastic production processes. This can avoid the high carbon emissions associated with fossil fuel-derived plastic, while still supporting the production of propylene and ethylene – essential components used in various everyday items such as medical equipment, food packaging, automotive parts, personal care products and toys. “Vioneo aims to help transition the plastics industry by demonstrating that large-scale, cleaner production is economi...

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share First Synthetic Eukaryotic Genome Completed Scientists at the Macquarie University in Australia worked with an international team of scientists to achieve a major milestone in synthetic biology by completing the creation of the final chromosome in the world’s first synthetic yeast genome. This achievement represents the completion of the global Sc2.0 project to create the world’s first synthetic eukaryotic genome from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker’s yeast) and a new-to-nature tRNA neochromosome. Using genome-editing techniques, including the CRISPR D-BUGS protocol, the team identified and corrected genetic errors that impacted yeast growth. These changes restored the strain’s ability to grow on glycerol, a key carbon source, under elevated temperatures. The study “Construction and iterative redesign of synXVI a 903 kb synthetic Saccharomyces cerevisiae chromosome,” published in Nature Communications, demonstrates how engineered chromosomes can be...

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share Have you ever asked yourself if breaking a plastic part (or tensile bar) always means you are breaking polymer chains ? It is not a trivial question and it is actually quite an important aspect to address if we want to better understand a polymer performance. As it turns out it has a lot to do with the polymer chain entanglement density of the polymer of interest (and the temperature). In a loosely entangled polymer, like Polystyrene, the lower ability to delocalize stress inside the network will allow an easier reach of the carbon-carbon bond strength limit, allowing thus significant chain scission when breaking a PS sample. On the other side, highly entangled polymers like PC or PSU/PES/PPSU will spread the stress around the much denser entangled network, making carbon-carbon bonds way more unlikely to fail. The result is that failure will be dominated by disentanglement. This has been proven by observing the significant appearance of free radicals (te...

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share Researchers Develop Bioinspired Adhesive for Fetal Surgery & Repairs: For over 20 years, Professor Phillip Messersmith from Berkeley has drawn inspiration from nature to develop innovative resins and adhesives for medical and industrial applications. This approach, which he refers to as bioinspiration, involves studying natural molecules to create synthetic counterparts in the lab. Manipulate Lipoic Acid Chemistry to Improve Stability: Messersmith’s early work focused on the "glue proteins" secreted by mussels to attach to surfaces, and his research has expanded to include other natural molecules, such as lipoic acid. This molecule, produced in the human body to support cell respiration and energy production, also serves as a monomer for creating larger polymers. According to Messersmith, lipoic acid’s inherent flexibility makes it a versatile material. However, Subhajit Pal, a postdoctoral researcher in his lab, discovered, that the polymerize...