polymerguru

Hexagon Purus, the Norwegian specialist in hydrogen systems, just locked in its first deal with Egypt’s Manufacturing Commercial Vehicles (MCV), making a big move into North Africa’s growing hydrogen mobility scene. Breaking Into Egypt with a Purpose The partnership kicks off with Hexagon Purus supplying high-tech hydrogen storage systems for MCV’s new hydrogen-powered buses. They’re keeping the exact number of units under wraps for now, but the significance? Crystal clear. It marks Hexagon Purus’ first footprint in Egypt while helping MCV hit the gas on its shift toward sustainable transportation. Why does this matter? Egypt isn’t just another stop on the map—it’s a country blessed with massive solar power potential and a prime location that makes it a natural candidate to become a major green hydrogen hub. The catch? The hydrogen infrastructure is still getting off the ground. But collaborations like this—where cutting-e...

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share Starch-based microplastics could cause health risks in mice, study finds: Wear and tear on plastic products releases small to nearly invisible plastic particles, which could impact people’s health when consumed or inhaled. To make these particles biodegradable, researchers created plastics from plant starch instead of petroleum. An initial study published in ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry shows how animals consuming particles from this alternative material developed health problems such as liver damage and gut microbiome imbalances. Biodegradable starch-based plastics may not be as safe and health-promoting as originally assumed,” says Yongfeng Deng, the corresponding author of the study.  Microplastics (plastic pieces less than 5 millimeters wide) are entering human bodies through contaminated water supplies, foods and drinks — and even IV infusions. Scientists have linked plastic particles in the bloodstream and tissues to v...

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share Efficient circular economy: Plasma-based process for the recycling of GRP: The Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) is developing an innovative method for the sustainable recycling of glass fibre reinforced plastics (GRP) as part of the PLAS4PLAS joint project. In cooperation with the Institute for Environment & Energy, Technology & Analytics e.V. (IUTA) and the TU Bergakademie Freiberg, the research team is working on an emission-free & residue-free recycling process based on thermal plasma. The project, which will run until 2029, is being funded by the Volkswagen Foundation with 1.37 million euros. Challenge: Complex GRP waste GRP is widely used in aviation, vehicle construction and wind turbines. Their composite of plastic and glass fibres makes recycling extremely difficult. Until now, major part of GRP waste has ended up in landfill sites or has been used as filler or fuel with negative environmental consequences such a...

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share Scientists Create Ultra-hard Lab-grown Diamond Tougher Than Natural Ones Physicists have successfully created a  lab-grown diamond  with a hardness exceeding that of natural diamonds. By subjecting graphite to extreme pressure and heat, researchers synthesized a rare hexagonal diamond, also known as  lonsdaleite —a crystal structure that has long been theorized to be stronger than the conventional cubic diamonds found in nature. Breaking The Limits Of Hardness: Diamonds are famous for being the  hardest naturally occurring material  on Earth, but synthetic alternatives have been pushing the limits of toughness. The new lab-grown hexagonal diamond, created by compressing graphite at unprecedented pressures before  heating it to 1,800 K (1,527 °C or 2,780 °F) , has now set a new benchmark. The defining feature of this diamond is its hexagonal crystal lattice, distinct from the usual cubic structure seen in natural diamonds. Scientists ...

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share Common bacteria could be used to produce biodegradable bioplastics : A research team based in Korea has succeeded in engineering E. coli bacteria to produce poly(ester amide)s, useful plastics that have a range of thermal and mechanical properties and are often biodegradable. Lead investigator Sang Yup Lee, a professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in Daejeon, and colleagues believe this method could be a sustainable, more environmentally friendly way of producing these useful plastics than currently used methods. “Petroleum-based plastics use crude oil or natural gas as a raw material. On the other hand, bio-based polymers use renewable biomass, which is generated by fixing carbon dioxide, as a raw material, and thus are close to carbon neutral,” said Lee. “For sustainable production of plastics, we need to move towards a bio-based production system. A useful material Poly(ester amide)s contain both ester and amide chem...

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share Ajedium™ PEEK film technology awarded for advancing #EV performance and sustainability Syensqo, a leader in advanced materials and specialty chemicals, is thrilled to announce that it was named a 2025 #Automotive News PACE Pilot Innovation to Watch for its innovative Ajedium™ PEEK film technology for e-motor slot liners. Ajedium™ #PEEKfilms  are engineered to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of electric motors and batteries. This cutting-edge technology allows manufacturers to streamline e-motor and battery designs by reducing size and eliminating the need for traditional moisture management systems, making it a game-changer in the automotive sector. We are incredibly honored to receive the 2025 Automotive News PACE Pilot Award. This recognition underscores our unwavering commitment to understanding and addressing the unique challenges faced by our customers. Our Ajedium™ PEEK has been successfully tested with 800 vol...

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share Covestro contributes to automotive circularity with materials recycled from end-of-life headlamps Materials manufacturer Covestro has introduced a new line of post-consumer recycled (PCR) polycarbonates made from end-of-life automotive headlamps, marking another milestone in closing the loop for automotive materials. Developed through a joint program initiated by the German federal enterprise GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit), with Volkswagen and NIO as key partners, these TÜV Rheinland-certified grades contain 50 percent recycled content and are now commercially available for new automotive applications. Volkswagen and NIO are already validating the material for potential use in future vehicle designs. "This new line of polycarbonate represents a significant step in supporting the automotive industry's transformation towards a circular future," said Lily Wang, Global Head of the Engineering Plastics Business Entity ...