polymerguru

𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲'𝐬 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖𝐋𝐄𝐃𝐆𝐄 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐎𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐆𝐍 𝐈𝐒 𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐈𝐍 𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐅𝐈𝐋𝐌 𝐄𝐗𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍! 1. It Controls Cooling Speed When molten polymer exits the die, it is still soft and stretchable. The cooling ring blows air around the bubble to solidify the film quickly. Good cooling ring design provides: *faster heat removal *higher line speed *higher production output Poor cooling reduces production speed because the bubble remains soft for longer. 2. It Determines Frost Line Height (FLH) The frost line is the point where molten film becomes solid. A good air ring: *lowers the frost line height *stabilizes the bubble earlier Lower frost line means: *faster cooling *higher output *better thickness control 3. Uniform Air Distribution Controls Gauge Variation One of the biggest causes of film thickness variation is uneven cooling. If air flow around the bubble is not uniform: some areas cool faster some areas stretch more film becomes...

At Techtextil 2026 in Frankfurt, Covestro, a leading polymer manufacturer, will present a range of material solutions designed to balance high performance with improved #sustainability and productivity across the textile industry. Between April 21–24, 2026, three expert teams from across Covestro will showcase application examples across technical and smart textiles, functional apparel, and automotive parts. Following Covestro’s acquisition of #Pontacol , selected thermoplastic adhesive film products will be showcased at the Covestro booth. Fully integrated into the Covestro portfolio, Pontacol® solutions expand the company’s range of adhesive and functional film offerings for customers across key markets. Textile Coatings The Covestro Textile Coatings team will present waterborne, partially bio-based, and mass-balanced polyurethane (PU) technologies for technically demanding coated textile applications. Exhibits include an #automotivedoorpanel design for a concept car, developed...

 Today's KNOWLEDGE Share 📢 Time to get technical... 📢 How important have composite materials been during the history of mankind? This schematic shows the relative importance of the four classes of materials (metals, polymers, composites, and ceramics) in engineering as a function of time! 😮 Composites have been part of human engineering for thousands of years. But their role stayed relatively modest… until fiberglass changed the game. Since the 1960s, composites have moved from niche solutions to core engineering materials. Enabling lighter structures, higher performance, and designs that simply aren’t possible with monolithic materials. 💡 That steady rise in relevance isn’t accidental. It reflects how modern engineering thinks: optimize, tailor, and do more with less. So let’s open the discussion: What should define the next decade of composite materials and where should innovation focus next? Source: Material Selection in Mechanical Design / 4th Edition, Michael F. Ashby cre...

Founded in 1997 as the UK distributor of  #Sicomin #epoxyresin systems, #MatrixComposite Materials has grown into a specialist distributor of materials for high-performance, epoxy-based composite manufacturing, including glass and carbon fibre reinforcements, core materials, and vacuum consumables, held in stock at its Bristol facility for immediate dispatch. Matrix holds UK distribution agreements with Armacell (PET foam), Amorim CoreCork, and 3D-Core, and is an approved reseller for LYB (LyondellBasell) Quantum-ESC forged carbon SMC. The company also distributes #multiaxialfabrics , wovens, and unidirectional materials in E-glass and carbon from manufacturers including Sky Advanced Materials and Vitrulan Composites, as well as products under its own Matrix brand. Matrix serves composite manufacturers across automotive, marine, motorsport, industrial, offshore, and chemical processing markets, and is recognised for the depth of technical and application support i...

Toray Industries announced today that it has developed a photo-definable polyimide sealing material for #microelectromechanicalsystems (MEMS) devices, which integrate electronic circuits and mechanical structures using #semiconductor microfabrication technology. The new material is based on the company’s #SEMICOFINE®  non-photo-definable #polyimide and #PHOTONEECE®  photo-definable polyimide, used to insulate semiconductors and displays. Toray’s new material enables integrated fine-pattern formation and bonding with photolithography, and would provide sealing for hollow structure fabrication for MEMS devices. These devices use hollow structures so parts can move freely or serve as voids to block external disturbances. Gold is a traditional #sealing material for these structures because it provides excellent sealing and thermal resistance. A need to cut material costs and improve design flexibility, however, is driving research into resin-based sealing technologies. Epoxy r...