polymerguru

BASF and its European distribution organization, #BTCEurope , will present their broad portfolio for the packaging industry at the international trade fair interpack, hall 10, booth A 44. The world’s leading trade fair for packaging as well as packaging materials and processing technology will take place in Düsseldorf, Germany from May 7 to 13, 2026. The focus of BASF’s booth will be on material solutions, product innovations and recycling‑friendly systems for the packaging industry. BASF will showcase applications and concepts in the following areas: #Polyamide packaging with  #Ultramid®Ccycled® for #foodpackaging and other sensitive applications, as well as the newest product innovation  #Ultramid®H , the first thermoplastic polyamide with high water permeability. Adhesives that support packaging recycling within existing infrastructures and processes: water‑based  #Epotal® laminating adhesives for easy separation of materials in PET‑based multilayer packaging and f...

𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲'𝐬 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖𝐋𝐄𝐃𝐆𝐄 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧? Surface tension is one of the most fundamental properties governing the behavior of liquids and plays a critical role in many industrial formulations. For formulators working in coatings, inks, adhesives, detergents, and other complex chemical systems, surface tension strongly influences how a liquid spreads, wets a surface, disperses particles, or interacts with different phases. Understanding the origin of surface tension is therefore essential for interpreting many phenomena observed during formulation and application. At the molecular level, surface tension arises from intermolecular forces acting between molecules within a liquid. Inside the bulk phase, each molecule is surrounded by neighboring molecules in all directions. Because of this, the attractive intermolecular forces acting on a molecule are essentially balanced. In con...

𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲'𝐬 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖𝐋𝐄𝐃𝐆𝐄 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐕𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠. As the automotive industry accelerates toward electrification and aggressive sustainability targets, lightweighting is no longer a "nice-to-have", it’s a strategic necessity. Polymers and advanced composites have moved from the interior trim to the very core of vehicle architecture. 📊 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤: · Volume vs. Weight: Plastics now account for ~50% of vehicle volume but contribute less than10% of weight. · Market Growth: The global automotive plastics market is projected to reach $38.4B in 2026, driven by a 7.9% CAGR due to OEMs transitioning from metals to plastics. · EV Intensity: Average polymer use in EVs is significantly higher than in ICE vehicles, as engineers fight to offset heavy battery packs. 🔍 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭? · Range Anxiety & Batte...

𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲'𝐬 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖𝐋𝐄𝐃𝐆𝐄 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧? When we talk about material selection, most people think in terms of grade or supplier. But in automotive plastic design, what really matters is: Material Behavior. Because material choice defines how the part will: • Flow • Shrink • Withstand heat • Survive stress • Maintain surface quality Let’s break this down. 🔵 1️⃣ Flow Behavior Flow behavior controls how efficiently the material fills the mold. It directly affects: • Thin rib filling • Weld lines • Surface defects • Short shots If flow is not compatible with geometry, no processing parameter can completely compensate. Material must flow according to design complexity. 🔵 2️⃣ Shrinkage Shrinkage controls final part dimensions. It influences: • Gap & flush • Warpage severity • Sink mark visibility • Dimensional stability Every plastic shrinks differently. If shrinkage behavior is m...