polymerguru

Partial Hand Solutions has developed prosthetic fingers using thermoplastic polyurethane (PUR) from RTP Company. ‘M-Fingers’ device from Partial Hand has been used as a prototype. The inner structure of the dexterous fingers and multi-position friction thumb is designed using RTP 2300-series glass-filled rigid thermoplastic PUR, which is over-molded with RTP 1200-series thermoplastic PUR elastomer to provide each finger with dexterity. The fingers and thumb have urethane over-molds to provide better grasp and in-molded finger nails for picking up small objects. The rigid PUR material gives strength and dimensional stability to the product. The mechanical fingers are actuated by a Spectra cable that crosses the wrist and is controlled by simple wrist flexion. M-Fingers are normally built using silicone partial hand socket with the appropriate number of fingers and finger sizes to match the sound-side hand. M-Fingers are distributed by Liberating Technologies of Holliston,

LANXESS, a specialty chemicals firm, foresees increase in demand for synthetic rubber in India, a country with a long history in the production and consumption of natural rubber. Driven by the need of rapid modernization, India is currently undergoing a shift towards replacing natural with synthetic rubber in a variety of applications. As one of the world's leaders in manufacturing synthetic rubber and backed by a history of serving the Indian market for over 40 years, LANXESS is set to play an important role in this development. One of the growth drivers for high performance rubber in India is the automotive industry. Triggered by a burgeoning middle class, demand for passenger cars and two-wheelers is rising. The automotive industry is expected to grow by about 12-14% in 2010-2012. In addition, the government has an ambitious project of expanding and strengthening the highway infrastructure of India by an estimated growth rate of 8-9%. Increase in mobility woul

TOKYO, Japan -- NEC Corporation announced the development of a first-of-its-kind durable new biomass-based plastic (bioplastic) that is produced from non-edible plant resources. The bioplastic is created by bonding cellulose *1 , a main component of plant stems, with cardanol *2 , a primary component of cashew nut shells, which achieves a level of durability that is suitable for electronic equipments and boasts a high plant composition ratio of more than 70%. The new bioplastic characteristics are as follows: Composed of non-edible plant resources : As an alternative to petroleum-based components, cellulose is the plastic's major ingredient. The cellulose, which is produced in large amounts by plants, including grass stems, etc., is modified by cardanol, an oil-like material that is extracted from cashew nut shells. Most of these stems and nut shells are abundant resources, which are often discarded byproducts of the agricultural process. High plant component rat

On the occasion of the last outdoor Retailer Summer exhibition in Salt Lake City (US), the French material producer Arkema and the American company Smith Optics unveiled the latest Smith Optics ‘Evolve’ sunglasses collection, which is made using an Arkema bio-renewable sourced thermoplastic i.e. Rilsan® Clear G830 Rnew. The new ‘Evolve’ collection includes 20 new sunglass frame models that are all made entirely from this Rilsan® grade that is a transparent polyamide material stemming from castor oil. In fact the Rilsan® Clear G830 Rnew grade includes 54% bio-based raw material. It provides the required characteristics for the Smith Optics sunglasses i.e. good impact resistance, high durability, good flexibility as well as lightness and optimal comfort. Moreover it offers good chemical resistance and is easily processed.

Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) has awarded New Flyer of America Inc., a contract for the acquisition of up to 475 buses. The company is dedicated to CNG fuel systems, it first delivered CNG buses to San Diego and has delivered more than 3,500 CNG buses over the past 15 years. These CNG buses will be operated by the New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) and the MTA Bus Company (MTA Bus), the largest transit agency in North America that is responsible for public transportation in the state of New York. The contract is for 135 40-foot CNG heavy-duty transit buses with options for up to an additional of 340 CNG buses. Since 1996, New Flyer has delivered 823 buses to the MTA. These 475 CNG buses will join the 190 pre-existing NGV’s. This figure will exceed the current fleet of diesel units running on New York City streets. Two pilot buses will be delivered to the MTA in May 2011, with the balance of the base order delivered in the last part of 2011 and early 2012.

The whiskey industry could soon have a new product that has nothing to do with giving drinkers their desired buzz, but rather provide clean fuel for vehicles. Scientists from the Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland filed a patent on Tuesday for a new biofuel derived from the byproducts of whiskey distillation that can be used in ordinary vehicles minus the usual modification to become biofuel-ready. The new biofuel, a result of a two-year research project by the university’s Biofuel Research Center , uses two main byproducts in the whiskey production process – pot ale, the liquid that comes from the whiskey production copper stills and draff, the spent grains – to create butanol that can be used as fuel. Biobutanol is believed to be the next-generation biofuel, with scientists claiming they can give 30 percent more output power than ethanol . It can also be used to make other green renewable biochemicals such as acetone. “The most likely form of distribution of the bi

The number of algae biofuels start-up companies more than tripled between 2005 and 2009, leading to a sharp rise in the number of pilot and commercial-scale facility projects, according to new research. Before 2000, there were roughly ten companies around the world pursuing the development of algae biofuels as their sole business area or in relation to other business operations such as algae production or renewable fuels. By 2009, the number of companies involved in the development and implementation of algae biofuels technologies had grown to more than 60 worldwide, the Algae Biofuels Production Technologies Worldwide report said. In addition, involvement in the algae biofuels industry as a whole increased by 550 per cent between 2005 and 2007, fuelled by environmental concerns and high crude oil prices. Robert Eckard, analyst at SBI Energy and author of the report said algae can be cultivated and harvested in support of a wide array of biofuel products. ‘In addition,