polymerguru

Eden Energy Ltd has announced the wide applications of carbon nanotubes and nanofibers in various industries like electronics, automotives where they are mixed with rubber and plastics and used in manufacturing of vehicle tyres etc. Initially they encourage nano tubes and fibers utilisation in batteries followed by plastic and rubber industries where they improve the tensile strength and shelf life of rubber. Eden has also developed new pyrolysis technology along with university of Queensland which produces carbon nanotubes and nanofibers from natural gas and significant advantage of not producing carbon dioxide as an unwanted by-product. First Sale of Eden's Nano-Carbon Fibers to a Battery Manufacturer for Commercial Application: Eden Energy Ltd ("Eden") has made its first commercial sale of its carbon nanotubes (CNT) and carbon nanofibers (CNF) to an industrial battery manufacturer. The sale followed the testing by the battery manufacturer of the suitability of

Ensinger recently launched a series of highly loaded thermoplastic carbon fiber composites. Components made of this composite material offer high mechanical strength alongside excellent heat distortion properties. Stock shapes made using the new TECATEC product series comprise a thermoplastic matrix and a woven fabric of carbon fiber bundles. This combination ensures the achievement of significantly higher tensile and flexural strength compared to fiber reinforced extrudates. The lightweight materials also offer good chemical resistance and are radiolucent, making them ideally suited for external fixation devices and surgical instruments.  TECATEC PEEK CW50 makes use of the matrix polymer VICTREX® PEEK ™, which is compressed with laminated woven carbon fabric mats. A special coating on the fabric helps to reduce the number of faults. A carbon fiber fabric component of 50 per cent ensures extremely good torsional stiffness and minimal tendency to warp even after multiple

LANXESS is in process of developing a new blow-moldable, gasoline fuel-resistant polyamide 6 ( PA6 ) grade for high-performance tanks. Used as a replacement to high-density polyethylene ( HDPE ) and other metal-based tanks (such as aluminum, steel or multi-layer plastic composites), PA6 is compliant with EPA regulations and suppresses fuel permeation in blow-molded tanks effectively. Tanks made of multi-layer plastic composites contain a polar layer of ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) as a permeation barrier. Making these layers by means of co-extrusion blow molding process is a complex and costly task too. Steel and aluminum tanks do not give design freedom. LANXESS experts are also looking for a possibility to make the new polyamide tank material which is resistant to E85 fuels too. PA6-based fuel tanks can find their application in motorcycles, cars, boats, combustion machines, mobile power generators, and more.

Carbon fibre supplier SGL Group of Germany announced in its latest financial report in November that, despite a recent recovery in demand, the market for carbon fibre continues to face temporary overcapacities due to the numerous delays in new aircraft projects, delayed investments in wind energy, as well as declining demand in sports and consumer applications. “This has resulted in an increased competitive environment with temporary negative impact on prices and volumes,” relates SGL. “The recent increase in demand, however, has led to prices stabilising, albeit at still unsatisfactory levels. Further price increases are necessary in 2011,” the report notes. The company also says that in recent months it has improved the structure of its precursor supply with the addition of two independent production sites. Long delays in Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner programme have contributed to the supply and demand imbalance. Boeing announced in January that it expects delivery of the f

Scientists in Brazil have developed a more effective way to use fibers from these and other plants in a new generation of automotive plastics that are stronger, lighter, and more eco-friendly than plastics now in use. They described the work, which could lead to stronger, lighter, and more sustainable materials for cars and other products, here today at the 241st National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS). Study Leader Alcides Leão, Ph.D., said the fibers used to reinforce the new plastics may come from delicate fruits like bananas and pineapples, but they are super strong. Some of these so-called nano-cellulose fibers are almost as stiff as Kevlar, the renowned super-strong material used in armor and bulletproof vests. Unlike Kevlar and other traditional plastics, which are made from petroleum or natural gas, nano-cellulose fibers are completely renewable. "The properties of these plastics are incredible," Leão said, "Th

Thermoplastic tubing and profiles custom extruder International Polymer Engineering (IPE) is now offering small-diameter (0.25-inch) microtubes and profiles made of medical grade KetaSpire® polyetheretherketone ( PEEK ) resin from Solvay Advanced Polymers, LLC. Microtubes are manufactured on 1-inch extruder that can tolerate high melting temperature (upto 370°C), a PEEK material characteristic, for a prolonged period of time and can withstand more than 1,000 cycles of steam sterilization. IPE found materials made of KetaSpire PEEK better that nylon, polytetrafluorothylene ( PTFE ), polyurethane and polycarbonate in terms of strength and rigidity. Unfilled KetaSpire KT-820 NT PEEK microtubes (size: 0.029-inch outer dimension by 0.016-inch inner dimension) are used in medical instruments, laproscopic devices, catheters; open and hollow PEEK profiles are also produced. KetaSpire® PEEK Grade KT-851 NT is also used in wire and cable insulation, monofilaments, ultra-thin tubing a

The BMW Group has approved spindle nuts made from Evonik Industries product VESTAKEEP® polyether ether ketone ( PEEK ) polymer. The spindle nuts are used in electrical steering column adjustment assemblies. As claimed, the VESTAKEEP® L4000G-based spindle nuts do not break under the severe conditions and thus prevent any plastic pieces from disabling the function of safety-relevant features. With improved ductility, high dimensional stability at different temperatures, chemicals & impact-resistance, VESTAKEEP® PEEK passed the tests by BMW. VESTAKEEP® spindle nuts are used in the electrical steering column adjustment assemblies that are manufactured by Solingen, Germany-based C. Rob. Hammerstein GmbH & Co. KG. Exceptional material characteristics diversify its future use in mechanical steering column adjustment assemblies, besides automotive and aerospace applications, oil and natural gas sectors, semiconductor, electronics and medical industry and much more.