polymerguru

Verdezyne, Inc., a privately-held industrial biotechnology company focused on producing renewable chemicals, recently announced it has reached an agreement with Bio-XCell Malaysia to construct Verdezyne’s first commercial-scale renewable chemicals manufacturing facility in Bio-XCell’s premier biotechnology and ecosystem park in Nusajaya, Iskandar, in southern Malaysia. With construction scheduled to commence in 2015, the plant will be capable of producing approximately 30 million pounds per year of diacids, including dodecanedioic acid (DDDA), and will be the world’s first bio-based plant for the production of DDDA.  The exchange of agreement ceremony took place during the official opening ceremony of “BioMalaysia: Bioeconomy Asia Pacific 2014 Conference & Exhibition,” and was attended by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.  “This agreement is part of our comprehensive strategy of expansion into Asia, and represents a huge step toward our goal of replacing petroleum-derived

Cross-contamination must be eliminated in valves used for sensitive pharmaceutical process technology. The safest method is to use one-way valves, which until now has meant replacing the entire valve. With its controlled single-use membrane valve GEMÜ SUMONDO®, with a special TPE membrane from KRAIBURG TPE, GEMÜ is introducing a safe and cost-effective system. With it, only the valve unit has to be replaced, because thanks to the interior membrane, it is the only part that comes into contact with the pharmaceutical media. The actuator itself remains in the system for re-use. The valve unit, which is manufactured in a cleanroom out of sterilized polypropylene, is equipped with a TPE membrane. The ultrasonically heat-sealed membrane hermetically separates the media from the environment and from the valve's actuator. Moreover, it also regulates the volume flow in the valve during operation.  "Using THERMOLAST® M, the medically-compliant TPE from KRAIBURG TPE, represents a fund

With features inspired by D4S and D810, the D750 brings dazzling image quality, cinematic video capabilities and pro-inspired handling in a nimble design with a tilting Vari-angle LCD and built-in Wi-Fi connectivity. Enthusiasts upgrading from a DX-format D-SLR will marvel at the D750's full-frame performance. Pros seeking a primary or secondary camera for fast-paced shoots will appreciate the D750's familiar handling and speed. And filmmakers looking for a compact D-SLR to bring a production to life or to capture B-Roll will find the D750 a perfect fit. The D750 is a thrilling centerpiece of an exceptional imaging system.  Another first for a Nikon full-frame D-SLR, the D750 employs a compact, lightweight and slim monocoque body design. The front body and front cover are constructed from carbon-fiber reinforced thermoplastics, while the rear and top covers are magnesium alloy, for a balanced combination of nimbleness and ruggedness. This slim styling and ergonomic la

DTR Medical, among the leading manufacturers of single-use surgical instruments, has specified Sorona® renewably sourced polymer for six components in its new Cervical Rotating Biopsy Punch. This grade is a 15-percent glass filled grade of Sorona® EP providing high strength and stiffness. Further attributes of Sorona® useful in this application include resistance to gamma sterilization and excellent dimensional stability. The Cervical Rotating Biopsy Punch is used to take a tissue sample, on patients undergoing cervical cancer biopsies, for cell analysis by microscopy. The DuPont material, which is supplied with full regulatory compliance for use in healthcare applications and is produced according to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standards, is used in the handle and trigger mechanism to mold the rear hand left and right, front handle, connector pin, rotational controller and the rotational controller with chamfer. These parts are used to activate a spring, driving the inner

Lehvoss North America announces the introduction of its LUVOCOM® 70 series of high performance compounds based on polyketone (PK). These compounds fill the gap between compounds based on technical polymers like  PA6 ,  PA66,  and acetal and high performance polymers such as  polyphenylene sulfide  ( PPS ),  polyetherimide  ( PEI ), and polyaryletherketone (PAEK). In having a combination of select features of these other polymers, the PK polymer offers an exceptional property profile with unique advantages for applications having multiple engineering requirements. "The introduction is actually a re-launch," explained Michael Sandeen, Sales and Business Development Manager at Lehvoss, "Various LUVOCOM 70 products had been available until the year 2000 but had to be cancelled due to Shell Chemical's discontinuation of Carilon PK polymer production. With the polymer now available, Lehvoss decided to start the development of these new high performance compounds beca

As a manufacturer of  thermoplastic polyurethane  ( TPU ), BASF has successfully optimized the material so that it can be applied extensively and unpainted on the vehicle exterior. The automotive manufacturer PSA Peugeot Citroën uses the new  TPU  grade Elastollan® AC 55D10 HPM (High Performance Material) for cladding the Citroën C4 Cactus with so-called Airbumps®. These are large air-filled cushion bumpers in contrasting colors: They are fitted on the sides as well as on the front and rear of the vehicle, protect the car exterior from impact and scratches and give the vehicle its distinctive look. This world first is the result of many years of development work between the French automotive manufacturer, the supplier Rehau, Switzerland and BASF. Rehau manufactures the side Airbumps®, while the company Faurecia, France produces the bumpers at the front and back. "With their characteristic Elastollan® surface, Airbumps® embody the philosophy of the Citroën C4 Cactus perfectly —

LANXESS has achieved a process innovation in the production of continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic Tepex composites. The subsidiary company Bond-Laminates, which manufactures these composites, is now able to continuously series-produce large semi-finished composite products in which the continuous fiber layers can be oriented at almost any conceivable angle. Until now, the continuous fibers in Tepex could only be lined up in the direction of production or perpendicular to it (0 degrees or 90 degrees). This process innovation means the designer can use the differently oriented composite continuous fibers to help him react more specifically to the force transmission in the target component. Even quasi-isotropic constructions can now be fashioned using Tepex. "This means Tepex can be used to design lighter-weight composite components that are tailored even more specifically to the load in question. So the new-generation Tepex strengthens our position as a leading supplier of