polymerguru

Bacterial cellulose (BC) nanofibers are promising building blocks for the development of sustainable materials with the potential to outperform conventional synthetic materials. BC, one of the purest forms of nanocellulose, is produced at the interface between the culture medium and air, where the aerobic bacteria have access to oxygen. Biocompatibility, biodegradability, high thermal stability and mechanical strength are some of the unique properties that facilitate BC adoption in food, cosmetics and biomedical applications including tissue regeneration, implants, wound dressing, burn treatment and artificial blood vessels. Bacterial Cellulose Nanofibers for Biomedical Applications In the study published in Materials Horizons researchers at  Aalto University have developed a simple and customizable process that uses super-hydrophobic interfaces to finely engineer the bacteria access to oxygen in three dimensions and in multiple length scales, resulting in hollow, seamless, nanocel

Total Corbion PLA has announced the launch of a novel technology that can create full stereocomplex PLA in a broad range of industrial applications. The proprietary technology will enable PLA applications able to withstand temperatures close to 200°C (HDT-A). Samples of glass fiber reinforced stereocomplex PLA will be made available to those wanting to test the new technology for their applications. Breakthrough in PLA Temperature Resistance The new technology enables stereocomplex PLA – a material with long, regularly interlocking polymer chains that enable an even higher heat resistance than standard PLA.  This breakthrough in PLA temperature resistance unlocks a range of new application possibilities, and provides a biobased replacement for PBT and PA glass fiber reinforced products.  For example, injection molded applications for under-the-hood automotive components can now be made from glass fiber reinforced stereocomplex PLA, offering both a higher biobased content and a reduced

We’ve reported before on the pioneering 3D printing work of Sandia National Laboratories, one of the Department of Energy’s main research and development facilities. Sandia has been working on improving energy technology, with a particular focus on sustainability, and 3D printing has become a key focus.  3D printed solar panels  were explored last year, and the lab has been researching  3D printed wind turbines  for a while now. Sandia recently won the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer’s national 2018 Technology Focus Award, for developing the first wind turbine blades fabricated from a 3D printed mold. Wind energy is one of the most promising sources in terms of sustainability and reliability, but the turbine technology used is still imperfect. The size of the average turbine blade means that testing and prototyping can be prohibitively expensive and time-consuming. 3D printing could solve this issue due to its improved design flexibility and speed of producti

A Korean research team, affiliated with UNIST has presented a new type of underwater adhesives that are tougher than the natural biological glues that mussels normally use to adhere to rocks, ships, and larger sea critters. Innovative Tougher Underwater Adhesives This has attracted much attention as a technology that surpass the limits of conventional chemical-based adhesives that significantly lose adhesion capability when exposed to moisture or when reused. This breakthrough has been led by Professor Hoon-Eui Jeong in the School of Mechanical Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering and his research team at UNIST. According to the research team, stable adhesion between surfaces under wet conditions is highly desirable for many practical applications, particularly in the bioengineering and medical fields, where most surfaces are wet. However, limitations in complicated surface treatment and expensive protocols restrain the extensive use of these natural protein adhe

Recent regulatory and market drivers, including cost pressures, are generating a material choice debate about polyvinyl chloride (PVC), thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and rubber materials, according to Colorite, a Tekni-Plex business unit specializing in custom medical-grade compounds.  TPE-replaces PVC Many companies are trying to proactively address new regulatory dynamics, both in the United States and in many other global regions. Pressure is being applied by healthcare systems that are already implementing strategic initiatives for phthalate-free patient environments. TPEs are being viewed as a replacement for PVC in applications where phthalate- or plasticizer-free materials are desired. Globally, IV therapy producers are among the first in the medical device industry to transition from PVC to TPE materials.  TPE-replaces Thermoset Rubbers TPEs also are replacing thermoset rubbers (silicone, polyisoprene and butyl rubber) used in elastomeric medical applications such as septa,

Solvay further established itself as one of the emerging leaders in specialty polymers for additive manufacturing (AM) with the news that high-performance KetaSpire® PEEK AM filament will be the first polyetheretherketone polymer included in e-Xstream engineering’s Digimat® simulation software due for launch in June 2018.  Specialty Polymers for Simulation 3D Printing Platform: Christophe Schramm, business manager for additive manufacturing at Solvay’s Specialty Polymers global business unit, said: “KetaSpire® PEEK’s inclusion in Digimat® represents Solvay’s latest step toward becoming the industry’s leading resource for successfully applying advanced polymers in 3D printing processes. Solvay is building on its long-standing partnership with e-Xstream engineering to quickly expand the number of specialty polymers available for simulation on the Digimat® platform, and ultimately enable our customers to ‘print it right the first time’ when using Solvay’s high-performing thermoplasti

Dear groups members,  If you have been looking for an opportunity to study your MSc in Germany, this is your best chance!  As the blog owner, I would like to personally invite all of you to join a webinar, taking place in April 25, about a MSc in Biofabrication at the Bayreuth University, in Germany. As an international student, you won't have to pay any tuition fees for the programme. Read more:  https://bit.ly/2J1HSRa   This is a great opportunity for those members who are interested in kickstart their careers with an state of art Master’s of Science in Biofabrication, the emerging technology currently shaping the future of Medical Engineering. I highly recommend anyone to join. Register now and don't miss this opportunity of studying for free in Germany. We have limited places:  https://bit.ly/2J1HSRa   Thank you and see you online on the webinar! Kind regards, Muthuramalingam Krishnan