March 2021

A director of business and product development for a Tier 1 automotive supplier specializing in injection molding reflects on industry’s technological breakthroughs, many of which were made possible by plastics.

Nanoencapsulation of natural or synthetic antimicrobial agents into food packaging can help ensure the product is safe for consumption. The technology also helps extend shelf life and reduce food waste cost effectively and safely for humans and the environment.

Many LED light sources have a problem in creating uniform diffused light, resulting in brightness concentrations –or, so-called “hot spots”, on backlit surfaces. New light-diffusing (LD) color and additive masterbatches from Tosaf Color Services (U.S. office in Bessemer City, N.C.. have been shown to effectively prevent this undesirable phenomenon.

The Complus concept, developed by Polykemi and subsidiary Rondo Plast, encompasses compounds based on both virgin and recycled resins with similar properties, enabling processors to select the most-appropriate materials for injection molded parts within an assembly.

I have found that a lot of experienced extrusion operators—especially those with limited background in polymer rheology—tend to think the material “slides” through the die to form its final shape. In fact, the polymer should adhere firmly to the die walls, as slips result in melt fracture. That effect has a considerable influence on the die design and it’s important to understand this when troubleshooting die performance.

While many industries have suffered during the coronavirus pandemic, some parts of the building-products industry have thrived. It’s clear that some consumers, stuck mostly at home, caught the DIY bug and took on “wish list” projects to help create more comfortable and enjoyable surroundings.

Injection molders want plastic parts to eject easily, consistently, quickly. Parts getting stuck causes damage and can break mold components, resulting in longer cycle times, manufacturing delays and increased costs. An experienced moldmaker knows how to manage the complexities of your mold design with the necessary ejection strategy, improving your part quality and saving you time and money over the life of your mold.

Phys.org: Polymers News

As electronic devices saturate all corners of public and personal life, engineers are scrambling to find lightweight, mechanically stable, flexible, and easily manufactured materials that can shield humans from excessive electromagnetic radiation as well as prevent electronic devices from interfering with each other.

Phys.org: Polymers News

Many materials in the modern world—from the plastics that dominate it to the electronic chips that drive it—are constructed of polymers. Given their ubiquity and the evolving requirements of our world, finding better and more efficient methods of making them is an ongoing research concern. In addition, current environmental issues necessitate the use of methods and input materials that are environment friendly.

What is touted as the industry’s lowest-cost polymerization process to make compostable polymers that satisfy brand owner requirements for circular economy solutions was recently demonstrated successfully by Novomer Inc., Rochester, N.Y. Named Rinnovo, the new polymer is a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) that is synthesized using proprietary and highly selective catalysts, enabling scale and cost advantages over incumbent routes to compostable polymers.

Goodyear Tire and Cooper Tire announced that they have entered a definitive transaction agreement under which Goodyear will acquire Cooper in a transaction with a total enterprise value of approximately $2.5 billion. The transaction will expand Goodyear’s product offering by combining two portfolios of complementary brands. It will also create a stronger U.S.

Plastics Technology

A series of extremely soft TPEs has been launched by Germany’s Kraiburg TPE (U.S. office in Duluth, Ga.) to meet the demand from a range of applications–from orthopedic appliances and bicycle equipment to lids for cosmetics, for very soft, tough and durable materials. All three new compounds are said to represent the next-generation of supersoft TPEs and are sold under the Thermolast S brand.

Tire Technology International

Michelin says it has committed to making all of its tires 100% sustainable by 2050. It notes that 30% of the components used for its current tire production are already sourced from natural, recycled or sustainable raw materials, but aims to push this percentage higher in the coming years.

British Plastics

Addmaster Biomaster antimicrobial technology is proven to provide effective product surface protection against a wide range of harmful microbes and has successfully been tested to ISO standards against SARS-COV-2.

“Building on the capabilities of its well-established Sensing Core tire monitoring system, Sumitomo Rubber Industries has introduced technology to allow for tread wear assessment. The system is already equipped to record tire pressures, load and road conditions, however, by harvesting data such as wheel speed, engine load and other parameters from a vehicle’s systems, Sumitomo says it is now able to calculate tire wear levels.”

Paul Tan’s Automotive News

Singapore will ban the registration of new diesel-powered cars and taxis from 2025, or five years sooner than previously scheduled, according to a Bloomberg report. At present, around 2.9% of passenger vehicles and 41.5% of taxis are fuelled by diesel, according to figures from the city-state’s Land Transport Authority. The forthcoming ruling will not affect goods delivery vehicles and buses, according to the Singapore government.

Tire Technology International

Japanese tire manufacturer Toyo Tires has announced that it will be ending production at its Silverstone Berhad (SSM) tire manufacturing subsidiary in Perak, Malaysia. The facility is currently used for manufacturing tires for OEMs, Toyo’s own branded tires, and also Silverstone-branded tires for aftermarket use in Malaysia.

BusinessWorld

SNACK maker Mondelez Philippines, Inc. has partnered up with social enterprise The Plastic Flamingo (PLAF) in collecting and recycling 40 metric tons or 40,000 kilos of plastic waste, which would be used in the latter’s production of eco-lumber material for disaster relief shelters.