Researchers at Dresden University of Technology (TUD) have developed a two-dimensional conducting polymer. The new type of polyaniline (2DPANI) has a special electrical conductivity and transmits charges like metals. The discovery opens up new possibilities for higher performance organic electronics.
The article discusses ways to boost production, meet environmental regulations and reduce costs with data-driven technology solutions. Data has become a key driver of manufacturing and efficiency, particularly in the plastics industry.
There have been no significant developments in the surface treatment of metals for more than 60 years. Most of the developments concern chemicals and are aimed at meeting regulatory requirements and improving aesthetic properties. Meanwhile, manufacturing is evolving rapidly, new materials and component manufacturing methods are emerging, and new applications are demanding electrical properties and connectivity.
The processing of plastics is characterised by the fact that the processes are often repetitive, require a high degree of precision and can be harmful to health. The latest types of robots are being developed with all these factors in mind. The company Neura Robotics (Metzingen) calls the latest models "cognitive robots", in which artificial intelligence plays a major role.
Belgian company Delta Engineering will showcase an integrated system for injection moulding, plasma printing and digital labelling of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) paint buckets at the NPE 2024 exhibition.
Plastics production will reach 413.8 million tonnes in 2023, of which nearly 401T4T will be used for packaging. However, the environmental and health impacts of plastic pollution cause many problems. Microplastics pollute ecosystems and recycling efforts are insufficient, leaving many plastics in the environment for centuries.
The article presents the latest developments in polyamide composite additives, highlighting sustainability, flame retardancy and the problem of warpage. Careful selection and use of additives is crucial to ensure that polyamides (PAs) meet the diverse needs of a wide range of applications. These additives are becoming increasingly sophisticated, allowing for the customisation of properties that improve performance under high stress environments and ensure that polyamides remain a versatile and indispensable material for technical applications.
The article compares two engineering polymers, PPO (poly(phenylene oxide)) and PA66 (polyamide 66), highlighting their different chemical structures, properties and applications.
As demand for biofuels continues to grow, manufacturers are planning to build new plants and develop new types of new types of biomass. European Bioplastics (EUBP), an association of bioplastics companies, expects further growth, but notes that in 2024, the average utilisation of existing capacity was 58%. Some of the bioplastics are versions of conventional polymers made from bio-based raw materials.
Depending on the type and amount of additive, conductive plastics can be used for three main purposes: protection against electrostatic discharge (ESD), metal substitution and electromagnetic shielding (EMI). The demand for plastics made electrically conductive by additives is constantly growing, most recently in packaging, cables and miniaturised electronics.
Visitors to the JEC World 2025 composite exhibition in Paris were mainly confronted with products made of carbon fibre composites. Yet carbon fibre composites account for only 2% of the world's 13.5 million tonnes of composite products. The composites industry uses 95% of glass fibre for reinforcement.
Plastic foams have been present in the plastics industry since the 1950s. Only recently has the German company Evonik succeeded in developing a plastic foam with properties that make it suitable for use in aircraft construction. in the field of aerospace engineering. Aeronautics places extreme demands on the materials used for safety reasons. The requirements differ depending on whether the material is used inside the aircraft or in the structure.
PVC is one of the many plastics that can be used in a wide range of applications, but the requirements of these applications can usually only be met by additives. PVC additives are also subject to continuous development, partly to improve properties and partly for sustainability. Most of the innovations have been in the field of stabilisers.
Wood-plastic composites, abbreviated as WPC, in which wood fibre, wood flour, wood chips (usually mixed into a thermoplastic matrix) are used as fillers and reinforcing materials, have been known for a long time. In particular, extruded floor tiles and fence rails are widespread, with only one US company (Trex) selling a good USD 1 billion worth.
Victrex (Lancashire, U.K.) has launched Victrex LMPAEK, a new type of polyarylether ketone in powder and granular form, a lower melting point version of the previously known PEEK (polyether ether ketone), which has already been proven in a number of aerospace composites and additive manufacturing (3D printing).
Mitsui Chemicals Co. (Tokyo, Japan) and Microwave Chemical Co. Ltd. (Osaka, Japan) commissioned a plant in December 2023 that uses microwaves to produce carbon fibre using less energy than before.
The article describes new additive developments that improve the impact resistance of plastic products, including those containing recycled materials. The global market for impact modifying additives is expanding strongly, driven by increasing demand for high-performance, durable materials.
Avient has added new thermoplastic elastomers containing recycled content to its reSound REC (Recycled Content) range, which are specifically developed for use in automotive interiors, including floor mats, handles and storage trays. The company aims to contribute to the EU End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) Directive targets.
PVC recycler Ineos has opened two pilot plants to recover the material, which cannot be recycled by mechanical methods, by dissolving it. The pilot plants, located in Jemeppe-sur Sambre, Belgium, aim to achieve 40,000 tonnes of recycling units per year by 2030 under the Circle Project, in collaboration with two existing Belgian industrial consortia.
Trinseo is taking a significant step towards sustainability with the launch of its PMMA depolymerisation pilot plant in Italy, as the next generation recycling technology will help develop a circular infrastructure for acrylates, which also fits with Trinseo's 2030 sustainable product portfolio goals.
A major challenge for recycling plastic waste from both consumer (PCR) and production (PIR) is that different types of polymers do not always mix well. The mixture may be difficult to process, may have an unfavourable appearance or poor physical properties.
In addition to product waste recycling and recyclate disposal, meanwhile, highly regulated sectors such as pharmaceuticals and medical devices require long-life packaging. In addition, packaging must meet increasingly stringent quality standards. What conditions can be met today and what does the future hold?
One of the many problems in plastics recycling is cross-linked polymers (perhaps best known for tyres, but also including many thermosetting resins, adhesives, etc.), which have mechanical properties superior to thermoplastics in many areas, but cannot be melted and therefore cannot be recycled in a sludge state.
In 2023, Nova Chemicals announced that it will set up a materials recycling plant in partnership with Novolex on a former Ford site. The facility, called Syndigo One, aims to process more than 200 kt of film per year and produce high-quality recycled polyethylene for Nova's customers, enabling the use of recycled materials in high-value film applications.
The rapid growth of industrial and household waste has made the recycling of polyurethane (PU) an important research topic. This article explores the current status and prospects of PU recycling, highlighting key technological developments and ongoing initiatives.
A report by the Nova Institute in Germany expects a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 49% for compaund, so the Chinese biofuels market is expected to expand from 766,000 tonnes in 2023 to 2.5 million tonnes in 2025.
In Germany, the new coalition agreement between the trade union and the SPD contains important signals on industrial policy, but also shows an awareness of the economic situation. The plastics industry welcomed this opening and considered it a good starting point for cooperation.
As the global transition to renewable energy accelerates, the electricity grid infrastructure will need to keep pace. Borealis and Borouge are responding with a major global capacity expansion in cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) and semiconductor (semicon) compounds (the latter are sandwiched between the metal conductor and the insulating layer in the manufacture of high-voltage cables to allow the electrical field to change gradually) to support their customers in the supply of power cables essential for distribution and transmission networks.
Additive manufacturing technologies for composites are constantly evolving. Spanish startup Reinforce3D has developed a unique method of injecting continuous filaments inside hollow 3D printed parts, rather than printing directly with the continuous filaments.
Extrusion professionals tend to set different barrel temperature profiles to control the melt temperature, but their efforts are mostly in vain. The extruder barrel does not work like an oven for several reasons.
In an extruder, the screw typically rotates counterclockwise when viewed from the drive (or clockwise when viewed from the discharge nozzle) and the cylinder is stationary. However, if you turn the observation point around so that you are "sitting" on the pulley, the cylinder appears to rotate clockwise around the stationary pulley. This allows us to see the forces more clearly, making it easier to understand the melting process.
Although the stability of the process is a key factor for consistent quality parts, the actual temperature of the molten metal during the injection moulding process can be a mystery. It depends on whether the material is amorphous or partially crystalline, and is also influenced by factors such as the residence time of the material, the screw configuration, or the intensification ratio of the machine (the ratio of hydraulic pressure to the pressure inside the machine).
Slugs have been widely used for polymer processing for many years, but their performance remains something of a mystery to those who work with them day in, day out. For example, the melting rate is not as closely related to the geometry of the screw as one might think. Rather, it is determined by the peripheral speed of the screw, the temperature of the cylinder, and the thermal and viscosity properties of the polymer.
Well-designed tooling helps production lines to produce film quickly and accurately. However, a number of factors can help maximise the quality of the film. Here are a few tasters of what's new:
The author completed the design of his first single-cavity tool at RKO Tool Corporation in Minnesota in August 1987, after graduating from Hutchinson Vo-Tech College with a degree in Tool and Die Making. After ten weeks of work, the tool was nearly complete, with only the sanding of the vents on the parting line remaining. The shaping of the vents is one of the most difficult, final steps in mold making.
The safe packaging of medicines and other medical devices is an important area of medical plastic use, and one that is currently undergoing intensive development. The typical solution for pharmaceuticals is blister packaging. Developments are partly aimed at increasing the protective function and partly at increasing sustainability.
The first step in moisture measurement is to acquire a reliable instrument and then to develop a suitable methodology for each polymer to be processed in the factory. The subject of moisture measurement comes up frequently, so it is worth reviewing the scientific basis and misconceptions.
