Lilli Manolis Sherman Contributing Editor
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Weather Testing For the Real World
Broader use of plastics in building products and a growing desire to minimize painting of automotive parts is increasing the need for reliable predictions of light stability and weathering performance.
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Polyurethanes: Bio-Based Materials Capture Attention
The hot topic at this year’s PUR conference was rigid and flexible foams with increased biobased content. There was also news in one-component cast elastomers, surfactants, and TPUs.
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Carbon Nanotubes Improve In Properties, Purity and Price
ew suppliers and manufacturing technologies continue to emerge in the burgeoning field of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Recent news includes North American availability of CNFs from Austria’s Electrovac Group.
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New Resins and Modifiers for Extruded Profiles
Among new developments discussed at the Profiles 2007 conference in Charlotte, N.C., were high-melt-strength polyolefin elastomers for use as ingredients in TPO compounds that can compete with TPVs and flexible PVC.
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New Additives and Colorants To Debut at K 2007
The world’s largest plastics show next month in Dusseldorf will highlight an unusual mix of new polymer additives, including some based on novel chemistries that reportedly set new levels of performance.
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What's New at the Show in PUR/RIM
At this year’s K show, look for the launch of fiberglass/polyurethane pultrusion into window frames, as well as several new high-efficiency mixing heads, MDI prepolymers for cast elastomers, and an energy-absorbing PUR foam for car bumpers. PUR pultruded windowsBayer MaterialScience will showcase polyurethane pultrusion technology, which recently has penetrated new applications.
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Carbon Nanotubes Lots of Potential--If the Price is Right
With capacity scale-ups driving prices down, the pace has picked up for commerical applications that boost electrical and thermal conductivity, structural strength, and thermal stability.
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Nanocomposites: Less Hype, More Hard Work On Commercial Viability
Nano-fillers for enhancing thermoplastics and thermosets continue to make headway in commercial applications, although at a slower pace than had been anticipated.
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Non-Contact IR Analysis Simplifies On-Line Quality Control
A new method of mid-infrared analysis allows on-line monitoring of both the composition and physical properties of a plastic while it is being compounded or extruded.
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Novel Two-Stage Approach Makes Purging Hot Runners a Breeze
Two new and unusual compounds have been developed to ease the challenge of purging injection molding hot-runner systems.
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New Customizable Additives for Polyolefins and PVC
Developing a wide range of customizable additives to meet specific needs in polyolefins and PVC is a major thrust at Chemtura Corp., Middlebury, Conn.
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Polyurethanes: Fine-Tuning Insulation Foams
Thermal insulation has become ‘eco-friendly,’ but now the challenge is to optimize economics, processing, and performance.
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