September 2012 Issue
August 2012
Features
Featured articles from the latest issue of Plastics Technology
Metabolix Finds New Production Partner For Mirel PHA Biopolymer
Metabolix, Inc., Cambridge, Mass., has signed a letter of intent to produce its Mirel biopolymer at Antibioticos, S.A.in Leon, Spain.
Read MoreTwo Partnerships to Produce Biobased Butadiene
Last month saw the formation of two partnerships to produce biobased butadiene.
Read MoreLaser-Transparent PBT in Novel Air-Flap Control Unit
WEB EXCLUSIVE: A 20% glass-reinforced grade of Ultradur LUX laser-transparent PBT resin from BASF is being used for the housing cover of a novel air-flap control actuator developed jointly by Germany’s Tier 1 supplier Rochling Automotive and motor developer Precision Motors Duetche Minebea.
Read MoreMaking Old Bags New Again
This year, leading film processor and bagmaker Hilex company reprocessed 25 million lb of post-consumer material in its Bag2Bag recycling program.
Read MoreHow Do You Like Your Acetal: Homopolymer or Copolymer?
Acetal materials have been a commercial option for more than 50 years.
Read MoreNASA's 'Mars Rover' Has Many 3D Printed Parts
A Fortus 3D printer from Stratasys, Inc., Eden Prairie, Minn., was used by NASA to help build a next-generation rover capable of supporting two humans on near-earth asteroids and Mars.
Read MoreTPE Adheres to Acetal in Earpieces of Safety Glasses
WEB EXCLUSIVE: Sporty new Pheos safety glasses from Germany’s Uvex feature earpieces made with a soft-touch Thermolast K styrenic TPE compound from Kraiburg TPE GmbH (U.S. office in Duluth, Ga.).
Read MoreSolve Seven Common Pelletizing Problems
Here's a quick how-to on keeping your pelletizing line churning out quality product.
Read MoreUnderstanding Automation for Pipette Molding
While simple looking enough, the pipette can be challenging to process. They generally have to be produced in high volumes without sacrificing quality due to their demanding applications. Automation is key to making this happen.
Read MoreNew Machines & Processes for Medical, Auto, Packaging, Electronics
Engel’s technical symposium in June attracted 2700 visitors from 35 countries to two days of technical presentations and 18 injection molding exhibits at the company’s plant in St.
Read MoreMuCell Extrusion Gains Dow and Styron Film and Sheet Technology
MuCell Extrusion LLC, Woburn, Mass., made two moves last month that further expanded its capabilities in flat film and sheet foaming.
Read MoreSurlyn Ionomer Overmolding of Cosmetic Jar Has Distinctive Printing Effect
WEB EXCLUSIVE: The kaleidoscopic visual appeal of Surlyn ionomer from DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers, Wilmington, Del., was exemplified last month at Luxe Pack 2012 in Monaco by Italian cosmetics packaging designer Lucchese Design.
Read MoreEnergy Miser: For Energy-Efficient Water Cooling, Raise Temperatures to Cut Demand
Many plants use chilled-water temperatures that are far lower than are actually needed by the process. This has a direct effect on the cost of chilled water.
Read MoreTPU Powders for SLS Prototyping & Manufacturing
Germany’s Bayer MaterialScience (U.S. office in Pittsburgh) and Solid Composites GmbH have partnered to develop TPU powders for SLS (selective laser sintering), a digital rapid-prototyping and additive-manufacturing method for fabricating 3D structures by using a laser beam to sinter thin layers of powdered materials.
Read MoreThe Power-Law Coefficient
By referring to the power-law coefficient, the effect of barrel override in the metering section of many screws can be explained and anticipated.
Read MoreEstablish a True ‘24/7’ Production Process
New or existing mold trials need to produce a production-worthy process that will run 24/7.
Read MorePE , PS , PVC Prices Rise While PP Tabs Dip
Prices of PE and PS rose in August, and PVC prices were set to move up this month, while PP prices did the reverse.
Read MoreHigh-Flow PEEK Makes Small, Intricate Pipette Tips
WEB EXCLUSIVE: An unfilled grade of Victrex 90 Series high-flow PEEK from Victrex USA was used to mold small medical pipette tips.
Read MoreNoryl GTX in India’s First Injection Molded Plastic Fenders
WEB EXCLUSIVE: India’s first injection-molded plastic fenders are featured on the new global XUV500 SUV from Indian automaker Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M). They are made of Noryl GTX, a PPE/nylon blend from SABIC Innovative Plastics, Pittsfield, Mass.
Read MoreExpansions in TP Composite Materials
Polystrand, Inc., Englewood, Colo., is starting up a new and larger production facility for continuous-fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites in Montrose, Colo.
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