Thermoplastics

Lighting technologies increase EV visibility, build visual brand recognition.

Sabic is launching two grades of Noryl modified polyphenylene ether (PPE) resins to aid in the development of lightweight, thin and crash-resistant battery modules and housings for electric vehicles (EVs).   The resin supplier also reports development of a portfolio of…

Winning parts in annual thermoforming competition highlight advances in process capabilities and materials  Ten parts representing a range of applications won awards at the SPE Thermoforming Division’s annual conference in Grand Rapids, Mich., last fall.   The event lived up to…

UC San Diego researchers use SEBS copolymer to develop a wearable ultrasound patch Researchers at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), are using a styrene-based triblock copolymer to help enable the development of a wearable ultrasound patch that could…

Industry turns to monomaterial packaging for circular economy needs.

Materials developer Covestro and industrial 3D printer manufacturer voxeljet are collaborating on a material-machine combination for the economical and high-throughput production of large parts by additive manufacturing (AM).   The voxeljet process in use is high-speed sintering (HSS), and the model…

Datwyler, a manufacturer of system-critical polymer components for diverse industries, is expanding its in-house capabilities with an initiative called Project ETEMI, an acronym for electrically and thermally conductive and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials.   The Schattdorf, Switzerland, company is using…

Air taxis and delivery vehicles—whether piloted or autonomous—could be ready for daily use as soon as 2023, according to some forecasts. If so, this urban air mobility (UAM) market will create growing business opportunities for suppliers and processors of specialty…

Automakers around the world continue to invest billions to advance electronic vehicles (EVs) as sustainable and desirable transportation options. Despite their efforts, two nagging problems persist: how to rapidly recharge a battery—ideally in 5 minutes or less—and extend range beyond…

Enhanced colorants complement multiple needs including sustainability and product circularity Much work is underway in new and upgraded formulations for pigments and colorants of all types—solids, concentrates, liquids, organics and inorganics. Driving these efforts are evolving areas like recycling and…