Thermoplastics

Join FlexForum to explore PPWR, EPR, and PCR trends shaping flexible packaging design and recyclability.

Researchers are fine-tuning computer vision systems to help identify and sort plastic waste on construction sites.

Photothermal-responsive coatings use shape memory polymers to repair surface defects. Structural encoding and light activation enable autonomous recovery.

Subcritical water treatment at 325°C removes 96% of VOCs and pigments from PE/PP blends while preserving 94% of molecular weight for high-value reuse.

Multi-material 3D printing of PEEK and PEKK enables the consolidation of structural aerospace parts with embedded sensors and high-frequency antennas.

Mass production of microfluidics requires replacing PDMS with thermoplastics. Variothermal molding solves the “frozen layer” problem, enabling cycle times of <1 minute.

Hospitals adopt sustainable materials, smarter packaging, and greener procurement to cut waste and emissions while protecting patient safety in 2026.

What it takes for sustainable plastics to work in pharma, with insights from Dr. Beate Mueller-Tiemann.

Move beyond ASTM D395 compression set to stress relaxation and DMA to predict contact stress retention and leakage risk in high-performance seals.

Researchers developed a novel, bio-based composite, enhanced with essential oil and chitosan, designed specifically for cosmetics packaging.

Moving beyond Melt Flow Index: select rheological measurements that match the deformation modes of injection molding and film blowing.

Optical sieve microcavities shift color when they trap nanoplastics, enabling fast detection, sizing, and counting with a standard microscope.