May 13, 2024Hybridizing Epoxy Composites with Egg Shell PowderRecent advances have shown that natural and waste-derived fillers, like eggshell powder (ESP), can greatly enhance the properties of composite materials. Read more
May 13, 2024Early-Stage Carbon Footprint Assessment for Product DesignA Product Carbon Footprint calculator, unveiled by BARLOG Plastics, aims to forecast recyclability from the development phase for injection molded parts. Read more
May 2, 2024Valorization of Human Hair Waste in the Synthesis of Kevlar-Based AerogelsAbdul Baghirov pioneers a transformative method to integrate hair fibers into Kevlar aerogels. It offers enhanced filtration efficiency and sustainable solutions to combat environmental challenges due to human hair waste. Read more
April 19, 2024The Future of Plastics: The START-UP – Chapter 3 of 3The future of the plastics industry emerges as a focal point, in a world inundated with crisis reports and the relentless hustle of daily life. Hence, it’s crucial to take a step back and examine the industry through different lenses. Read more
April 1, 2024The Future of Plastics: The Technology – Chapter 2 of 3The future of the plastics industry emerges as a focal point, in a world inundated with crisis reports and the relentless hustle of daily life. It’s crucial to take a step back and examine the industry through different lenses. Read more
March 25, 2024The Future of Plastics: The Vision, Chapter 1 of 3In the turbulence, the future of the plastics industry emerges as a focal point. With forecasts depicting a landscape characterized by both challenges and opportunities. In a world inundated with crisis reports and the relentless hustle of daily life, it’s imperative now more than ever to hit the pause button and reassess our perspectives. Read more
March 23, 2024IKV Boosts the Plastics BranchThe IKV Colloquium demonstrated the plastics industry’s resilience in addressing current challenges. On February 28th-29th, 2024, RWTH Aachen University’s IKV organized an event fostering industry-academia exchanges. Read more
March 18, 2024Mastering Clamping Force CalculationClamping force calculation is essential for injection molding projects to avoid expensive corrections later. Read more
March 15, 2024Next-Gen Smart Skin: Force, Humidity, and Temperature Sensing PropertiesEU-supported SmartCore project creates nanorods with a core-shell structure comprised of a multi-stimuli-responsive smart polymer and a piezoelectric ZnO shell. An array of these stimuli-responsive nanorods on a surface constitutes smart skin. These combine force, humidity, and temperature sensing (F-H-T) with high spatial resolution. Read more
February 26, 202432nd IKV Colloquium, The Five Cutting-Edge TopicsIKV has consistently pushed the boundaries of knowledge, fostered interdisciplinary collaboration, and driven progress in the dynamic field of plastics. Read more
February 15, 2024Direct Compounding Injection Molding: Cost-Efficient ExpertiseTailored compounding for serial production and directly pelletized to the injection molding machine. Shortened supply chain (10 to 3 steps) from compounding to injection, achieving up to €1.0/kg in energy and cost savings. It accomplishes high requirements with tailored compound formulation in-house. Read more
February 12, 2024AI Mastery: Scaling from Research to Serial ApplicationHow Artificial Intelligence (AI) can succeed 6% reduction in energy consumption, a 9% decrease in rejects, and a 10% enhancement in systems efficiency. This approach significantly accelerates the timeline from project planning to AI deployment, condensing it from months to a matter of weeks. Read more