March 13, 2026The Regulatory Blind Spot in Plastic DesignThe new EU 10/2011 and REACH mandates shift the focus of plastic compliance toward pigments and additives, affecting NIR recyclability and migration limits. Read more
March 2, 2026At ANTEC 2026: High-Performance Polymers for Sealing ApplicationsMove beyond ASTM D395 compression set to stress relaxation and DMA to predict contact stress retention and leakage risk in high-performance seals. Read more
February 27, 2026Developing a Bio-Based Polymer Made for Cosmetics PackagingResearchers developed a novel, bio-based composite, enhanced with essential oil and chitosan, designed specifically for cosmetics packaging. Read more
February 26, 2026At ANTEC 2026: Process-Specific Rheology for Advanced Material SelectionMoving beyond Melt Flow Index: select rheological measurements that match the deformation modes of injection molding and film blowing. Read more
February 25, 2026Optical Sieve: A New Route to Detect NanoplasticsOptical sieve microcavities shift color when they trap nanoplastics, enabling fast detection, sizing, and counting with a standard microscope. Read more
February 3, 2026EU PFAS Restriction Update: ECHA Consultation in 2026The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) met to re-evaluate its 2023 proposal regarding per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Read more
January 27, 2026Bio-Based Media for Micro- and Nanoplastics RemovalGreen coagulation and nanocellulose foams improve microplastic removal, yet integration challenges include clogging and media handling. Read more
January 23, 2026Active Learning Speeds Discovery of Antimicrobial PolymersMachine learning (ML) enables rapid design of antimicrobial peptide (AMP)-mimetic polymers to treat bacterial infections. Read more
January 13, 2026Vitrimers in Polyolefins: Processing Control of Crosslinked PEDynamic covalent networks allow crosslinked polyethylene to flow, weld, and relax stress during processing. Read more
December 17, 2025Injection Mold Fouling: Formulation and MonitoringFouling comes from additive volatility and interfacial energetics. Early shifts in cavity-pressure and ejector-force trends reveal their growth and prompt planned interventions. Read more