Appliances - The Expert's View

Mar 12, 2010 - Anti-fogging and adhesion improvement on polymer surfaces by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

The hydrophobic properties of polymeric surfaces causes fogging in transparent packaging and poor adhesion to printing colors and coatings. Novel plasma processes for durable functionalization of PP and PET substrates were developed and...
Mar 09, 2010 - Recent advances and challenges in designing stimuli-responsive polymers by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

Synthetic materials capable of responses to external or internal stimuli represent one of the most exciting and emerging areas of scientific interest and unexplored commercial applications. While there are many exciting challenges facing...
Mar 03, 2010 - Morphology and physical properties of polyurethane foams by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

Polyurethane foams (PUFs) were prepared by mixing poly (ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) and isocyanates in the ratio of 1:1.03 in the presence of additives such as catalyst, blowing agent and...
Feb 17, 2010 - Carbon nanotube-polymer composites: Chemistry, processing, mechanical and electrical properties by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

Carbon nanotubes have long been recognized as the stiffest and strongest man-made material known to date. In addition, their high electrical conductivity has roused interest in the area of electrical appliances and communication related...
Feb 11, 2010 - Emerging applications of stimuli-responsive polymer materials by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

Responsive polymer materials can adapt to surrounding environments, regulate transport of ions and molecules, change wettability and adhesion of different species on external stimuli, or convert chemical and biochemical signals into... (1 Member Reaction)
Feb 05, 2010 - Trends in polymer foams by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

In recent years, concerns over environmental issues have led to many new regulations which have had a significant impact on the foams businesses in general and, in particular, for foams used in thermal insulation applications. Concerns...
Feb 04, 2010 - Active and responsive polymer surfaces by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

A central challenge in polymer science today is creating materials that dynamically alter their structures and properties on demand, or in response to changes in their environment. Surfaces represent an attractive area of focus, since they...
Feb 01, 2010 - Microwave food packaging by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

This book comprehensively reviews: 1) the principles of microwave heating and ovens assessing the effect of food dielectric properties on heating uniformity; 2) thoroughly reviews microwave packaging materials and design including testing...
Jan 29, 2010 - Effects of rheology and foaming behavior of amorphous polymers by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

The influence of rheological properties, especially melt strength, on foam structures, such as cell size, cell density and cell size distribution, of PS was investigated. The rheological properties of PS was controlled by polymer chain...
Jan 28, 2010 - New process for metallic effects by ISPA (Innovation Brief)

Researchers from the German Institute for Plastics Processing i.e. the IKV institute have announced that they have simplified the process allowing to decorate plastic parts with real metal. Until now injected molded parts could be decorated...
Jan 26, 2010 - The future of electronic products: conductive 3D printing? by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

This paper describes a curved-layer additive manufacturing technology that has the potential to print plastic components with integral conductive polymer electronic circuits. Researchers at AUT University in New Zealand and the National... (1 Member Reaction)
Jan 12, 2010 - Effects of PP-g-MAH on the properties of PP / ABS blends by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

Maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MAH) was evaluated as a compatibilizer for PP / ABS) blends using a twin screw extruder. The impact, tensile and flexural strengths of the blends were maximized at a PP-g-MAH content of 3 % by... (8 Member Reactions)
Dec 09, 2009 - Photovoltaics Market: A Global Outlook by SpecialChem (Article)

The solar power market has been growing rapidly in the past decade as a result of widespread awareness about the limited nature of petroleum-based resources, their negative impact on the environment and high volatility of oil prices.... (4 Member Reactions)
Dec 04, 2009 - PP-based chairs with antimicrobial characteristics by ISPA (Innovation Brief)

A range of chairs has been specially developed for the education and residential markets by the UK-based company Origin Furniture. These new chairs are entirely made from a polypropylene (PP) material including an antimicrobial masterbatch...
Dec 02, 2009 - TPU with improved abrasion resistance and decreased coefficient of friction by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

TPUs can be used in a variety of products and are known in the art for toughness, low temperature flexibility, strength, abrasion resistance, transparency and chemical resistance. However TPUs also show tacky surface textures (due to high...
Nov 26, 2009 - Conducting polymers by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

This article reviews the recent advances in the development of polymers that possesses electrical, magnetic, and optical properties achieved by doping/de-doping processes more commonly known as synthetic metal. These materials are useful... (2 Member Reactions)
Nov 25, 2009 - Increasing the Efficiency of Solar Cells: Material Selection and Device Architecture by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

In this article, the authors review the recent understanding of the mechanisms that govern the following four steps in solar cells: generation of excitons by photon absorption, diffusion of excitons to the heterojunction, dissociation of... (1 Member Reaction)
Nov 23, 2009 - Thermal processing of starch-based polymers by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

This article reviews the thermal processing of starch-based polymers, including both fundamental science such as microstructure, phase transition and rheology, as well as processing techniques, conditions and formulations. The unique...
Nov 20, 2009 - Shape memory polymer composites and blends by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

This article provides a thorough review of the work being done by research groups around the world on the development of shape memory polymers. The preparation of shape memory polymers/composites and blends is mainly to achieve five goals:...
Nov 12, 2009 - Heat resistant PLA blends by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

A significant disadvantage of the use of PLA is its low heat resistance. This problem has been overcome by blending PLA with styrene maleic anhydride copolymer resulting in an unexpected increase in the heat deflection temperature. The... (2 Member Reactions)
Nov 03, 2009 - PolyOne Interview: Initiative Towards Sustainable Solutions from a Leading Compounder by SpecialChem (Article)

PolyOne Corporation introduced its OnFlex™ BIO Series Compounds based on natural renewable sources on October 2008. This renewable material utilizes Merquinsa's Pearlthane® ECO TPU technology. Marcel Dartee, Marketing Director of...
Nov 02, 2009 - Functional MBS impact modifiers for use in engineering resins. by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

The invention relates to a Me methacrylate-butadiene-styrene (MBS) core/shell polymer impact modifier containing functionalization in the shell. The functionalized MBS is useful as an impact modifier in engineering resins and resin blends,... (1 Member Reaction)
Nov 02, 2009 - Process for making opaque PET film by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

The invention relates to a process for making an opaque and glossy film from PET. The process of the invention involves the steps of a) extruding the PET through a slot die, and quenching to form a substantially amorphous film having a... (1 Member Reaction)
Nov 01, 2009 - PUR for service robot for home by ISPA (Innovation Brief)

A collaboration between the Frauhofer Institute for production Engineering and Automation (IPA) and the German material producer Bayer MaterialScience has allowed to design an innovative service robot for the home that has won a...
Oct 29, 2009 - ABS and HIPS with designed rubber particles for fabrication of articles with special visual effect by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

This invention relates to a novel composition comprising of a rubber modified thermoplastic resin such as HIPS or ABS, which shows special visual effects such as a metallic sparkle effect and/or other special visual effects from the surface... (1 Member Reaction)
Oct 20, 2009 - Adhesion of polymers by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

Most industrially applied polymer resins and composites have low surface free energy and lack polar functional groups on their surface, resulting in inherently poor adhesion properties. A strong research momentum to understand polymer...
Oct 15, 2009 - Biodegradable polyolefins by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

Environmentally degradable polymers are the focus of a great deal of research around the world, which began over half a century ago with the recognition that plastics, particularly in packaging, were becoming a problem with regards to... (4 Member Reactions)
Oct 12, 2009 - A rear floor console integrating a refrigerator by ISPA (Innovation Brief)

The rear-floor console of the new Ford™ Flex® crossover utility vehicle (CUV) integrates a compressor-driven refrigerator whose cooling time performance exceeds most home units. The integrated refrigerator/rear-floor console is made...
Oct 09, 2009 - The chemical BPA - a threat to human life? by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a monomer used to manufacture many plastics including polycarbonate plastics, the resin of cans and other products with global capacity in excess of 6.4 billion pounds per yr. Because carbonate and ester bonds in these... (1 Member Reaction)
Oct 07, 2009 - Back forming of leather with plastic by ISPA (Innovation Brief)

The Austrian company Pollmann International, which produces components for the automotive, consumer, electronics and medical industries, and the Wollsdorf-Leder, the leather tannery based in Wollsdorf, Austria have joined forces to develop...