Creativity with Plastics - The Expert's View

Jul 29, 2010 - Diaphragm Made of Medical Grade Elastomer Leads to Zero Cross-Contamination by SpecialChem (Innovation Brief)

For the diaphragm of its patented single-use mixing system used by pharmaceutical manufacturers, HyNetics® Corporation recently switched to Medalist® MD140 medical elastomer from Teknor Apex Corporation. This bell-shaped diaphragm...
Jul 29, 2010 - Making Inroads On Ice With All-Plastic Ice Skates by SpecialChem (Innovation Brief)

Viking has introduced a lighter way of enjoying ice skating. Apart from the metal blade, various components of the latest ice skates are made of 60% glass-filled Akulon® Ultraflow™ K-FG12 BLK from DSM. Akulon Ultraflow can be processed...
Jul 28, 2010 - Additive Manufacturing Technology that Fabricates Submicron 3D Structures by SpecialChem (Innovation Brief)

High Q Laser has recently introduced a compact solid-state laser source called “femtoTRAIN™ Ti:Sapphire”. This all-diode-pumped oscillator offers repetitive laser beams at a frequency of femtoseconds. It is ideal for nano-structuring...
Jul 28, 2010 - New Technology for Textured and Structured Effects by ISPA (Innovation Brief)

The Swiss company GF AgieCharmilles, a world leading supplier of machines, automation solutions and services to the tool and mold making industry as well as to manufacturers of precision parts and components, has announced that it has...
Jul 27, 2010 - Transparent microwaveable expanding package by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

This invention is a transparent package assembly configured for expansion in a generally vertical direction between a collapsed state and an extended state. The container has a sidewall that is vertically compressed in the collapsed state...
Jul 26, 2010 - Carbon fiber guitars by ISPA (Innovation Brief)

The American company Blackbird Guitars has developed a limited edition Ferarri model of its Rider Guitar. All the Blackbird Guitars products feature a carbon fiber-based one-piece structure including the body, the neck and head that is cast...
Jul 20, 2010 - Innovative and easy-to-heal orthopedic implant designs by SpecialChem (Innovation Brief)

PolyMedex Discovery Group has developed osteoconductive blends by adding bioactive fillers such as tricalcium phosphate (TCP), hydroxyapatite (HA), and biphasic calciumphosphate (BCP) to expand its range of implantable (PEEK) and...
Jul 20, 2010 - Stepping towards thermal-efficient building construction by SpecialChem (Innovation Brief)

To ease the process of making energy-efficient buildings, Syntheon has developed two new construction products - Elemix concrete additive and accel-E steel thermal-efficient panel. These products are synthesized to be used in...
Jul 19, 2010 - Glossy, formable yet scratch-proof 3-D polycarbonate films by SpecialChem (Innovation Brief)

Bayer MaterialScience AG’s newly developed polycarbonate film Makrofol® TP 278 gives gloss finish, scratch-proof and abrasion-resistant coating, which can be used for 3D shapes. By means of film insert molding process, the film can...
Jul 15, 2010 - New electric concept car by ISPA (Innovation Brief)

On the occasion of the World Expo 2010 exhibition in Shanghai, China, the American automaker General Motors (GM) has unveiled the latest innovative concept car that it has developed in collaboration with its Chinese partner Shanghai...
Jul 14, 2010 - Notebook casing with bamboo aspect by ISPA (Innovation Brief)

The Taiwanese company Asus has developed two models of notebooks that feature an innovative design. These new laptops which are commercialized under the trade name Asus Bamboo Series have been designed by the Pegutron design studio in...
Jul 12, 2010 - Indian Police armed with UHMWPE-based body armors by SpecialChem (Innovation Brief)

MKU, a body armors's supplier, is using Honeywell’s Spectra Shield® and Gold Shield® composite materials to provide bullet resistance to Indian paramilitary and police forces. Strands and fibers made of white ultra-high molecular...
Jul 09, 2010 - Chairs entirely made from polycarbonate by ISPA (Innovation Brief)

The American company Legacy Seating, Inc. has developed and patented an innovative chair designed for inside or outdoor uses, including for high-end events, hotels and restaurants. This new chair design is a modern departure from the...
Jul 07, 2010 - In Mold decorated parts with textile surfaces by ISPA (Innovation Brief)

The German plastic converter Reiss Kunststofftechnik GmbH has announced that it has developed a new technology allowing the production of in-mold decorated components with textile, foam or fleece surfaces (with textile covering the overall...
Jul 06, 2010 - PEN eases rolling, unrolling & carrying flexible displays by SpecialChem (Innovation Brief)

Japanese company Tejin in partnership with DuPont has rolled out optical grade Teonex® polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) film for use in flexible displays. PEN provides high rigidity and can give firmness to very thin films too (approx 1...
Jul 02, 2010 - A bridge combining composite and steel by ISPA (Innovation Brief)

A new low-maintenance bridge that has been designed by the German firm Werner Sobek has been installed in Reinbek, near Hamburg, across the Hamburgerstrasse highway. The lightweight deck of this new bridge is made from glass...
Jun 28, 2010 - Baby’s day out with light-weight foldable strollers by SpecialChem (Innovation Brief)

Eliminating the complexity and inconvenience involved in carrying infants outside, France-based Advanced Baby Concepts (ABC) and Scalea Innovation have jointly rolled out light-weight (10kg) and 25cm deep foldable strollers. The stroller...
Jun 25, 2010 - A catamaran made from approximately 12,500 PET bottles by ISPA (Innovation Brief)

An innovative catamaran has been built for the Adventure Ecology founder and environmentalist David de Rothschild. This new boat that is 18.3 meters long is made from approximatively 12,500 reclaimed plastic bottles fixed to a...
Jun 24, 2010 - Popular house made from composite by ISPA (Innovation Brief)

On the occasion of the latest international construction industry trade fair FEICON BATIMAT 2010, Sao Paulo, Brazil, the Brazilian Composite Materials Association (ABMACO) has unveiled an innovative popular house made from composite...
Jun 23, 2010 - Hurricane's rendezvous with PP foldable fabric screens by SpecialChem (Innovation Brief)

With hurricane season round the corner, Storm Catcher has introduced ‘hurricane wind-abatement system’, which can be used as an aid in Florida and Texas buildings. Impact-resistant screens are made of a geo-synthetic polypropylene (PP) mesh...
Jun 22, 2010 - Beverage container with enhanced gas barrier properties by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

Coca Cola researchers have discovered an additive for PET which improves the gas barrier resistance of PET. The additive is blended into PET during extrusion of the PET. The additive is a diester (for example dibenzoylisosorbide)which...
Jun 22, 2010 - Packaging in shape, come what may! by SpecialChem (Innovation Brief)

IcePak Brick is the new addition in Cryopak's kitty of temperature-controlled products for gel packs and phase-change materials. It phases at freezing temperature but keeps the shape of gel packs constant, irrespective of the temperature,...
Jun 21, 2010 - Army court-martials feet blisters with friction-less socks by SpecialChem (Innovation Brief)

Near future might see Swiss army marching on feet-friendly socks worn along with combat boots. Seeing the blisters problem that soldiers face on their feet as a result of friction between the footwear and skin, Empa researchers and...
Jun 17, 2010 - Innovative wind turbine for homeowners and professionals by ISPA (Innovation Brief)

As part of a three-year project, the French start-up company Nheolis SA has developed and patented an innovative wind turbine technology that is based on a new shape of blade. In fact the innovation capitalizes on Bernoulli’s Principle,...
Jun 16, 2010 - Inflated polymer bags uplifts usage of reinforced rubber by SpecialChem (Innovation Brief)

Reinforced polymer bags have been launched by Trelleborg Engineered Systems recently for industrial application. These bags, when inflated, can lift huge weight vertically and push load sideways by using compressed air pressure. Bags bring...
Jun 14, 2010 - Expensive solar panels - Gone with the wind by SpecialChem (Innovation Brief)

Overcoming the conductivity issue associated with moldable plastics, Princeton University research team made a plastic transistor that can appropriately amplify and switch the electronic signals. There has always been an issue with plastics...
Jun 09, 2010 - Lightweight electrically-powered one-person hydrofoil by ISPA (Innovation Brief)

A research project jointly led by the Swiss Universities of Wädenswil and Rapperswil in collaboration with private companies has allowed to design an innovative hydrofoil boat prototype. In fact the project aim was the production of a...
Jun 07, 2010 - PP smell that indicates ‘all is not well’ with helmets by SpecialChem (Innovation Brief)

Now a smell can indicate when a helmet needs to retire, say Fraunhofer researchers. They have developed helmets that are made of safety-critical polymer components, which when cracked exudes smelly substances; larger the cracks - more...
Jun 01, 2010 - Welcome aboard with light in-flight trolleys by SpecialChem (Innovation Brief)

New range of low-density snack carts are now helping aviation industry reduce fuel consumption and emissions significantly. LSG Sky Chefs and Norduyn have introduced such trolleys using Ultem and Noryl resins from Sabic Innovative Plastics....
May 26, 2010 - Unusual use of composite for a luxury Champagne bottle by ISPA (Innovation Brief)

A luxury gift box containing a Champagne bottle has been developed by the French design company Carbonato in collaboration with the French Champagne wine producer René Jolly. The 75-cl Champagne bottle is equipped with composite cap that...