Electrical & Electronics

Mar 19, 2010 - LED Processing with Lasers

LEDs are expected to develop to one of the predominant light sources over the coming decades and laser marking is an essential step in manufacturing them. One of the most promising markets today is the display backlight technology. ROFIN is among the few suppliers who can reliably meet the required criteria with the PowerLine E 12 IC laser at 532 nm and a double-head setup.
Mar 15, 2010 - Electroactive Polymers for Consumer Electronics

Bayer MaterialScience LLC has acquired Artificial Muscle, Inc. (AMI) of Sunnyvale, California. AMI is a pioneer and leader in the field of electroactive polymers for the consumer electronics industry and their polymers are used in the development, design and manufacture of actuators and sensing components.
Mar 12, 2010 - Celgard Announces Expansion of Lithium-Ion Battery Separator Capacity in Korea

Celgard, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Polypore International, Inc., and a leading global supplier of microporous separators used in lithium-ion batteries, announced that it plans to expand production capacity at its existing lithium-ion separator manufacturing facility in Ochang, South Korea.
Mar 12, 2010 - Joint Research by IBM and Stanford University could Lead to New Types of Environmentally Sustainable Plastics

In a paper published in the American Chemical Society journal, Macromolecules, scientists from IBM and Stanford University detail discoveries that could lead to the development of new types of biodegradable, biocompatible plastics. The breakthrough also could lead to a new recycling process for common PET and plant-based plastics in the future.
Mar 12, 2010 - SelectConnect Technologies Launches LPKF MID Service

Chicago based SelectConnect Technologies, a division of Arlington Plating Company has recently commenced a new manufacturing service business for producing molded interconnect devices (MIDs) using LPKF Laser & Electronics' Laser Direct Structuring (LDS) technology.
Mar 11, 2010 - LIMO Beam Shaping Systems Boost the Efficiency of Plastics Welding Processes

LIMO beam shaping systems boost the efficiency of plastics welding processes significantly. Conventional quasi-simultaneous welding with scanner can be replaced by a fully simultaneous welding process. A Tier 1 parts manufacturer in the automotive industry already uses this beam shaping system successfully for the production of fuel supply systems.
Mar 11, 2010 - VESTAMID® Terra Bio-Polyamide Protects High-Performance Cables

Evonik Industries has expanded its range of compounds for high-performance cables to include bio-based VESTAMID® Terra DS. A polyamide 1010, VESTAMID® Terra DS is produced entirely from monomers obtained from castor oil. Evonik is thus responding to the rapidly growing interest in bio-based plastics, even in technically challenging fields of application.
Mar 10, 2010 - MIT Scientists Transform Polyethylene into a Heat-conducting Material

An MIT team has found a way to transform the most widely used polymer, polyethylene, into a material that conducts heat just as well as most metals, yet remains an electrical insulator. The new process causes the polymer to conduct heat very efficiently in just one direction, unlike metals, which conduct equally well in all directions.
Mar 09, 2010 - Freedom™ Driver Designed to Power SynCardia's Total Artificial Heart uses Bayer Materials

A compact, lightweight lithium-polymer onboard battery pack designed and assembled by Lux Aviation using Bayer MaterialScience's Makroblend® EL703 polycarbonate/polyethylene terephthalate polyester (PC/PET) blend is the driving force behind the small pneumatic driver intended to power the Total Artificial Heart.
Mar 08, 2010 - Solutia Announces Agreement to Acquire Etimex Solar

Solutia Inc. announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to purchase Etimex Solar GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Etimex Holding GmbH, which is controlled by funds affiliated with Alpha Gruppe. Etimex Solar is a leading supplier of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) encapsulants to the photovoltaic market.
Mar 05, 2010 - Konarka Announces Business Collaboration and Strategic Investment with Konica Minolta

Konarka Technologies, Inc., an innovator in development and commercialization of Konarka Power Plastic®, a material that converts light to energy, announced that the company has signed a comprehensive R&D collaboration and strategic investment agreement with Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc. for the joint development and distribution of organic thin-film photovoltaics.
Mar 05, 2010 - Stanyl PA 4,6 Resin from DSM Ensures Safer Mobility for People with Disablity

The joysteer® X-by-wire system with precision gears made of Stanyl® PA 46 resin from DSM Engineering Plastics is now in commercial production for the handicapped market and available from car modification companies in Switzerland, Germany and the Benelux. This rapid development from prototype to successful commercialisation was achieved by the Swiss company Bozzio.
Mar 03, 2010 - SouthWest NanoTechnologies Receives Frost & Sullivan 2010 North American Technology Innovation Award In CNTs

SouthWest NanoTechnologies Inc. (SWeNT) has received the prestigious Frost & Sullivan 2010 North American Technology Innovation Award in Carbon Nanotubes. The company was honored with this highly coveted award for its innovative CoMoCAT® nanotube production process by this global research organization.
Mar 02, 2010 - A New Way Forward for Nanocomposite Nanostructures

Scientists at the Naval Research Laboratory and the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign recently reported a new technique for directly writing composites of nanoparticles and polymers. Recent years have seen significant advances in the properties achieved by both these materials, and so researchers have begun to blend these materials into nanocomposites.
Mar 01, 2010 - First Commercial Application of Baytubes® Carbon Nanotubes in Japan

Aqueous suspensions of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) containing individual tubes offer interesting perspectives for a number of new applications. An interesting development using multifilament yarns is a new fabric heater made by weaving CNTEC® conductive yarns from Kuraray Living Co., Ltd. It generates heat homogeneously all over the surface because of its outstanding conductivity.
Mar 01, 2010 - Johns Manville Announces Supply Agreement with SolarFrameWorks to Provide Crystalline Solar Panel Solutions

Johns Manville (JM), a leading manufacturer of an extensive line of energy-efficient building products, announced that it has reached an agreement with SolarFrameWorks for them to supply its proprietary Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) CoolPly™ solar roofing components to JM. CoolPly™ is available in both thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
Feb 26, 2010 - Low-Profile Side View LED Made of Solvay's Amodel® PPA Is the Industry's Thinnest

Japanese molder Nissei Industries Ltd. has produced the industry's thinnest low-profile side view light-emitting diode (LED) for use on thin-profile mobile phones. The 0.4-mm-high LED made of Amodel® A-4422 LS WH118 polyphthalamide (PPA) resin from Solvay Advanced Polymers sets a new mark for side view LEDs, which until now have been limited to 0.5 mm to 0.8 mm in size.
Feb 25, 2010 - CRSP Funds 10 New Advanced Solar Research Projects, Announces First Sponsored Research Program Project with Konarka Technologies

The Center for Revolutionary Solar Photoconversion (CRSP) has funded 10 advanced solar research projects totaling $800,000 - its second round of Shared Research Program funding. Separately, CRSP also has launched its first Sponsored Research Program effort - a project between Konarka Technologies and Colorado State University (CSU).
Feb 24, 2010 - Saflex® Introduces Embossed Solar Encapsulant for Photovoltaic Market

Saflex, a business unit of Solutia Inc., announced the launch of a new encapsulant designed specifically to improve solar panel throughput and processing costs for solar module manufacturers that use the vacuum encapsulation process. The product, Saflex® PG41, is a new thin gauge encapsulant that utilizes embossing technology.
Feb 22, 2010 - Bac2 Diversifies Cleantech Materials Portfolio as Demand for Fuel Cell Plates Accelerates

Bac2, the cleantech materials company, has diversified its materials portfolio following a successful 2009 during which the company saw growing demand for its composite bipolar plates for fuel cell applications. The ElectroPhen® family of low-cost conductive polymers, which can be cured at room temperature, has been expanded.
Feb 19, 2010 - Nanocyl Promotes "Green" Advantages of High Performance CNT Technologies at Nano Tech 2010

Nanocyl is showcasing its new PLASTICYL PEEK 1001 thermoplastic concentrate, and its range of carbon nanotube technologies for composites at the ongoing Nano Tech 2010 (February 17-19) in Tokyo, Japan (Booth B-28). PLASTICYL PEEK 1001, a ready-to-ship CNT, is developed for high-end electronics applications.
Feb 17, 2010 - Advanced Light Diffusion Technology from Bayer Hides LED Hot Spots, Transmits Higher Levels of Light

Designers will enjoy greater creative possibilities with the new advanced light diffusion technology developed by Bayer MaterialScience LLC. Using this technology, designers have nearly limitless freedom for their light diffuser packages, with the bonus of a broad palette of colors to customize the application.
Feb 15, 2010 - Angstron Patents New Class of Superior Nano Graphene Supercapacitor Electrode Materials

Nanotek Instruments, parent company of Angstron Materials Inc., has been issued U.S. Patent 7,623,340 for its development of a new high-performing class of meso-porous nanocomposites. The new nanocomposite provides a superior supercapacitor electrode material for uses that include hybrid electric vehicles (EVs), transportation and energy storage.
Feb 11, 2010 - Bentzer Inc. Introduces New Line of Photoluminescent Life Safety Products

Bentzer Inc. chose light stable photoluminescent thermoplastic material from Chroma Corporation for their new line of life safety products. The line of life safety products includes light switch plate rings, door knob marker rings and pathway markings making these items clearly visible in complete darkness.
Feb 09, 2010 - Researchers from the University of Utah Provide Insight into How 'Random' Lasers Work

When University of Utah scientists discovered a new kind of laser that was generated by an electrically conducting plastic or polymer, no one could explain how it worked. Now, a decade later, they have found that these "random lasers" occur because of natural, mirror-like cavities in the polymers, and they say such lasers may prove useful for diagnosing cancer.
Feb 09, 2010 - Ticona Adds New High-Flow Fortron® PPS To Portfolio of Polymers For Use In Appliance And Industrial Applications

Ticona announced the commercial availability of Fortron® 6162A7, a mineral / glass-filled polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) with exceptional high flow properties for appliance, industrial and electrical / electronics customers that need high-temperature resistant, thin-wall components. The base Fortron PPS resin is inherently flame resistant without additives.
Feb 08, 2010 - Unidym Announces Joint Venture to Market Printable CNT Electronics in Korea

Unidym, Inc., a majority owned subsidiary of Arrowhead Research Corporation, has signed a definitive agreement to create a joint venture partnership with Wisepower, a publicly traded Korean company, to market and co-develop Unidym's proprietary film and electronic ink products into the Korean touch panel and display industries.
Feb 05, 2010 - Kynar® PVDF Resins Designed for Lithium-ion Batteries on Display at Advanced Automotive Batteries Conference

Arkema's Kynar® grades designed specifically for lithium-ion cells is on display at this year's Advanced Automotive Batteries Conference. Kynar® polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) resins are highly stable polymers that offer an exceptional balance of performance properties for use in both polymer and liquid cell lithium batteries.
Feb 04, 2010 - Saflex(R) Launches 2nd Generation Encapsulant for Photovoltaic Market that Reduces Material Use by 33%

As solar module manufacturers strive to realize cost structures meeting grid parity, Saflex(R), a unit of Solutia Inc., recently announced the commercial availability of a new thin gauge polyvinyl butyral (PVB) based encapsulant designed specifically for photovoltaic applications. Saflex's PA41 has been designed specifically to reduce encapsulant thickness by 33%.
Feb 03, 2010 - Momentive Offers Advanced Materials for Use in Microelectronics Applications

Momentive Performance Materials exhibited a number of its latest technologies for the semiconductor, LED and flat panel display (FPD) industries, including the LA950S series high hardness and modulus adhesive, a variety of thermal interface materials, LED encapsulants and potting materials for FPDs, at Material Japan 2010 last month.