Transparency - The Expert's View

Jul 13, 2010 - Optical information media containing encapsulated data by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

There is a need to preserve and protect data over very long periods of time. Unfortunately most plastic materials utilized for optical storage media degrade over time. This invention claims improved optical information storage media...
Jul 30, 2010 - High Heat and Transparent Polyamide Films by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

Polyamide resins have excellent toughness, strength, and chemical resistance, which make them useful as engineering resins for a wide variety of applications. For many applications it would be desirable to use a transparent polyamide, but...
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 23, 2010 - Micropumps for medical applications by ISPA (Innovation Brief)

On the occasion of the latest German Medica/Compamed worldfair, the German company Bartels Microtechnik, which is specialized in innovative applications of micro systems technology (MST) in the branches of classical consumer goods,...
Jul 22, 2010 - Biodegradable Polycarbonate by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

This patent application claims a polycarbonate resin composition made using at least one plant-derived component. The polycarbonate has improved properties (such as improved moldability, biodegradability, water-absorbing property, impact...
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 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 - Polycarbonate films reflects the power efficiency of OLEDs by SpecialChem (Innovation Brief)

Osram and Bayer MaterialScience have jointly developed Makrofol® TP 228, a polycarbonate (PC)-based light-extraction film. It is being used in the octahedron-shaped OrbeosTM, an organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) surface-emitting...
Jun 24, 2010 - Fabrication of nanocomposites by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

This article summarizes recent progress in the fabrication methodologies of nanocomposites. On the basis of the techniques of nanocomposites synthesis and surface modification, the fabrication methods of nanocomposites are highlighted;... (2 Member Reactions)
Jun 22, 2010 - PC resins suits itself for future sports venues by SpecialChem (Innovation Brief)

While the world is still abuzz with FIFA 2010, Bayer MaterialScience AG is getting itself ready for 2014 Soccer and 2016 Summer Olympics. The company will be using its 18-mm thick panels made of Makrolon® polycarbonate (PC) resin....
Jun 16, 2010 - PMMA/nanoTiO2: An exciting nanocomposite by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

This article describes the results of research conducted to investigate the matrix properties by introducing nanosize TiO₂ (5 nm, 2.0-30% by weight) filler into PMMA resin. A twin screw extraction process was...
Jun 09, 2010 - Transparent PC nanocomposites by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

Transparent nanocomposite PC films were fabricated by blending a concentrated nanocomposite formed by preparation of PC in the presence of alumina nanowhiskers. PC ended up grafted to the alumina nanowhisker surface to improve nanofiller... (1 Member Reaction)
May 25, 2010 - Sterilizable PP resins for medical devices by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

This invention provides new polymer compositions that are resistant to heat and radiation. The compositions include a random propylene copolymer and a radiation additive, wherein the random copolymer includes propylene and less than 2... (1 Member Reaction)
May 20, 2010 - TPE & PP-based athletic cup rejuvenates the sportsmanship by SpecialChem (Innovation Brief)

Supreme Athletic Wear LLC has introduced a new translucent, flexible and strong 'Spider Guard' athletic cup for sports men to ease up the lateral movement. The cup is built on a unique concept of energy displacement, absorption and...
May 05, 2010 - High performance LEDs by ISPA (Innovation Brief)

Innovations In Optics Inc., the American leader in light emitting diode (LED) lighting that develops solutions for OEMs across many industries has selected two polycarbonate (PC) materials from the German material producer Bayer...
Apr 27, 2010 - Innovative design for the PC roof of the BayArena stadium by ISPA (Innovation Brief)

The BayArena, the stadium that is home to the Bundesliga soccer team Bayer 04 Leverkusen, has been modernised, developed and its capacity increased from 22,500 to 30,000 spectators. The newly overhauled stadium has been equipped with a new...
Apr 16, 2010 - Confectionery packaging made from HDPP by ISPA (Innovation Brief)

On the occasion of the latest ProSweets trade fair in Germany, the Slovakian company Moneta has introduced two new thermoplastic wrap for confectionary that is said to be an interesting alternative to aluminum. These new sweet wraps that...
Apr 12, 2010 - Biodegradation of Polycarbonate: Fungal Decomposition Post Pre-treatment by SpecialChem (Article)

The immense popularity and durability of polycarbonate (PC), which has resulted in its large-scale production, has led to increasing concerns about waste management and its safe disposal. In addition, bisphenol-A (BPA), a monomer of PC, has... (6 Member Reactions)
Apr 12, 2010 - New free-BPA single-use baby bottle by ISPA (Innovation Brief)

The UK-based baby bottle manufacturer Steribottle, in collaboration with the leading consumer packaging company Rexam Personal Care has developed “MK3 Bottle”, that is said to be the first 100% recyclable single-use baby bottle, which is...
Apr 07, 2010 - PC-based walls for an Irish stadium by ISPA (Innovation Brief)

The new Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland is designed for rugby and football matches. It includes transparent and curvilinear walls made from polycarbonate (PC) sheets i.e. Lexan™ Exell D™ sheets from Sabic Innovative Plastics. This...
Apr 06, 2010 - New PC nanocomposites with 50% higher modulus and high elongation by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

Novel PC nanocomposites were produced in the melt state by the addition of an amorphous polyamide reinforced with organically modified nanoclay (PA+NC). The nanoclay was widely exfoliated inside the dispersed PA+NC phase. The dispersed... (1 Member Reaction)
Mar 24, 2010 - Cheap plastic solar cells! by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

Printable, polymer-based solar cells promise very cheap energy for the future. In this paper the authors present a progress report on efficiency and lifetimes of conducting polymer based solar cells. In addition, a prospective on...
Mar 22, 2010 - Heat-insulating transparent PVC sheet by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

This invention provides a heat-insulating transparent PVC sheet useful to replace glass or to be laminated to glass windows by a non-coating process. The patent application claims an improved process for producing the PVC sheets. The...
Mar 19, 2010 - High-performance infusion pump for medical uses by ISPA (Innovation Brief)

Infusion pumps are used to administer drugs including intravenous and subcutaneous products and have to be able to dose them with high accuracy. For this, the German medical product manufacturer RoweMed AG has designed an innovative...
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 04, 2010 - Light emitting display by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

This invention provides a method for the manufacture of a light-emissive display by providing a substrate consisting of an electrode layer and a bank structure containing a plurality of wells. Next, a conductive organic polymer film is... (1 Member Reaction)
Feb 26, 2010 - Transparent nanocomposite flexible thin films provide UV protection by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

This article describes the preparation and performance of flexible ZnO-PS nanocomposite thin films which were highly transparent in the visible region and exhibited excellent UV-absorbing properties. The nanocomposite films were prepared... (1 Member Reaction)
Feb 19, 2010 - Polyvinyl chloride-free polymer compositions and films by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

Currently PVC is the predominant material for use in outdoor applications because of its superior weatherability. There is a desire to replace PVC with other more environmentally friendly materials. This patent application describes new... (1 Member Reaction)
Jan 28, 2010 - Influence of additives on the laser welding of PC by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

In laser welding of thermoplastics the optical properties of the joining parts determine the quality of the welding. The scattering of laser radiation in the transparent welding part has a significant impact on weld seam properties. This...
Jan 22, 2010 - Polymer Solar Cells: Recent Approaches and Achievements by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

Polymer solar cells have gained wide interest in the past few years for their potential in the field of large-area and low-cost photovoltaic devices. Due to rather simple treatments developed in the new millennium, the morphology of...