Scientists at Cardiff University have developed a new method of recycling-colored plastics offering possible solutions to huge environmental challenges. The process, which breaks down colored polymers, the principal component of plastics, into their original components, could lead to a circular plastic recycling economy reducing pollution on land and in our oceans, the researchers claim. Monomers for Strong […]

Polypropylene has long been recycling’s head scratching riddle. A common plastic used for a wide variety of products from packaging and toys to furnishing and fashion, it accounts for roughly 28 percent of the world’s plastic waste, but only 1 percent of it is recycled. Now, thanks to the efforts of researchers at the University

Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST, president Seok Jin Yoon) announced that Dr. Jaewoo Kim of the Solutions to Electromagnetic Interference in Future-mobility (SEIF), together with Prof. Seonghoon Kim of Hanyang University and Prof. O-bong Yang of Jeonbuk National University has successfully developed a 100% SRC using only one type of polypropylene (PP) polymer. Melting Point,

A team led by researchers at the University of Washington has developed new bioplastics that degrade on the same timescale as a banana peel in a backyard compost bin. These bioplastics are made entirely from powdered blue-green cyanobacteria cells, otherwise known as spirulina. The team used heat and pressure to form the spirulina powder into

Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology develop first-of-its-kind materials science data extraction pipeline for discovery of new polymers. The pipeline extracts material property records from published papers and populates the data into a new application called Polymer Scholar. The platform works like a browser to search polymers and materials properties by keyword, rather than reading

Chemists at CU Boulder have developed a new way to recycle a common type of plastic found in soda bottles and other packaging. The team’s method relies on electricity and some nifty chemical reactions, and it’s simple enough that you can watch the plastic break apart in front of your eyes. The researchers described their

Bio-attributed PVC is making its way in the construction sector. This year, window profile producer Kömmerling will use INEOS Inovyn’s BIOVYN™ – the world’s first commercial PVC made of renewable feedstock – in renovation and new construction projects across the Netherlands. The first installations are expected in June 2023. The first project will renovate 19 houses to turn them

Solvay, a producer of high-performance and sustainable polyamide 6.6 polymers, continues to drive innovation in its portfolio with the introduction of a new, specialized grade of Rhodianyl, made of 100% pre-consumer recycled polyamide, which is produced at its Santo Andre plant in Brazil. The product has achieved SCS Recycled Content Certification, reaffirming Solvay’s commitment to circular

NOVA Chemicals Corporation (“NOVA Chemicals”) has made a significant expansion of its Circular Solutions business by announcing an investment into developing its first mechanical recycling facility in Connersville, Ind. The facility will process post-consumer plastic films to produce the company’s SYNDIGO™ recycled polyethylene (rPE) at commercial scale as early as 2025, delivering over 100 million pounds of rPE

In its first two years, the European BeonNAT project has achieved promising results that demonstrate the potential of biomass cultivated to produce bioplastics for bioactive cosmetics, biochar, activated carbon and pet litter with essential oils. AIMPLAS, the Plastics Technology Centre, is participating in this project, coordinated by the Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas

Researchers from Japan have developed a technique for growing conductive polymer wire connections between electrodes to realize artificial neural networks that overcome the limits of traditional computer hardware. Neuromorphic Wetware for Human Brain Like Processing The development of neural networks to create artificial intelligence in computers was originally inspired by how biological systems work. These

Solvay signed a long-term agreement with Zotefoams, a manufacturer of lightweight cross-linked polyolefin block foams and a specialist in innovative technical foams, for the supply of Solef® polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). Solef® will be used to produce Zotefoams’ ZOTEK® F high-performance closed cell crosslinked aerospace foam range. The collaboration will target a wide range of interior applications in aerospace including ducting,

SABIC introduced SABIC® PP compound H1090 resin and STAMAX™ 30YH611 resin, two breakthrough materials well-suited for sheet extrusion and thermoforming that offer a unique alternative to traditional sheet metal forming, compression and injection molding, allowing customers to form large, complex structural parts. Excellent Thermal Barrier Properties These new products are 30 percent glass fiber-reinforced, intumescent, flame retardant (FR) materials, based

INEOS Styrolution, Tomra, and EGN Entsorgungsgesellschaft Niederrhein, a recycling company, have announced a ground-breaking project to convert post-consumer polystyrene (PS) waste into recycled polystyrene for food packaging applications. Closing the Loop for Food-contact Quality Polystyrene EGN, a subsidiary of the SWK AG, will build a green field state-of-the-art advanced mechanical recycling facility with a capacity