Plastics Engineering articles from August 2006

Plastics Engineering archives from August 2006

Acetal and nylon resins for rotational molding.(MATERIALS)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Polymer consultancy Gehrig & Associates (Lambertville, N.J.) plans to commercialize two new engineering-resin grades for rotational-molding applications, especially in markets for fuel and chemical storage tanks, reservoirs, containers, and...

Structural adhesives bond metals to plastics, composites.(MATERIALS)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Henkel (Rocky Hill, Conn.) has introduced seven new Loctite structural acrylic adhesives that the company says deliver tough, durable bonds to a variety of metals. Bonding aluminum, steel, and galvanized metals to a range of substrates...

PET packaging resin provides UV protection.(MATERIALS)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... At NPE 2006 in Chicago (June 19-23), DAK Americas (Charlotte, N.C.) launched Laser+ UV, a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin for food and beverage packaging applications that integrates a new UV-barrier technology. The new resin extends...

TPE combines UV stability with a soft touch.(MATERIALS)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Advanced Polymers Alloys (APA) (Wilmington, Del.), a division of Ferro Corp., debuted its UV-stable DuraGrip TPE 6100 series at NPE 2006 in Chicago (June 19-23). Designed specifically for overmolding and coextrusion processing, the DuraGrip...

Dow introduces "OBCs".(MATERIALS)(olefin block copolymers )(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... The Dow Chemical Company (Midland, Mich.) offers the new Infuse line of olefin block copolymers (OBCs) in response to customer demand for higher-performing olefin elastomers. The company says that Infuse OBCs feature a unique block architecture...

Clear TPUs target tubing and thick parts.(MATERIALS)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... B ASF has announced the commercial introduction of the Elastollan 1200 series of polyether-based thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) to the North American market. Target applications include tubing and thick injection-molded parts. ...

Flame retardants for PUR foam.(MATERIALS)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Middlebury, Conn.-based Chemtura Corp. has .introduced Firemaster 600 and Firemaster 602 flame retardants for flexible polyurethane (PUR) foam, which offer approximately 10% greater efficiency than Firemaster 550 and 552. The products respond...

Low-flammability PC sheet.(MATERIALS)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Sheffield Plastics Inc., a Bayer MaterialScience company based in Sheffield, Mass., has developed Makrolon LF low-flammability polycarbonate sheet to deliver improved flame resistance plus processing advantages. In demanding applications such...

Nanoclay compounds offer improved barrier properties.(MATERIALS)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... RTP Company of Winona, Minn., has developed new nanoclay compounds to meet stringent barrier demands in fuel-system applications. The compounds offer small-engine and fuel-tank manufacturers a monolayer solution to meeting new U.S. EPA...

High-tech adhesive films.(MATERIALS)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Headquartered in Benicia, Calif., YLA, Inc., has introduced high-performance film adhesives tailored for use with the company's unidirectional tape and woven prepregs. YLA film adhesives range from 0.002 inch thick at 75 g/[m.sup.2] to more...

Plastic film for barcode labels.(MATERIALS)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... GE Plastics (Pittsfield, Mass.) has developed a new white grade of Ultem polyetherimide (PEI) film for barcode labels that eliminates the need for surface treatments to achieve good print contrast. White Ultem WH217 film is pigmented for high...

Combating wear and friction.(MATERIALS)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... At NPE 2006 in Chicago (June 19-23), DuPont Engineering Polymers (Wilmington, Del.) unveiled four new resins offering wear and friction solutions. Delrin 100TL combines outstanding impact strength and elongation with very low wear and friction,...

Design for the environment: from cradle to cradle: Plastics Engineering interviews Dr. Klementina Khait; students in Dr. Klementina Khait's class, "Industrial Ecology of Materials and Products," at Northwestern University get a new take on the "Three Rs": the revised version-reduce, reuse, recycle.(Interview)
August 1, 2006... Dr Khait--who serves on the Board of Directors and as the education/student poster chair for the Plastics Environmental Division of the Society of Plastics Engineers--felt compelled to develop the course, "Industrial Ecology of Materials and...

Compounding: custom-tailoring the properties of polymers.
August 1, 2006... Manufacturers of compounding extruders, feeders, mixers, blenders, pelletizers, and related equipment continue their push for higher performance and higher throughput to meet the needs of the plastics industry for increasingly specialized...

A primer on flame retardants for thermoplastics.
August 1, 2006... Most thermoplastics are flammable, easily when heated to a high enough temperature. Plastics, being hydrocarbons, combust through a process that begins as heat in the pre-ignition phase and progresses to fire, which breaks down their long-chain...

Patents of interest.(Horizons)
August 1, 2006... The patent is a legal document giving the holder a license to capitalize on his or her invention without competition for a few years. In exchange, the holder teaches us the basis of the invention. The patent is forward-looking, representing a...

Blow-molding machines for PLA.(MACHINERY & PROCESSING)(polylactide)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... The Freedom Series of small-bottle blow-molders from Norland International is capable of producing bottles from corn-based plastics for use by small to medium-sized bottled-water operations. The compostable bottles are produced by using...

Sensor tags for global shipments.(MACHINERY & PROCESSING)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... The SensorTag ST-674, an RFID-based sensor tag from Savi Technology, is said to reduce spoilage and damage by monitoring the temperature and humidity of commercial shipments, including medical supplies, foodstuffs, and other perishables...

Etching system, pad printer, and printing-pad material.(MACHINERY & PROCESSING)(Inkcups Now)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Inkcups Now, a manufacturer of pad and screen-printing consumables, equipment, and laser engravers, has introduced several new products. The Cobalt 1000 Laser System is a direct-to-plate etching system designed to produce high-resolution...

Testing program setup.(MACHINERY & PROCESSING)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... For use with DV-II+Pro viscometers and DV-III Ultra rheometers, Brookfield Engineering Laboratories has launched Rheocalc 3.0 software featuring "Test Wizards" that allow easy and rapid setup of an ideal testing program. Once set up, the...

Mold-balance software.(MACHINERY & PROCESSING)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... The debugging and commissioning of molds can reportedly be achieved more quickly by the fourth generation of the "5 Step Process" mold-balance analysis and filling-diagnostic software from Beaumont Technologies. The software package is...

Anytime, anywhere diagnosis.(MACHINERY & PROCESSING)
August 1, 2006... PlantTriage Performance Supervision Software from ExperTune now includes a simple text message diagnosis--immediately available via a web browser--for every loop in the plant. The message diagnostic for each loop tells exactly where to...

Viscosity and temperature sensor.(MACHINERY & PROCESSING)
August 1, 2006... A new version of BiODE's matchbox-sized, solid-state viscosity and temperature sensor for process monitoring and oil conditioning and monitoring applications provides the ability to integrate the BiODE ViSmart viscosity sensor to any computer...

Pumps in a miniature package.(MACHINERY & PROCESSING)
August 1, 2006... The Versa-Matic Pump Co. has introduced a pump product with a compact design that features performance described as comparable to that of the company's full-size pumps. The E8 3/8-inch Mini-Matic Pump weighs just 3 lbs, yet is capable of...

Lift or lower big loads in small spaces.(MACHINERY & PROCESSING)
August 1, 2006... The 125Z Series of conveyors from QC Industries provides tight product transfer and the ability to fit within space-constrained areas--making them suitable for use in manufacturing plants, automation cells, packaging lines, and precision...

Rebuilt robots.(MACHINERY & PROCESSING)
August 1, 2006... Logic One is offering a new rebuilding service for AEC Interceptor and Sterltech Meteor robots using PC-based controls. Interceptor and Meteor robots provide parts handling on presses in the range of 500 to 2000 tons and have features that...

Low-viscosity pump.(MACHINERY & PROCESSING)
August 1, 2006... With 14 Bar/200 psi thin-liquid capability and capacities up to 45 cubic m/hr (200 gpm), Viking Pump's LVP Series stainless-steel pumps are designed for thin, corrosive liquids at higher pressures than can be managed by similar...

Dual-component dispensing.(MACHINERY & PROCESSING)
August 1, 2006... The DX Series of dispensing systems includes a mobile handheld dispenser with a refill station for two-component material dispensing. Offering the ability to dispense 1:1, 1.5:1, 2:1, 4:1, and 10:1 ratios for two-component reactive resins, the...

Color control.(MACHINERY & PROCESSING)
August 1, 2006... Color i7 is a fully automated spectrophotometer with embedded profiling for precise digital color control. It features a self-diagnostic function that reduces production errors and slowdowns, and as a result of its "open" technology, it can be...

Mold alloy for blow molding and hot-runner systems.(MACHINERY & PROCESSING)
August 1, 2006... For applications in which maximum heat removal or control is required, Brush Wellman has introduced MoldMax SC, a high-strength, high-conductivity copper beryllium alloy with a hardness of 20 Rc. The material is said to provide an exceptionally...

Society of chemical industry honors Dow's James Stevens.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Dow Chemical Co.)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... James C. Stevens, Ph.D., research fellow at The Dow Chemical Company (Midland, Mich.), has been named winner of the 2006 Perkin Medal by the Society of Chemical Industry (SCI) (American Section); the award will be presented at SCI's annual...

Clariant joint-venture facility goes on stream in China.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Hangzhou Baihe Chemical Co. Ltd.)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Per the joint-venture agreement between Clariant (Muttenz, Switzerland) and organic-pigment producer Hangzhou Baihe Chemical Co. Ltd., a new facility for the production of high-performance (HP) pigments went on stream in June in Hangzhou,...

Stratek and Coperion Forge polymer-melt technology deal.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Stratek Plastics Ltd.)(Coperion Werner and Pfleiderer GmbH)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Stratek Plastics Ltd. and Coperion Werner & Pfleiderer GmbH (Stuttgart, Germany) have signed a cooperation contract for the development and commercialization of a new polymer melt technology trademarked "TekFlow." Under contract terms, the...

Solutia increases PA66 production capacity.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Solutia Inc.)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Solutia, Inc. (St. Louis), has announced plans to increase manufacturing capacity for polyamide 66 (PA66) resins and compounds at its plant in Pensacola, Fla. Beginning in third-quarter 2006, the company is boosting annual capacity for Vydyne...

GE expands Silicone-rubber operations in Brazil.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(GE Advanced Materials)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... GE Advanced Materials, Silicones, has announced the expansion of existing facilities at its Itatiba plant in Brazil for the production of silicone-rubber products, customized to help Latin American companies in the automotive,...

Moldflow expands into India.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Moldflow Corp.)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Moldflow Corp., a provider of injection-molding simulation and control products based in Framingham, Mass., has opened a new office in Pune, Maharashtra, India. As India's manufacturing sector continues to grow--along with the number of...

Basell and Saudi firm announce joint venture.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(BASELL C.V.)(Tasnee and Sahara Olefins Company )(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Basell has signed a joint-venture agreement with Tasnee & Sahara Olefins Company for the construction of an integrated ethylene and polyethylene (PE) complex at Al-Jubail Industrial City in Saudi Arabia. Basell's equity share will be 25%, while...

Xaloy boosts production of bimetallic barrels in Asia.(plastics machinery)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... To meet growing Asian demand for its bimetallic barrels for plastics machinery, Xaloy of New Castle, Pa., says, it is undertaking a $3 million expansion of its plant in Chonburi, Thailand. Capacity is slated to be increased by 60 barrels per...

Albemarle builds FR plant in China.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Albemarle Corp. )(flame retardants)
August 1, 2006... Albemarle Corp. of Baton Rouge, La., reports that it is building a new manufacturing facility for phosphorus-based flame retardants (FR) at its site in Nanjing, China. Expected to be fully operational by the second half of 2007, the plant will...

Rhodia builds in South Korea.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Rhodia reports that it has invested nearly EUR 40 million in the construction of a polymerization unit on its integrated production platform in Onsan, South Korea. Rhodia's first polymerization unit in Asia, the facility will produce nylon salt...

DuPont Mexico distributes TPUs for Merquinsa.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(thermoplastic polyurethane)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, Merquinsa reports that it has appointed DuPont Mexico as the distributor of its Pearlthane TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) specialty product range. The agreement "enables us to cope with the rapid success of...

Bridgestone plans to produce carbon black in Mexico.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Bridgestone Corp. has announced that it will build a plant in Mexico to meet growing worldwide demand for carbon black. The plant will be operated by Mexico Carbon Manufacturing SA DE CV (Altamira, Tamaulipas, Mexico), a wholly owned member of...

"Comparator cards" offer help in replacing metals with polymers.(INDUSTRY)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... The latest in a series of comparator cards from Distrupol aims to facilitate the replacement of metal with polymers for designers and molders. Comparing key parameters of a range of polymers suitable for structural components across industries,...

Up coming events.(Calendar)
August 1, 2006... SPE CONFERENCES Sept. 12-14. SPE's Automotive Composites Conference & Exposition (ACCE). Site: Troy, Michigan. Sept. 13-14. SPE's Foams 2006. Site: Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Sept. 17-19. SPE's Color & Appearance Conference...