SpecialChem4Polymers.com R&D Highlights in Plastics & Elastomers Formulation

Recent industrial developments in the fields of clay-based nanocomposites

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This article reviews, in a coherent way, recently-patented technologies in the field of polymer-clay composites, in order to provide scientists and engineers in this area with a quick guide on the most up-todate inventions. It is well known that in... (R&D Highlight)

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Environmentally degradable PP

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This article describes the effect of pro-degradant additives on degradation behavior of PP films. The effect of natural exposure and heating of PP films in the presence or absence of additives were investigated. The apparent density value of PP film... (R&D Highlight)

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Hyperbranched polymers as novel flame retardants

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Hyperbranched polyethers were blended with LDPE and flexible PVC to improve their flame retardant properties. The flame retardancy of blends at different dose levels of the hyperbranched polyether with those of linear polymers was... (R&D Highlight)

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Wood-fiber-reinforced recycled PP composites

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

To reduce the moisture absorption of wood-fiber-reinforced PP (WFR-PP), a coupling agent (KH550), methyl methacrylate (MMA), and maleic anhydride (MA) were used to modify the wood fibers. The surface-treated wood fibers were mixed with recycled PP... (R&D Highlight)

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Additives to improve the weatherability of PVC

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The effect of the combination of a UV absorber (Chimassorb 81) with different types of thermal stabilizers, including an organic calcium complex and an organotin mercaptide, on the photodegradation of PVC was investigated by color difference... (R&D Highlight)

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Improving PLA mechanical properties by the addition of oil

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

PLA films are toughened by the addition of oils. The investigated oils were linear alkanes, cyclic alkanes, and two terpenes (limonene and eugenol). The addition of the oils greatly influenced the morphology, thermal and mechanical properties of the... (R&D Highlight)

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High refractive index nanocomposites

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

High refractive index optical compositions based on polymer matrices filled with high concentrations of ZnS nanoparticles were developed. These materials have good optical properties and processability like usual polymers, and they are suitable for... (R&D Highlight)

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Transparent conductive films containing carbon nanotubes for touch panel displays

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This invention provides a transparent conductive PC film coated with a mixed solution of carbon nanotubes and a binder, by which a touch panel having high transmissivity can be manufactured by directly forming a transparent conductive layer on a PC... (R&D Highlight)

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Properties of reversibly crosslinked isotactic PP/clay nanocomposites

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Recent developments concerning the methodology used to prepare composites of isotactic PP and nanoclays are reported. Conventional (reactive melt mixing) and in situ preparations were performed, and the structural properties exhibited by the... (R&D Highlight)

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PLA-based bio- and nanocomposites

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This article reviews PLA for the production of bio- and nanocomposites. Attempts to improve PLA properties by reinforcing with lignocellulosic fibers (both wood based and from annual plants) and man-made cellulosic fibers (rayon) are first outlined.... (R&D Highlight)

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Carbon nanotubes composites

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Carbon nanotubes represent one of the most important materials in nanoscience and nanotechnology. The exceptional properties that these materials possess, open new fields in science and engineering. In this article, the authors discuss a range of... (R&D Highlight)

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PP composites reinforced with multiwall carbon nanotubes

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

PP nanocomposites containing 0.1 to 3 wt.% multiwall carbon nanotubes were prepared using extrusion processing. Carbon nanotubes were found to enhance the thermal stability of PP in both nitrogen and air atmospheres. Dynamic mechanical analysis and... (R&D Highlight)

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New non-migrating PVC plasticizer

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This article reveals a new approach to making PVC flexible with zero plasticizer migration! The technology involves compounding a thiol functional phthalate into rigid PVC. The thiol chemically reacts with C-Cl bonds and covalently attaches the... (R&D Highlight)

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Rheology, mechanical performance, shrinkage, and morphology of chemically coupled talc-filled PP

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The shear rheological properties, mechanical performance, shrinkage, and morphology of PP-talc composites chemically coupled by maleic-anhydride-grafted PP (MAPP) were studied. The samples were prepared in a co-rotating L/D = 40, 25 mm twin-screw... (R&D Highlight)

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Halogen-free flame-retardant rigid polyurethane foams

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Rigid polyurethane foam (PUF) filled with mixture of alumina trihydrate and triphenyl phosphate as fire retardant additive was prepared with water as a blowing agent. In this study, the aluminum trihydrate content was varied from 10 to 100 pph polyol... (R&D Highlight)

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The effect of different impact modifiers in halogen-free flame retarded polycarbonate blends - II

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This article investigates the fire behavior of halogen-free flame retarded PC blends with different impact modifiers. The impact modifiers were ABS, a poly(Bu acrylate) rubber (PBA) with a poly(Me methacrylate) (PMMA) shell and two silicone-acrylate... (R&D Highlight)

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Novel "Eco-FR" styrenic polymers

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Flame retardant (FR) additives are commonly used in polymeric materials, with non-halogenated flame retardants being preferred for environmental, health and safety reasons. However, developing non-halogenated FRs is... (R&D Highlight)

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Improvement of processing parameters by using processing aids during the LLDPE film blowing process

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Polymer processing aids are used to improve processing properties in the PE industry. These materials improve not only the physical and mechanical properties of the final products but also their processing properties. This article studies some of... (R&D Highlight)

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New trends in PLA-based materials: "Green" PLA-(nano)composites tailored with flame retardant properties

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Starting from gypsum, a byproduct of lactic acid fabrication process, novel "green" composites have been produced by melt-blending polylactide (PLA) and this filler after a previous specific dehydration to obtain anhydrite II (AII). Such a material... (R&D Highlight)

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Metal-Containing Polymers: Building Blocks for Functional (Nano)Materials

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

In this article, the authors overview the field of metal containing nanocomposites with a brief survey of recent literature. The incorporation of metallic units into polymer chains has emerged as a promising route towards functional... (R&D Highlight)

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