A recycling method could see carbon fibre-reinforced composites upcycled into more demanding applications. Researchers at Loughborough University, UK, claim to have converted the
composite’s thermoset polymer matrix into a ceramic, which could be
used in ‘friction applications’ such as brake discs for high-end cars.
The INSTINCT-Technology Demonstrator 2 (TD2) project is designed to discover, trial and showcase emergent security technologies, solutions and ideas for aviation security.
Researchers claim to have used the same scientific principles found in cornstarch to invent a lightweight, flexible composite material able to dissipate high-impact energy.
UK scientists exploring the safe storage of hydrogen for powering vehicles have developed an organic polymer capable of storing three per cent hydrogen by weight.
A processing technique for the deposition of thin and super thin polymer
films on substrates could provide a more 'cost-effective' coating
method for fuel filtration systems in
automotives and aircraft, say researchers at Nottingham
University in the UK.
Software that may help manufacturers and product designers, reduce the costs and CO2 emissions associated with transporting and storing goods is said to have been used for the first time by a major UK retailer on beverage packaging.
A process that enables blow moulders to co-extrude high-density
polyethylene (HDPE) bottles layered with thermoplastic elastomers
(TPEs), has been developed by PolyOne, headquartered in Cleveland, USA.
The results of the British Plastics Federation’s Business Conditions Survey 2010 have signalled industry confidence in post recession recovery, with 73% of all respondents forecasting an increase in UK Sales Turnover in the next 12 months.
The 2010 Design Innovation in Plastics competition challenged student designers and design engineers to create a product that addressed economic and environmental concerns yet was innovative and ‘refreshing’.
The use of a variety of plastic products throughout the London 2012 Olympic sites has positioned the material as a significant player in the Games’ sustainability effort, says the BPF.
