ARTICLES

  • Phase change materials (PCMs) are suitable for storing thermal energ in the form of latent heat and release when required by changing its phase. They absorb or release large quantities of heat at a constant temperature thereby maintaining desirable ambient conditions. An innovative two wheeler seat cover developed after extensive R&D, is incorporated with Phase Change Material Technology which reduces the sweat by controlling the microclimate of the body. These seat covers absorb less heat and keeps the seat around 12 degree Celcius cooler, depending on temperature and humidity conditions. It also improves hygiene levels and is a cost effective, environment friendly replacement to existing materials. Read more in Phase Change Material technology in two wheeler seat covers controls microclimate of human body

  • Non-woven fabrics are sheets or webbed structures that are bonded together by chemical, thermal, or mechanical processes. They are not formed by knitting or weaving. Based on type, PP non-woven fabrics can be divided into four segments - Spunbond, Staple, Meltblown and Composite. They are used for various applications in the hygiene, construction, geotextile, filtration, and automotive, and others sectors. To know about the factors driving demand, the largest application segment, sector with largest growth potential, regions with high growth rates, major challenges faced by the sector, etc, read Driven by construction industry, global PP non-woven fabric market to grow at almost 7%  uptil 2019

  • New development in smart windows can adjust the amount of sunlight coming into buildings leading to significant savings on cooling and lighting costs. A team has developed a smart window with a polymer hydrogel in which the liquid is sandwiched and sealed between two glass panels, which change the optical appearance at high temperatures. A unique self-tinting window requires zero electricity to operate and is also a rechargeable battery. The window’s stored energy can be used for other purposes, such as to light up low-powered electronics like a light emitting diode. Read more in Polymers in smart windows block solar heat, self-tint with zero electricity

  • Once bacteria gain a foothold in a human body, they like to form biofilms. These colonies that cause infections and life-threatening conditions thrive on invasive and implantable medical devices. Preventing biofilm formation on medical devices has become critically important, as the bacteria are extremely difficult to dislodge once they have settled in and are increasingly resistant to antibiotics. Bacterial biofilms are an ever-increasing problem in the food industry, especially for fresh produce.  Polymers are being developed  that interfere with biofilm formation by bacteria and fungi, and new liquid-infused polymer tubing greatly reduced bacterial adhesion and largely eliminated biofilm formation. Read more in Liquid-infused polymers prevent biofilm on medical devices, anti-biofilm polymers prevent food contamination

  • The property of hydrogels to reversibly change their size and shape under different conditions makes them attractive for a wide variety of applications, including artificial muscles, drug delivery and sensors. However, despite studies in stimuli-sensitive hydrogels over a few decades, their commercialization for applications is rare. One of the biggest problems is that they are usually weak and brittle, causing them to easily break when stretched. This has been overcome with new developments by two teams in two continents. Read more in New self stretching shape memory polymer, reversible shape shifting in elastmers