ARTICLES

  • Counterfeiting is a multi-billion-dollar threat to consumers and businesses globally that compromises brand value and poses serious safety risks. Brand owners and suppliers of plastics packaging continue to face counterfeiting issues on a regular basis. New anti-counterfeiting technology for thermoplastics delivers major advantages for the packaging industry when it comes to risk mitigation, supply chain security, and corporate governance. Under development are extremely cost-effective anti-counterfeiting measures enabling protection of brand identity and supply chain integrity. These new technologies can be shaped to fit a wide variety of processing conditions, end-use applications and authentication techniques based on overt, covert, or forensic-based approaches. These solutions enable brand owners to readily identify counterfeit products with easy-to-use methods based on additives. Read more in Brand protection with anti-counterfeiting resins, percept technologies with TPEs, taggant

  • Wood-plastic composites are made up of wood flour or fiber, plastic resins and additives, which foster the integration of the wood and plastic and aid in the manufacturing process. Most wood-plastic composites are manufactured using wood and plastic wastes or recyclates, mostly through extrusion. Applications in automotive markets will grow at a fast rate as OEMs strive to reduce greenhouse gas emission and lower weight. Infrastructure will also be an important and rapidly growing market. The main applications are primarily for outdoor use like decking, cladding and park benches. Applications are emerging for a number of indoor uses, such as door frames, trim and furniture. The industry in Europe has reached maturity. Faster growth is expected in East Asia, Russia, South America and India. Read more in Global market for WPCs, cellulosic plastics, plastic lumber, natural fiber composites to see double digit growth

  • Biomaterials aid development of many modern medical devices and products including biodegradable sutures, bone screws, pins, rods and plates, and scaffolds for regenerating bone, cartilage and blood vessels. New research drives the evolution of these biomaterials toward increasingly sophisticated applications, with functional requirements having expanded to include both therapeutic and diagnostic elements - with particular focus on optical imaging capabilities. Innovation is making these materials intrinsically photoluminescent. Read more in Photoluminescent PLA useful in bioimaging, diagnosis, sensing

  • Corporates and households around the world continue to push for integration of renewable energy and energy efficiency systems within their infrastructure. Developments in integrated photovoltaic technologies could allow transformation of buildings into units that consume as well as produce energy. Well integrated photovoltaic systems will not only allow incorporation of energy generating devices but also take care of the architectural conventions and building aesthetics. Conversion will be possible at a faster pace subject to marginal costs upgrades, maintenance of specifications and compliance with existing norms and standards. To know about developments that will help PV modules become fully fledged building construction elements, read Building-integrated white solar photovoltaic modules, see through solar window coatings

  • Government renewable targets, financial incentives, technology cost reductions are three major forces currently driving the adoption of solar across the globe. Solar PV technology costs have steadily declined, and pathways to further cost reduction are being pursued. By the end of the decade, solar PV is expected to be cost competitive with retail electricity prices without subsidies in a significant portion of the world. Annual revenue from solar PV installations is estimated to surpass US$134 bln by 2020. Following years of oversupply and unsustainable, often artificially low module pricing, 2013 is expected to be the year that the global solar photovoltaic (PV) market begins to stabilize. Market activity is shifting from Europe to Asia Pacific and the United States, as these markets reach maturity and solar PV approaches grid parity in a growing number of regions. Considerable opportunity also exists in emerging markets, led by Chile, South Africa, and Saudi Arabia. Read more in and USA to propel global photovoltaic solar installations growth by 20% yoy in 2014

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