Blemishes and mars occurring on the surfaces of popular electronic handhelds, polished furniture and luxurious cars could repair on their own. A certain number of research studies have largely made strides in this field which boasts of innumerable applications. The industry which will welcome such marvelous materials with wide open arms will be consumer electronics to safeguards products like tiny music players, laptop screens, mobile phones, PDAs and the like. The self-repairing materials have enormous potential as far as end uses are concerned but yet there remains additional scope to delve in to before commercialization. Read more in Developments In Self-Repairing Polymers Show Enormous Potential For Automobiles, Consumer Electronics

PLA has been available from one major supplier. However, there appear to be few new sources who are preparing new PLA copolymers. A large European molder of EPS beads has opted to polymerize its own PLA and make the world's first ex¬panded PLA (EPLA) bead foams. This has resulted in an improved form of PLA with superior strength and heat resistance. It is aimed at specialty packaging for consumer goods and at bio-derived cushion filling. EPLA beads contain no VOCs and have no shelf-life limitation. Read in Expanded Pla Bead Foams Are An Improved Form Of Pla With Superior Strength And Heat Resistance

Excess consumption of salt (sodium chloride) has been linked to an increased risk of high blood pressure, which can lead to cardiovascular events like stroke. The food industry is under increasing pressure to reduce the salt content of its wares, but it doing so it must still deliver products that have an acceptable taste. Read in Plastic Packaging Integrated With Aromas Enhances Taste Perception

Polymeric materials that change color in response to various external stimuli such as heat, light, electric field, and magnetic field have been widely known and applied to various types of display devices and sensors. Recently polymer films that change colour instantaneously and reversibly in response to changes in the tension have been developed. Read more in Substituted Polyacetylene Film That Can Change On Application Of Tensile Forces

Several innovative design and materials work is underway in to vehicle fuel tank systems, as this is an area that is coming under increasing pressure from legislation, particularly in the United States to withstand stronger impacts without leaking. The main factors driving fuel tank innovation are legislation, weight, packaging, safety and cost. Along with a continued demand for fuel tank range and fuel economy, more complex shapes and geometries are being seen, particularly driven by the all/rear wheel drive increase in smaller car segments. A revolutionary new system for producing plastic fuel tanks is a twin-sheet blow molding system (TSBM) that integrates components into a fuel tank during blow molding, reducing costs and emissions at the same time. Read Innovative Fuel Tank Based on Twin-Sheet Blow Molding Process

The market for plastic processing equipment in USA will grow at 4.7% pa to reach US$25 bln in 2012. Sales will be will be driven by ongoing economic growth and rising personal income levels that will result in increased plastics product consumption, processing activity and associated equipment demand. Several factors will constrain market advances. To know about the various growth regions, growth sectors and growing areas, read more in Plastic Processing Equipment To Grow At 4.7% In Usa, To Us$25 Bln By 2012

Hurricane-resistant curtains have been made from Honeywell's high-strength Spectra® fiber, that is commonly used in bullet-resistant body armor. The roll-down curtains can withstand 175 mph winds and impact from large wind-borne projectiles. Read more features and benefits in Curtain containing Spectra® fiber can withstand hurricane

Polyethylene is very sensitive to heating and it burns almost entirely. Its chemical nature has prevented its matrix from binding with mineral particles. Russian chemical physicists have developed a new composite material, which looks like polyethylene, but has improved properties, and keeps mineral structure intact, while introducing it into a polymer with absolutely different chemical nature. Read New PE Composite Developed With Enhanced Properties