As plastics producers struggle with a slowing economy, rising raw material prices and increasing competition, high performance polymers continue to exhibit a growth rate that surpasses GDP growth. Evolving rapidly over the past few years and currently at US$6.1 bln, the industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.1% over the next 5 years. New companies entering the industry, new polymer introductions and inter-material competition with metals make the field interesting for suppliers. Read details in High Performance Polymers projected to grow at 6.1% pa over next 5 years
An innovative packaging has been developed by leading Indian packaging company that keeps curry past self stable at room temperature for weeks. Sterilization method is very cost effective as it needs only hot boiling water and pouches are heat treated in the water for 25 minutes. Read more in Innovative transparent packaging keeps curry paste self stable at room temperature for weeks
The market for printed electronics is just beginning to emerge, with specific applications legitimizing its acceptance and driving demand. Some market applications are near term and dynamic, while others are more long range and evolving. The technologies are penetrating a wide number of customer applications, and as costs decline and performance improves, will justify customer switching and implementing entirely new design solutions. Read in New growth opportunities for printed electronics look very promising
A typical washing machine uses about 35 kg of water for every kg of clothes, in addition to the power needed to heat the water and dry the clothes. A new washing machine using as little as a cup of water for each washing cycle could go on sale to environmentally conscious. lastic chips are used to remove dirt and stains from clothes, leaving them dry and reducing energy consumption as there is no need to use a dryer after the washing cycle. Read in details in World's first “virtually waterless” washing system
A film that is 1,000 times more impervious to moisture than existing technologies has been developed. This provides a longer lifetime for plastic electronic devices such as solar cells and flexible displays that use these high-end films but whose sensitive organic materials are easily degraded by water vapour and oxygen. The new technology is a boon to the plastic electronics industry. Read more in Film with 1000 times better moisture barrier properties provides longer life for plastic electronics
A process known as Electrospinning (ES) is considered to be one of the most promising processes in the field of nanotechnology. Electrospun nanofibers applications include environmental solutions, energy storage, healthcare, biotechnology, defense and security related products. The ES process has gained the most attention not only because of its simplicity but also because it can produce nanofibers with different materials. Read details in Electrospinning is an emerging process to produce nanofibers
Blown film process has thickness variation ranging up to 15% resulting in significant amount of polymer wastage. In addition to the loss of the costly raw material, it also involves loss of other variable cost of power, machine time, manpower and also of overhead fixed cost. Read more in Blown film process requires careful considerations to prevent polymer wastage
