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Production of film for use in labels is a high-margin, specialty business. Importance of the label in the consumer-product marketing mix is fueling demand for plastic labels. The key market drivers include growing demand for clear-on-clear labels, innovations in plastic containers, plastics' ability to deliver aesthetics and functionality superior to traditional materials, etc. A report estimates that demand for plastic labels to grow by more than 6% pa in Europe and at 5% globally in the same period. Read in Plastic labels have good growth prospects |
With increased globalization, food packaging requires longer shelf life as well as monitoring food safety and quality. To satisfy these needs, nanotechnology is enabling new food and beverage packaging technologies develop improved tastes, color, flavor, texture and consistency of foodstuffs, new food packaging materials with improved mechanical, barrier and antimicrobial properties, tracing and monitoring the condition of food during transport and storage. Read more in Nano-enabled packaging for food and beverage industry estimated at US$7.3 bln by 2014 |
The Chinese government has developed policies to reduce the negative impact of the global economic slowdown on China's growth by lowering interest rates, strengthening infrastructure, expanding domestic demand, reducing export taxes, raising export tax rebates, etc. All these are likely to increase plastic demand, reduce manufacturing costs and ensure the growth of plastics. Though this could help support producers' capacity expansions over the coming year, the excess capacity could be a threat to profitability, particularly in the polypropylene, benzene and polyesters segments. Read in Chinese Government policies to maintain growth of polymers in 2009 |
Nano-formulated mold coatings can address many challenges faced by moldmakers and molders. By facilitating the release of parts and reducing drag upon material fill, these coatings can overcome many obstacles inherent to complicated designs and sticky materials. Read in Nano scale coating of mold surface provides many advantages |
Graphene is nature's thinnest elastic material and displays exceptional mechanical and electronic properties. Its one-atom thickness, planar geometry, high current-carrying capacity and thermal conductivity make it ideally suited for further miniaturizing electronics. A new research has led to the development of transparent and stretchy electrodes made from graphene, which could result in bendy displays, capable of conducting electricity better. Also, read about the first artificial graphene sculpted on the surface of a gallium-arsenide semiconductor, to which it grants the properties of the original graphene. Another new research is on the ripples on graphene, that if controlled, can be used to advantage in nanoscale devices and electronics. Read in Graphene to replace silicon in electronics, large scale manufacture expected to commence by 2013 |
Since fire is always a possibility with electrical and electronic devices, potentially combustible materials like plastics usually require addition of flame-retardant packages, unless they are inherently FR. The environmental pressure to become greener is increasing. Electronics industry is emphasizing to ensure the materials and processes used to produce these devices meet much tougher environmental standards. Read about new materials in A new generation PPS with low halogen for electronics industry |
ETPs when used for electrical/electronic applications require fire resistance. For the fire protection of thermoplastic engineering resins, phosphinate-based flame retardants (FRs) are the alternative to established products such as halogenated FRs. Phosphinate containing materials do not require separation under the European Regulation WEEE. The highly effective phosphinates fill a gap in the fire protection of widely used engineering plastics due to their overall good property profile and the possibilities they offer.
Read in Phosphinates can provide fire resistance in polyamides and polyesters
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Whether bonding plastic to plastic or other materials, adhesives offer several benefits over other joining methods. Adhesives distribute loads evenly over a broad area, reducing stress on the joint, resist flex and vibration stresses and form a seal as well as a bond, which can protect the joint from corrosion. They join irregularly shaped surfaces more easily than mechanical or thermal fastening, barely increase assembly weight, create virtually no change in part dimensions or geometry, and quickly and easily bond dissimilar substrates and heat-sensitive materials. However, they have certain limitations also. Read in
Silicone-Acrylate Hybrids bond low surface energy plastics like PE and PP
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