Plastics Fabrication News

At 1,000x faster than standard cable, a new fiber optic cable from the University of Southampton, UK, can reach data speeds of 10 terabytes per second. The secret — the cable is hollow and filled with air. Not a novel approach, but their solution to maintain signal strength through curves and bends in the material is a special wall that prevents refraction. They call it an ultra-thin photonic-bandgap rim that minimizes data loss down to 3.5 dB/km, suitable for short applications. Continued research should improve the cable for long-distance communication at nearly the speed of light.

Fundamentals of Injection Mold Design, June 5-6, 2013 in Chicago, IL

This two-day seminar provides a comprehensive guide to designing and building injection molds. Critical areas addressed include the molding cycle, mold classifications, the cavity and core, runner and runnerless molding systems, plastic part analysis, mold materials, and cost factors. Register today and save $100!

Delmar Company is a primary, contract, plastics fabricator of: clean room equipment, machine safety guards, display cases, plastic tanks, duct work, fume hoods, kiosks, plastic fittings, and whatever your fabrication needs are. We work with PVC, PVCII, CPVC, Polypropylene, Polyethylene, PDDF/Kynar, ABS, Polycarbonate, Acrylic, and more.

In what they believe can be added to any composite, University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers have created a polyacrilonitrile nanofiber that will make the material super-tough and strong. The combination has been elusive — while many materials are strong enough to carry a large load, they can be fragile. The new nanofiber can add both qualities.

Biomedical nanosponges developed at the University of California (San Diego) are powerful tools in combating MRSA and E. coli; they even absorb snake bite venom. With a polymer core and a red blood cell covering, the sponges travel through the bloodstream, attracting and absorbing lethal toxins. The detoxification treatment has been successful in animal trials.

For more on this subject, subscribe to IHS GlobalSpec's e-Newsletter Medical Equipment Design.

A team from the UK and France demonstrated how the right mix of heat and light can position nanoparticles in plastics for optimum film stabilization. The ability to manipulate light and added heat distribution leads to precise self-assembly of fullerenes and new opportunities for 3D printed thin film circuits.

With testing expected to be completed next month, Europe's Plastic Recyclate Impression Moulding Engineering (PRIME) consortium has constructed and installed flood defense barriers made with plastic waste. Evaluation of material durability relative to the use of aluminum panels will continue until year's end. Applications for mixed waste reuse in other marine and construction applications are also being considered.

Metal Mechanics specializes in trim presses offering total versatility. Our trim presses can be integrated into automated robotic load processing or stand alone for operator loading. Whether for new or existing cell configurations, Metal Mechanics can provide the right trim press for your needs. Contact us…

A global leader in Cryogenic Insulation systems, Lydall is the only multilayer-insulation (MLI ) manufacturer with low-temperature vacuum insulation testing capabilities and competence to provide expert advice on system design. Our CRSWrap, CryoTherm, and Cryolite products are the industry standards in cryogenic equipment. All Lydall cryogenic products meet DOT MC-338 (oxygen compatibility) requirements.

A team from the National Institute of Material Science, Japan, and Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Germany, present the world's first 2D supramolecular thiophene nanosheets. The sheets are created with a folding copolymer that self-assembles into a sheet only 3.5 nm thick, even though the length of the polymer is 80 nm.

At the University of Arizona, they wondered if they could create a moldable polymer using waste sulfur, and planned lengthy trials to find a chemical that could polymerize the material. They got lucky on their first try. The result: electrochemical properties comparable to elemental sulfur, with the added bonus of being highly soluble and meltable.

How do you turn everyday materials into super incarnations of themselves? With a slipknot, according to University of Trento, Italy, researchers. Creating a knot or a series of knots in any fiber increases toughness. They boosted the toughness of a commercial polymer fiber to 1070 Joules per gram — the highest-ever recorded value.

While we await a paperless society, over 1 billion inkjet cartridges have been produced since 2005. Hewlett-Packard and the Lavergne Group of Montreal, Canada, devised a new way to tackle used cartridge recycling. Discards are de-manufactured with cartridge-specific equipment, recovering 50% more usable plastic than older processes.

If you find this subject interesting, subscribe to the IHS GlobalSpec e-Newsletter, Environmental Technology.

One of the most common issues our customers call us about is a sticky surface on their clear castings. My first question to them is always: Are you using silicone?

Check out this article by Hapco, Inc. to gain some insight into the frustrating phenomenon of cure inhibition.

Sheldahl is a leading supplier of busbar insulation materials specifically formulated for all types of power distribution designs. Sheldahl busbar materials support a wide range of specifications for capacitance, inductance, voltage, and operating environments providing superior formability, consistency, toughness, and reliability especially for multi-step lamination applications.

Methods described in this UL standard involve standard size specimens and are intended to characterize the flammability properties of materials in response to a small open flame or radiant heat source under controlled laboratory conditions. The document covers tests for flammability of polymeric materials used for parts in devices and appliances.

For more information on IHS standards, visit us here.

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