During the 1930s, the polymer industry experienced a boom, with PVC, polystyrene, polyethylene, acrylic, and moldable cellulosics moving from laboratory curiosities to commercial products. By the 1940s, polystyrene’s impact resistance was boosted by blending with butadiene rubber—at the cost of its

Evonik has expanded its Vestamid line with a new nylon‑12 compound, Vestamid LX9050 OR, engineered to provide the highest level of fire protection for busbars used in high‑voltage batteries of electric and hybrid vehicles. Incorporating halogen‑free flame retardants that comply with IEC 60754, the m

Bio‑Fed, a leading German compounder under Akro‑Plastic GmbH, has expanded its M‑Vera line with three new PLA‑based, biodegradable compounds tailored for extrusion and thermoforming in cosmetic, food, and non‑food packaging. All three grades—GP4001, GP4003, and GP4005—are certified OK compost Indust

The latest addition to SABIC’s unfilled Noryl GTX family, Noryl GTX 9500, delivers exceptional dimensional stability and mechanical resilience in hot, humid automotive under‑hood environments. Compared with conventional nylon 6 and nylon 66, this resin maintains a superior balance of properties unde

Avient Corp has introduced two patent‑pending Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPEs) — Versaflex CE 3140 — designed specifically for 5G applications. These TPEs are engineered to be transparent to high‑frequency signals, delivering exceptional permittivity and minimal signal loss at millimeter‑wave (mmWave

Epolin, a division of Chroma Color Corp., specializes in near‑infrared (NIR) dyes and thermoplastic compounds. The company has broadened its portfolio by acquiring Adam Gates & Company LLC, a Hillsborough, N.J., manufacturer known for high‑performance NIR and laser‑absorbing dyes that deliver superi

In a pioneering move, SABIC has introduced its first certified circular PC resin, built entirely from upcycled post‑consumer mixed plastic. This breakthrough product is part of SABIC’s Trucircle portfolio of circular solutions and marks a significant milestone in the plastics industry. The certified

Frances’ specialty PVC compounder Benvic has entered the U.S. market by acquiring Chemres, a Princeton, N.J.-based custom compounder. With compounding operations in Chesapeake, Va., Chemres holds a strong position in the U.S. contact lens market and maintains long‑term relationships across medical,

Illig Maschinenbau and Suedpack have teamed up to prove that thermoformed food packaging can be fully compostable, predominantly biobased, and still meet the performance demands of today’s market. Project Overview The collaboration aligns with the growing global demand for compostable and biobased p

NatureWorks, a leader in renewable polymers, has secured a commitment of more than $600 million from its parent companies—GC International Corp., a subsidiary of Thailand’s PTT Global Chemical Public Company, and Cargill Inc.—to build the world’s first fully integrated Ingeo PLA manufacturing comple

Lehvoss Group, a German engineering plastics leader with a U.S. office in Pawcatuck, Conn., has just launched a new line of high‑performance thermoplastic compounds that incorporate recycled content.The Luvotech eco range builds on the company’s proven ready‑to‑go formulations, first introduced at t

The newest founding member to join the consortium‑based feedstock management company Cyclyx International—whose mission is to raise the recycling rate of plastic from 10 % to 90 %—is global styrenics supplier Ineos Styrolution. Richard Cuetos, vice‑president of Ineos Styrolution America’s standard p

Over the past decade, ThermHex has consistently reported breakthroughs in the ThermHex thermoplastic honeycomb technology, a patent held by Belgium’s EconCore. ThermHex Waben GmbH, EconCore’s German subsidiary that manufactures PP honeycomb cores for economical sandwich panels, has partnered long‑te

The latest addition to Avient’s reSound R recycled‑content TPE portfolio features new grades that incorporate 25% post‑consumer recycled (PCR) polyvinyl butyral (PVB). These grades are sourced from reclaimed PVB extracted from broken automotive windshields and laminated architectural glass. The deve

A specialty PC‑based copolymer has been selected by Realme for the battery enclosure of its C25 smartphone, achieving UL 94 V0 flame retardancy at just 0.6 mm and meeting the IEC 62368‑1 safety standard for consumer electronics. SABIC’s LNP Elcres EXL 7414 PC copolymer offers excellent flow for thin

Nova Chemicals has unveiled the Surpass HPs267‑AB, a next‑generation high‑density polyethylene (HDPE) resin engineered to deliver unmatched moisture‑barrier performance in multilayer flexible packaging. The resin’s superior stiffness and heat resistance also support the circular economy by enabling

Lanxess’ Inorganic Pigments (IPG) unit supports masterbatch producers by delivering precise pigment analyses, enabling the formulation of colored biodegradable plastics that meet stringent heavy‑metal regulations.IPG’s unique service recommends optimal iron‑oxide pigment concentrations from the Colo

The ichó therapy ball, a joint creation of Hexpol TPE and Germany’s Icho Systems GmbH, has earned multiple awards for its innovative design and profound social impact. It offers a playful, engaging way to boost cognitive and motor skills in both children and adults, including those with dementia, au

Foster Corporation has signed an exclusive sales agreement with SK Functional Polymer (SKFP), a subsidiary of SK Global Chemical, a global leader in functional polymers. Under the agreement, Foster will be the sole distributor of SKFP’s Orevac 18300M—a high‑performance polyethylene‑based tie‑layer—f

We have been steadily reporting on developments in bioplastics, particularly PLA and PHA, including new grades, grades for additive manufacturing, and production scale-ups. Recently, I was contacted by innovative and sustainable materials science startup Verde Bioresins, Santa Monica, Calif., which