For the past four years, we have highlighted Bockatech’s patented EcoCore foam‑core technology, a lightweight, reusable packaging solution that has partnered with Austria’s Borealis (U.S. office in Port Murray, N.J.) and Westfall Technik Inc., a global holding company supplying advanced plastics man

Wilo’s U.S. office in Rosemont, Ill., has selected a 30% glass‑reinforced nylon‑66 injection molding compound that is heat‑stabilised and glycol‑resistant. The material, part of Belgium‑based Domo Chemicals’ Technyl line, delivers stable performance under continuous contact with water, making it id

New LSFOH Cable Jacketing Compounds Enhance Longevity and Reduce Waste Avient has expanded its low‑smoke, low‑fume, non‑halogen (LSFOH) portfolio with two advanced cross‑linkable polyolefin compounds—ECCOH 5565 and ECCOH 5978 UV—tailored for telecom and industrial cable manufacturers. With fiber‑opt

A new suite of antiviral technologies has been launched by Microban International, a global leader in antimicrobial, odor‑control, and residual sanitization solutions. These proven treatments reduce viral loads on a wide range of products and surfaces, serving consumer, healthcare, industrial, and c

Lanxess is preparing to separate its High Performance Materials (HPM) business unit into a standalone legal entity by mid‑2022. This restructuring is aimed at maximizing growth opportunities in the high‑performance plastics market. Photo Credit: Lanxess    HPM’s portfolio feat

Polyplastics Group introduces two high‑performance glass‑filled PET grades—RH030 (30% glass) and RH045 (45% glass)—designed to deliver exceptional mechanical strength, a flawless jet‑black finish, and superior weather resistance for automotive exterior parts. These materials maintain their deep blac

DuPont Enhances BOA Fit System with Advanced Zytel Nylon, Boosting Performance Across SportsDuPont has partnered with BOA Technology, the creator of the BOA Fit System, to integrate DuPont’s Zytel impact‑modified nylon 66 into the system’s key components. The collaboration brings higher impact stren

Solvay has introduced a new generation of high‑performance Polypropylene Amorphous (PPA) materials engineered for 800‑volt and higher e‑motor and inverter busbars. The portfolio, part of Solvay’s commitment to electrified mobility, delivers superior electrical integrity, thermal resilience, and sust

The same wave of innovation that birthed nylon also spurred the creation of synthetic polyesters. In the 1930s, Julian Hill, a key member of Wallace Carothers’ DuPont team, first synthesized polyester fibers—long before nylon itself. Yet once nylon’s exceptional properties emerged, polyester researc

The end of 2021 marked a shift toward a buyers’ market for polyolefins and, to a lesser extent, polystyrene (PS), while PVC, PET, ABS, PC, and nylons 6 and 66 continued to operate as a seller’s market. The primary driver for polyolefin and PS pricing remained an oversupply relative to demand. For

Nylon 6/6 is a polyamide produced from hexamethylenediamine and adipic acid. While it offers many advantages, it also has limitations that engineers must weigh when selecting fasteners and custom parts. Key Limitations of Nylon Hygroscopic Nature: Nylon readily absorbs moisture from the air, which

Sunlight May Degrade Plastics Without light‑blocking agents, many polymers deteriorate when exposed to sunlight. The damage usually penetrates only about 0.05 mm into the surface, causing discoloration, cracking, or even total disintegration. Brittle plastics can fail after just a few microns of UV

How to Identify the Type of Plastic in Your Everyday Items Knowing what plastic your object is made from helps you recycle correctly and avoid harmful chemicals. Below are three reliable, industry‑approved methods to determine a plastic’s identity. 1. Resin Identification Code (RIC) The Resin Identi

What Is an Injection Mold? An injection mold is a precision‑engineered tool that, once fully assembled, fits into an injection molding machine to produce identical plastic parts. The process starts with a detailed engineering drawing of the part. An experienced moldmaker then translates that drawing

What Are the Resin Identification Codes from SPI? The Resin Identification Code (RIC) system was launched by the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) in 1988, which is now known as The Plastics Industry Association. The RIC assigns a single digit (1‑7) inside a triangle of three bending arrows to

Delrin® Homopolymer Delrin® homopolymer—also known as polyoxymethylene (POM)—is a crystalline engineering plastic that excels in demanding fastener applications such as screws, hex nuts, threaded rods, and set screws. Its material properties bridge the gap between metals and conventional plastics, d

Polyoxymethylene (Acetal) Acetal, also known as polyoxymethylene (POM), is a premier engineering thermoplastic prized for its exceptional stiffness, low friction, and dimensional stability. From –40 °C to 80 °C, POM delivers high strength, hardness, and rigidity. Naturally an opaque white, it can be

Sunlight is a powerful ally for many applications, but for plastics it can be a silent aggressor. Over time, ultraviolet (UV) rays break down polymer chains, causing brittleness, discoloration, and loss of mechanical strength. Understanding how UV radiation affects plastics and selecting the right s

CFRP Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) has long powered high‑performance race cars, but its high cost and lengthy production once kept it out of mainstream consumer vehicles. Recent advances in manufacturing are rapidly changing that landscape, opening the door to widespread automotive, aerospa

Carbon Fibers in Plastic Materials Carbon fibers have been integral to advanced composites for well over a century. In 1879, Thomas Edison experimented with cotton‑based fibers that later powered the first incandescent light bulbs, marking the earliest use of carbon in practical devices. By the 196