News tagged with plastics industry

Chemical engineers find high-yield method of making xylene from biomass

A team of chemical engineers led by Paul J. Dauenhauer of the University of Massachusetts Amherst has discovered a new, high-yield method of producing the key ingredient used to make plastic bottles from biomass. The process ...

Chemistry / Materials Science

created Apr 30, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (4) | comments 3 | with audio podcast

Will 3-D printing launch a new industrial revolution?

Peter Schmitt, an MIT doctoral student, printed a clock in 2009. He didn't print an image of a clock on a piece of paper. He printed a three-dimensional clock -- an eight-inch diameter plastic timekeeping ...

Technology / Engineering

created Apr 13, 2012 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (34) | comments 56 | with audio podcast

Research team develops better iron catalyst to help turn plant material into plastic

(PhysOrg.com) -- As most people know, modern plastics are made from crude oil derivatives, making them vulnerable to price and supply fluctuations, which in the end means an alternative must be found in order for the plastics ...

Chemistry / Materials Science

created Feb 17, 2012 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (6) | comments 0 | with audio podcast report

Products of biotechnological origin using vegetable and fruit by-products generated by the industry

More than 192 million tonnes of fruit and vegetable waste is produced in Europe every year. The continued use of oil as a raw material is a serious obstacle in the way of sustainable industrial development, ...

Chemistry / Materials Science

created Jan 12, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

New coatings process lowers fuel consumption

(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers at the University of Surrey have invented a new process to make bespoke coatings that could one day reduce the 'drag resistance' of ships and aeroplanes and thereby lower fuel ...

Chemistry / Materials Science

created Nov 22, 2011 | popularity 4 / 5 (7) | comments 4 | with audio podcast

'Perfect plastic' created

(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers at the University of Leeds and Durham University have solved a long-standing problem that could revolutionize the way new plastics are developed.

Chemistry / Polymers

created Sep 29, 2011 | popularity 4.6 / 5 (24) | comments 10 | with audio podcast

One word: bioplastics

(PhysOrg.com) -- Every year, more than 250 billion pounds of plastic are produced worldwide. Much of it ends up in the world's oceans, a fact that troubles MIT biology professor Anthony Sinskey.

Chemistry / Materials Science

created Nov 17, 2009 | popularity 4.6 / 5 (15) | comments 4