Team develops lignin-based thermoplastic conversion process
(Phys.org)—Turning lignin, a plant's structural "glue" and a byproduct of the paper and pulp industry, into something considerably more valuable is driving a research effort headed by Amit Naskar of...
View ArticleConverting waste rubber into quality products
Pioneering new research is set to upset the standard paradigm of downcycling, and as a result, high-quality new plastics from old plastics will soon be a possibility.
View ArticleBotObjects announces first full color 3D printer— ProDesk3D
(Phys.org) —Co-founders of a company called botObjects have announced on their website, the development of a full color 3D printer, the first of its kind. Until now, most 3D printers have been either...
View ArticleMaking vehicles safer
A car’s crash components can spell the difference between life and death. Their job is to absorb energy in a collision in order to protect the driver inside. Researchers have now found a way for the...
View ArticleSeeing in stereo: Engineers invent lens for 3-D microscope
Engineers at Ohio State University have invented a lens that enables microscopic objects to be seen from nine different angles at once to create a 3D image.
View ArticleComposites for large-scale manufacturing
Continuous fiber-reinforced composites with thermoplastic matrix resins are very well suited for use in automotive manufacturing. However, to manufacture them is complicated. A new approach now makes...
View ArticlePulp as biodegradable plastic in disposable food containers
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists and university cooperators have developed a biodegradable plastic that could be used in disposable food containers. The plastic, called a thermoplastic,...
View ArticleRubber technology important in reducing CO2 emissions
Despite numerous measures taken by manufacturers, the worldwide level of CO2 car emissions is still increasing at an alarming rate. The automotive sector is working hard to develop lightweight...
View ArticleSquid supplies blueprint for printable thermoplastics
Squid, what is it good for? You can eat it and you can make ink or dye from it, and now a Penn State team of researchers is using it to make a thermoplastic that can be used in 3-D printing.
View ArticleNear breakthrough for thermoplastic composites in the automotive industry
Researchers are on the verge of a breakthrough that will allow for the wide-scale use of thermoplastic composites in the automotive industry. These 'futuristic materials' are ultra-light, while being...
View ArticleImproved adhesion paves the way for greater use of thermoplastic composites
A research at the University of Twente has brought the aviation sector one step closer to lighter aircraft. PhD candidate Yibo Su has developed a method for bonding lightweight constructions made from...
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