Today's News

Chinaplas 2023 has record breaking attendance
The largest ever CHINAPLAS was successfully concluded at the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center, PR China on April 20. The show results were impressively indicating a great surge with 3,905 exhibitors from 38 countries and regions around the world. The show occupied 380,000sqm and recorded an attendance of 248,222 visitors from 149 countries and regions. 28,429 visitors came from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan region and overseas, accounting for 11.45% of the total. Compared with the 2019 Guangzhou Exhibition, the total number of visitors increased by 51.99%, and compared with the 2021 Shenzhen Exhibition, it increased by 63.16%

Active Minerals announces price increase
Active Minerals International, LLC (AMI) announced a list price increase for all products effective July 1, 2023. Their portfolio of Air-Float Kaolin, Gellent Attapulgite, and Acti-Gel® 208 rheology modifier products will increase up to 10.0% as contracts allow.

Maxam Tire announces the all-new MS925 LIFTXTRA
MAXAM Tire marks another milestone in the construction industry by delivering an all-new performance solution. Introducing the MS925 LIFTXTRA, developed specifically to deliver the superior strength and stability required for aerial work platforms.

Yokohama Tire partnering with FuelFest for 5th straight year
For the fifth consecutive year, Yokohama Tire is partnering with FuelFest, the traveling international automotive festival that brings together music, culture, celebrities and cars in the name of charity. The tiremaker is the sponsor of the Yokohama Festival Stage. FuelFest’s latest stop is at Irwindale Speedway (near Los Angeles) on Saturday, June 3.

ARPM 2023 Safety Award winners announced
The Association for Rubber Products Manufacturers (ARPM) announced the 2023 Safety Award Winners, who were honored during the 2023 Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Summit on May 24-25 in Columbus, Ohio.

Firestone used hard-to-recycle plastic in tires for 107th running of the Indianapolis 500
As the series’ exclusive tire supplier, Bridgestone has incorporated ISCC PLUS certified recycled butadiene, a monomer produced from hard-to-recycle used plastic shopping bags, film, stretch wrap and other flexible polymer packaging, developed in partnership with Shell, in all Firestone Firehawk race tires used at the Indianapolis 500. Bridgestone will manufacture all race tires for the 2023 season at the ISCC PLUS-certified Advanced Tire Production Center (ATPC) in Akron. Additionally, Bridgestone has partnered with Penske and Indianapolis Motor Speedway to transport all race tires to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) with electric 2023 Freightliner eCascadia from Penske Truck Leasing’s fleet of electric vehicles during the month of May.
Featured Articles

Devulcanization: A solution for scrap rubber
Development of a market for devulcanized and revulcanized rubbers can be achieved with in-depth understanding of the precise correlation among the physical and chemical properties of the initial vulcanizate, the devulcanization technique, and properties of the resulting devulcanizates.
Mixing

Silane modified low molecular weight liquid polymers in sulfur cured mixtures of styrene butadiene copolymers and silica
Global emissions of greenhouse gases from trucks and passenger cars are influenced by the deformation energy and friction losses of tires. It is mostly associated with the rolling resistance between the tire tread and the road surface. For this reason, the rolling resistance is considered one of the most important performance indicators (that is, targeted to be reduced) within the tire industry.
Chemicals and Materials

Multi-purpose additives for rubber compounds
Several products that can serve more than one purpose in rubber compounds are examined, including anti-reversion agents, dithiophosphates, curing activators and blowing agents.
Extrusion

Effect of Thermax N990 on EPDM electrical percolation threshold
Blends of hard clay, N990 and N550 were utilized to evaluate the electrical percolation region of EPDM compounds; and the viscosity and physical properties of the compounds were also measured.
Silicone & Medical

Synthetic leather combines genuine leather qualities with sustainability
Synthetic leathers made from silicone (Si) have superior tactile feel, durability, recyclability, ease of cleaning and inherent fire resistance, but have poor abrasion and cratch resistance due to the inherent properties of silicones. LuxSense is a first of its kind silicone-organic hybrid synthetic leather that combines the benefits of both to become the first synthetic leather that competes with authentic leather on performance, and exceeds all leathers on sustainability.
Oil, Gas & Energy

Low temperature seals for oil and gas applications
Low temperature
seals for oil and gas
applications
Testing & Instruments

Tensile testing principles: Fundamentals, methods and challenges
Tensile testing is arguably the most common test method used in both force measurement and material testing. Tensile testing is used primarily to determine the mechanical behavior of a component, part or material under static, axial loading.
Molding

Engel launches pay per use for machine molding
ENGEL breaks new ground in injection molding machine distribution. Blazing a trail for its industry, the machine manufacturer now offers its customers a pay-per-use model on top of classical machine purchases. This helps processors to reduce their investment risk while at the same time boosting flexibility in production.
Thermoplastic Elastomers & Urethanes

Are all thermoplastic polyolefins created equal?
Thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) is one of the fastest growing commercial roofing systems on the market. Developed in Europe in the 1970s, TPO was introduced to the U.S. market in the late 1980s and has become the dominant installed roof system in the industry; now used on 53% of commercial roofs, according to the American Institute of Architects.
Latex and Natural Rubber

Latex today with Jim Finn: The Lightning Round
The objective here is to provide a list of common latex types, their key characteristics, and a summary of their useful properties and contributions. It is unlikely that the summary will capture all the salient points of each latex type; but it should provide enough information to be useful if called upon to deliver a “30 second commercial.”
The May Issue of Rubber World
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This issue focuses on
Extrusion
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