Today’s News
Bridgestone and Blink IQ to deploy EV charging stations at tire and vehicle service centers
Blink Charging Co. announced a cooperation with Bridgestone Retail Operations (“BSRO”), a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas, to deploy 50 Blink IQ 200 charging stations at 25 Firestone Complete Auto Care and Wheel Works tire and automotive service centers. These deployments are the first Blink chargers at Bridgestone service centers and are part of the company’s broader initiative to address the needs of electric vehicle consumers.
General Motors to invest $7 billion with four new factories in Michigan
General Motors Co announced an investment of more than $7 billion in four Michigan manufacturing sites, creating 4,000 new jobs and retaining 1,000, and significantly increasing battery cell and electric truck manufacturing capacity. This is the single largest investment announcement in GM history. The investment includes construction of a new Ultium Cells battery cell plant in Lansing and the conversion of GM’s assembly plant in Orion Township, Michigan for production of the Chevrolet Silverado EV and the electric GMC Sierra, GM’s second assembly plant scheduled to build full-size electric pickups.
Sumitomo Rubber transitions two factories to 100 percent renewable energy
Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. announced that, as part of their ongoing efforts to contribute to the realization of a carbon-free society, the Sumitomo Rubber Group’s two tire factories in the People’s Republic of China (Changshu Factory and Hunan Factory) completed the transition to purchasing 100% of their electric power from renewable energy sources in January of 2022.
In addition, with further plans to install solar power generators from the second half of the year, these two factories are now slated to reduce their total annual (2022) CO2 emissions from tire manufacturing processes by an estimated 70% compared to their 2021 emissions levels.
Rubber Division courses now earn continuing education credits
To assist those in our industry actively working to maintain certifications and licenses, the Rubber Division, ACS has partnered with The University of Akron to offer CEUs for many of the courses that they offer throughout the year, as well as for their Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Rubber Technology Self-paced Learning opportunities.
Instron introduces new 3400 and 6800 series universal testing systems
Building on a 75-year legacy of excellence in mechanical testing, Instron announces the capacity expansion of the 3400 and 6800 Series universal testing systems. The all-new 3400 and 6800 Series high-force universal testing systems are successors to Instron’s popular 3300 and 5900 Series systems and are now available in force capacities ranging up to 300 kN. With the higher capacities come a host of new features focused on durability, ergonomics, and simplifying mechanical testing.
Global liquid silicone rubber market forecast at $4 billion by 2028
Global Liquid Silicone Rubber Market is valued at USD 2.5 Billion in 2021 and is estimated to reach a value of USD 4.0 Billion by 2028 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10.0% during the forecast period according to Vantage Market Research. The Global Liquid Silicone Rubber Market is being driven by significant developments in the demand for medical grade Liquid Silicone Rubbers, as well as high growth in electrical and electronics and medical applications. Medical grade Liquid Silicone Rubber is utilized in skin treatments to enhance absorption and functionality, as it minimizes the danger of bacterial infections. These are commonly employed in electrical insulation and electrical potting in electrical and electronics applications. Liquid Silicone Rubbers are also employed in the production of LED lights because they are chemically inert and are resistant to severe temperatures.
Non-halogenated flame retardants market forecast with a CAGR of 6.4 percent
Axiom Market Research & Consulting™ added a report on non-halogenated flame retardants market which includes study on product, application, end user, and geography. Non-halogenated flame retardants market was projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.4% for the forecast period 2021 to 2027. The global market is estimated and forecasted in terms of revenue (USD Million) generated by the non-halogenated Flame Retardants Market
Featured Articles
How to increase throughput when testing elastomers
When elastomers are being used in a manufacturing process, it is important to verify their physical properties by performing testing
at all stages of production. When researching and developing new elastomers, such as those used in tires, extensive testing is required to verify and validate each elastomeric compound. Research and development facilities for elastomeric materials will sometimes go through hundreds or thousands of specimens before moving on toward production. During production, testing is typically performed for quality control purposes
Mixing
Keltan 2470E EPDM Grade for Excellent Electrical Performance in Wire and Cable
Ethylene propylene diene polymers (EPDM) are the most widely used rubbers in the range of available synthetic rubbers for non-tire applications. Due to the unsaturated backbone, EPDM can be employed in various applications in which characteristics such as resistance to ozone, heat and moisture, flexibility at low temperatures, a wide range of tensile strength and hardness levels, and excellent electrical insulating properties are important
Extrusion
Davis-Standard introduced new compact extruder for coating applications
Davis-Standard introduced a new compact extruder engineered for extrusion coating applications – the CHP. The machine’s sleek design offers a smaller footprint and lighter weight to allow for easier addition to an existing carriage or platform structure. This provides processors with a space-saving replacement or coextrusion addition for increasing outputs and line speed
Silicone & Medical
Henkel, Nexa3D develop SKOP stethoscope
Henkel and Nexa3D, a maker of ultrafast polymer 3D printers, have partnered to produce the world’s first additively manufactured connected
Oil, Gas & Energy
Lanxess new prepolymer degrades in aqueous and hot applications for oil and gas
LANXESS is adding to its extensive range of polyurethane (PU) systems for the oil and gas industry with a new prepolymer: Adiprene® Degrade 80C AQ90A. It can be used to manufacture elastomer components that can be deployed in temporary challenging applications and break down by themselves in warm (from 50 to 93ºC) and wet environments after a defined period of time
Testing & Instruments
How to increase throughput when testing elastomers
When elastomers are being used in a manufacturing process, it is important to verify their physical properties by performing testing
at all stages of production. When researching and developing new elastomers, such as those used in tires, extensive testing is required to verify and validate each elastomeric compound. Research and development facilities for elastomeric materials will sometimes go through hundreds or thousands of specimens before moving on toward production. During production, testing is typically performed for quality control purposes
Molding
Troubleshooting a mold for injection molding
Opportunities abound in the rubber industry for polymers/ingredients suppliers, compounders,
processors, designers, mold makers and end users to embrace polymer flow analysis.
Thermoplastic Elastomers & Urethanes
Novel value-added thermoplastic elastomers bonding to polyamides
Bonding thermoplastic elastomers to polar and non-polar substrates has been widely studied in the past few decades to create products that enhance ergonomic comfort and functionality. Overmolding a TPE compared to two-shot molding is a litmus test for bonding the material to the substrate. The TPE must wet the cold surface and must melt a few nanometers of the surface of the substrate that is being overmolded on to facilitate bonding.
Latex and Natural Rubber
3D printing of synthetic rubber ink via the direct ink writing process
by Sarath Suresh Kamath and Jae-Won Choi, The University of Akron Natural rubber, which is mainly composed of poly-cis-isoprene and
The January Issue of Rubber World
Sponsored by:
This issue focuses on Testing & Instruments
The issue is available online to our subscribers via our digital edition.
To subscribe, click here. For advertising information click here.