Today's News
Covestro and Fraunhofer UMSICHT sign contract for groundbreaking smart pyrolysis recycling pilot plant
Covestro and the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT have launched a joint research project aimed at improving chemical recycling of plastic waste through advanced pyrolysis technology.
The project, called “Smart Pyrolysis,” seeks to develop a digitalized process that can more precisely control the thermal decomposition of mixed plastic waste. Researchers aim to improve the quality and yield of pyrolysis oil, which can be used as a raw material in chemical production.
Spring Technical Meeting presentations to focus on sustainability and environmental risk
The Rubber Division, ACS, Spring Technical Meeting features two days of presentations focused on emerging strategies to improve the sustainability and supply security of rubber materials. They integrate advances in devulcanization, alternative natural rubber crops, CO₂-derived and bio-based components, and sustainable fillers with insights into structure–property relationships, crystallization behavior and tire wear emissions.
Troester expand robotic capabilities with acquisition of SC Otomasyon
TROESTER GmbH & Co. KG has expanded its automation capabilities with the acquisition of Turkish automation company SC Otomasyon, which now operates as TROESTER Robotics within the TROESTER Group.
The Istanbul-based company was acquired in 2025 and has been integrated into the group’s organizational structure. The move is intended to strengthen TROESTER’s position in automation and robotics solutions for industrial production.
Wacker introduced new high-performance additives for composites at JEC
Wacker Chemie AG introduced new silicone-based additives and materials for composite applications at the JEC World 2026 trade show in Paris.
The company said the new products include two impact modifiers, GENIOPERL W37 and GENIOPERL W38, designed to improve the durability and mechanical performance of thermosetting resins used in composites.
Orion S.A. earns Platinum sustainability rating from EcoVadis
Orion S.A., earned a Platinum rating for its 2025 performance from EcoVadis, one of the world’s largest independent providers of business sustainability ratings, the company announced today.
The Platinum designation places Orion in the top 1% of companies worldwide evaluated by EcoVadis. The assessment measures performance across four areas: environment, ethics, sustainable procurement, and labor and human rights.
Continental tires selected as original equipment for the New smart #5
Continental has been selected as an original-equipment tire supplier for the new smart #5. The largest smart vehicle to date will be fitted with the Continental EcoContact 7 in sizes 255/45 R20 and 255/40 R21 as standard – for improved range and confident all-road capabilities. Both versions of the premium summer tire are approved for speeds up to 240 km/h and feature the XL marking for increased load capacity.
Featured
Mixing
Simulation of rubber formulation development using AI-Graf Compounder
Integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into rubber compound development is said to mark a transformative step in materials science, and the authors explore the use of AIGraf Compounder software to simulate and optimize rubber formulations. By leveraging feedforward neural networks, the system can predict material properties based on ingredient compositions.
Chemicals and Materials
Wacker introduced new high-performance additives for composites at JEC
Wacker Chemie AG introduced new silicone-based additives and materials for composite applications at the JEC World 2026 trade show in Paris.
The company said the new products include two impact modifiers, GENIOPERL W37 and GENIOPERL W38, designed to improve the durability and mechanical performance of thermosetting resins used in composites.
Extrusion
Freudenberg Sealing Technologies unveils new extrusion process using molten salt
The specific properties of vulcanized materials make them essential for many areas of application. In industries such as aerospace, food and beverages and the energy sector, components must meet the highest standards of abrasion and chemical resistance, elasticity, and durability. Delivering top-quality solutions in these areas requires excellent materials expertise, and at Freudenberg Sealing Technologies this goes hand in hand with state-of-the-art production technologies: With LCM (Liquid Curing Method), the company is now commissioning an advanced vulcanizing extrusion line. This is a process in which the fluid used for vulcanization consists of molten salt, heated to around 200 degrees Celsius and filled with vulcanizing salt. The entire line operates in a closed loop, in which the salt is continuously recycled, fed back into the process and reused.
Silicone & Medical
Electrically conductive silicones for enclosure-level EMI shielding
By Dominic Testo, Specialty Silicone Products – Electromagnetic interference (EMI) is a naturally occurring orhuman caused phenomenon that degrades or
Oil, Gas & Energy
Penn State researchers develop high temperature polymer capacitor
In the race to lighter, safer and more efficient electronics — from electric vehicles to transcontinental energy grids — one component literally holds the power: the polymer capacitor. Seen in such applications as medical defibrillators, polymer capacitors are responsible for quick bursts of energy and stabilizing power rather than holding large amounts of energy, as opposed to the slower, steadier energy of a battery. However, current state-of-the-art polymer capacitors cannot survive beyond 212 degrees Fahrenheit (F), which the air around a typical car engine can hit during summer months and an overworked data center can surpass on any given day.
Testing & Instruments
Wire cord measurement sensor for tire calenders
Wire cord measurement sensors provide a highly reliable, high-resolution method for evaluating the geometry of steel reinforced rubber sheets in real time.
Molding
Electrically conductive silicones for enclosure-level EMI shielding
By Dominic Testo, Specialty Silicone Products – Electromagnetic interference (EMI) is a naturally occurring orhuman caused phenomenon that degrades or
Thermoplastic Elastomers & Urethanes
Fraunhofer scientists develop safer method to produce polyurethane without toxic isocyanates
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research (IAP) have developed a new method for producing polyurethane without the use of toxic isocyanates, a key ingredient traditionally required in the manufacture of the widely used polymer.
Latex and Natural Rubber
Sustainable materials for rubber and allied industries
Sustainability is no longer a new concept; it has become a global priority. While quality was the focus of the 1980s, globalization defined the 1990s, and the internet revolutionized the 2000s. The 2010s and after have been dominated by the idea of sustainability. Human survival depends on integrating sustainable practices into every aspect of life. The world is already witnessing alarming environmental changes: rising greenhouse gas emissions, depletion of non-renewable resources and widespread deforestation.
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