March

ArticlesCarbon Black, Silica & Reinforcing MaterialsFeaturedMixing

Evaluation of sustainable bituminous coal in elastomer applications

Austin Black 325 is a finely divided (below 325 mesh) powder produced from high carbon content, low volatility, sustainable bituminous coal. It has different properties compared to carbon black, including a lower specific gravity of 1.30 versus 1.80, a platy ground structure versus the reinforcing morphology of carbon black (figures 1 and 2), and a lower surface area in comparison to carbon black. Beyond its carbon composition, it is more similar in structure to platy fillers like clay and talc. The specific gravity comparison to other platy minerals (1.30 versus 2.50) provides economical and efficiency gains.

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The case for reintroducing latex surgical and exam glove production back into the U.S.

The world today uses 12,000 medical gloves per second. Prior to the UP publication, U.S. glove production had been satisfied by a number of medical device manufacturers, namely, Safeskin, Ansell, Aladan, Baxter, Smith & Nephew and Johnson & Johnson. In addition, glove imports in the U.S. prior to 1985 were 1 billion pieces. In 1996, imports exceeded 21 billion pieces.

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Use of Tire-Derived and Scrap-Derived Polymers in Tire and Non-Tire Applications

The disposal of scrap rubber has been a concern since its vulcanization with sulfur and heat was accidentally discovered by Charles Goodyear in 1839. In addition to the scrap generated in production, there is the question of discarded rubber goods that have outlived their usefulness for their original function. Traditionally, this waste had ended up in landfills, contributing to the growing problem of overcrowding. Scrap tires are a well-publicized category of scrap rubber, as each year automobiles produce 246 million waste tires in the United States alone.

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