Material Analysis for Bioplastics Quality Assurance and Degradation

Mechanical Testing, Polymers, Rheology, Thermal Analysis

What are bioplastics? How can plastic manufacturers use them to improve the environmental impact of their products? With so many emerging green technologies, producers and consumers need to differentiate between greenwashing1 and genuine advancements. Furthermore, if a new development is deemed environmentally beneficial, all stages of the plastics supply chain, especially converters, must then learn how to incorporate the new technology without undermining their process or products.

Advancing Lithium-Ion Battery Technology Through Rheology

Batteries & Battery Materials, Electronic Materials & Products, Rheology

Lithium-ion batteries represent the dominant rechargeable battery on the market today.  They can be found in many applications including consumer electronics, electric vehicles and industrial equipment. Due to the tremendous adoption of lithium-ion batteries in recent years, battery technology is the focus of a diverse set of research areas aiming to improve battery lifetime, performance and safety.   

How Sustainable Polymer Development is Supported by Dynamic Mechanical Analysis

Polymers, Rheology, Thermal Analysis

Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) is a technique to measure the response of materials when they are subjected to dynamic or cyclic forces. Typically, dynamic mechanical analysis involves looking at the elastic and viscous response of the material when it is under a small oscillating load that probes the molecular structure’s response to the perturbation . Other variables, such as temperature, time and frequency may be changed as part of the testing to characterize how the material performs under different environmental conditions.

Cutting-Edge Lithium-Ion Battery Development is Supported by Thermal Analysis Research

Batteries & Battery Materials, Electronic Materials & Products, Rheology, Thermal Analysis

Whether you’ve used a cell phone or driven an electric vehicle (please, not at the same time), you’ve probably come to realize that lithium-ion batteries are taking over the energy world. They power our portable electronics, vital medical equipment, electric vehicles, and renewable energy storage. As the market expands, researchers are finding ways to make Li-ion batteries increasingly powerful, dependable, and safe, all while minimizing production time and cost.

Dynamic Mechanical Analysis – Materials to Final Products

Composites, Mechanical Testing, Medical Devices, Rheology, Rubber

From plastic for medical devices to rubber for tires, the materials we use must meet increasingly high demands. Product manufacturers and consumers expect their materials to look good, perform well, and cost less, all while being environmentally friendly. Fulfilling all these expectations requires deep understanding of material behavior from the molecular level to real world mechanical properties. Since there are many factors that affect the properties of materials, precise measurement tools and methods are required to ensure that materials fulfill the high expectations of our world. A key measurement and analysis method to evaluate the properties of materials at various stages of development and production is Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA).

What does COP 26 mean for the batteries industry?

Batteries & Battery Materials, Electronic Materials & Products, Rheology, Thermal Analysis

In autumn of 2021, the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP 26) met in Glasgow to work out agreements to curb greenhouse gas emissions and prevent additional climate change. COP 26 built upon the Paris Agreement to limit global warming below 2-degrees Celsius by achieving net zero carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. These two agreements will shape how governments and industries work together to reduce climate change over the next decade.

What are Rheometry and Rheology?

Food Products, Paints, Inks, & Coatings, Polymers, Rheology

Whether researchers are optimizing the texture of yogurt or studying adhesives’ curing, rheometry helps us understand materials and predict their behavior. Rheometry measures the amount of deformation a material or liquid undergoes when a force is applied. The combination of stress, strain and shear behavior forms the basis of rheology, the science of the deformation of materials.