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December 1, 2020
A New Report Shows US Is #3 For Ocean Plastic Pollution
A New Report Shows US Is #3 For Ocean Plastic Pollution
The US ranks #3 in ocean plastic pollution according to a new study
A 2015 research paper on the ocean plastic pollution problem attributed the majority of total plastic waste to China and five other Asian countries. But a new study authored by scientists and environmental agencies published at the end of October has come to some very different conclusions. This new paper moves the US from #20 on the old list of worst marine plastic polluters to #3 behind India and Indonesia.
The researchers used 2016 municipal solid waste data from the World Bank along with United Nations data. They calculated that in 2016 over half the plastic recycled in the US was sent overseas to be dealt with by countries that do not have a sufficient waste management infrastructure in the first place. The study concludes the US alone contributes up 1.6 million tons of plastic waste into our oceans worldwide. Improvements to US recycling efforts and plastic policies will be critical to cleaning up our oceans. To read more about the new study, click here.
The researchers used 2016 municipal solid waste data from the World Bank along with United Nations data. They calculated that in 2016 over half the plastic recycled in the US was sent overseas to be dealt with by countries that do not have a sufficient waste management infrastructure in the first place. The study concludes the US alone contributes up 1.6 million tons of plastic waste into our oceans worldwide. Improvements to US recycling efforts and plastic policies will be critical to cleaning up our oceans. To read more about the new study, click here.
December 2, 2020
Strengthening HDPE’s Mechanical Properties Without Additives
Strengthening HDPE’s Mechanical Properties Without Additives
A new process allows HDPE to have the strength of aluminum
University of Warwick and Queen Mary University of London researchers have created a new method for transforming polyethylene into transparent sheets with a strength greater than aluminum without the use of additives. The researchers stretched HDPE at temperatures below the plastic’s melting temperature to achieve sheets with 90% transparency and a higher strength per weight than aluminum.
Traditional polymer products created by extrusion or injection molding typically produce relatively soft materials with weak intermolecular interactions. This new stretching process creates a polymer chains that are aligned and much stronger, with tensile strengths increased by up to a factor of 50. These new films can be used as impact resistant covers for displays or windows or as protective visors for the automotive and aerospace industries. Read more about this new HDPE stretching process here.
Traditional polymer products created by extrusion or injection molding typically produce relatively soft materials with weak intermolecular interactions. This new stretching process creates a polymer chains that are aligned and much stronger, with tensile strengths increased by up to a factor of 50. These new films can be used as impact resistant covers for displays or windows or as protective visors for the automotive and aerospace industries. Read more about this new HDPE stretching process here.
December 3, 2020
What Is Polyethylene?
What Is Polyethylene?
Polyethylene is a widely used thermoplastic polymer
What do you know about polyethylene? Some may know it to be a plastic, but what is it and why is it so popular to use? Polyethylene (PE) is a thermoplastic polymer with a variable crystalline structure. It is simple to produce, making it very popular for use in water bottles, shopping bags, toys, etc. It has many different forms, including low density polyethylene (LDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), and very-low-density polyethylene, among others.
Why is PE so popular to use? PE is safe for food and water storage and transportation because it has no known harmful chemicals and is solvent resistant. PE is also extremely strong, flexes without breaking, and comes in a variety of weights. PE has insulation properties that are critical in electrical systems and is weatherproof and chemically resistant, making it a perfect solution in rugged environments. Probably the most important reason why PE is so popular is because it is highly recyclable. To read more about all these PE properties and others, click here.
Why is PE so popular to use? PE is safe for food and water storage and transportation because it has no known harmful chemicals and is solvent resistant. PE is also extremely strong, flexes without breaking, and comes in a variety of weights. PE has insulation properties that are critical in electrical systems and is weatherproof and chemically resistant, making it a perfect solution in rugged environments. Probably the most important reason why PE is so popular is because it is highly recyclable. To read more about all these PE properties and others, click here.
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