The RadiciGroup High Performance Polymers Business Area is adding significantly to its global production capacity with new construction and installations in North America, Europe and China.

The new plant in Mexico with an area of 20,000 m2 is part of the investment strategy in North America

16:9

Compound

Kunststoff Werkstoffe

Thermoplaste

Compoundeure

Dienstleistungen

Handel

Kunststoff

Bauwesen

Baustoffe

Radici Increases Production Worldwide

Components in solar power stations are exposed to strong solar radiation and other severe environmental influences. These challenges can be met with the aid of self-lubricating, UV-resistant plastic compounds.

The self-lubricating EP-15 sliding bearings consist of a UV-resistant POM compound and therefore have long-term resistance to the intense solar radiation in photovoltaic plants

Self-Lubricating Polyoxymethylene Bearings for Solar Systems

Solar / PV

Energieerzeugung

Erneuerbare Energie

Polyoxymethylen

Technische Kunststoffe

Defying the Sun

Thanks to new technologies and together with other chemical derivatives the greenhouse gas CO2 can be converted into plastic precursors. Covestro is developing sustainable insulating materials for the construction sector based on this raw material.

Using innovative CO2 technology, Covestro already produces the CO2-based precursor cardyon, which is utilized in the manufacture of mattresses, sports flooring, textile fibers and components for vehicle interiors

Polyurethan-Schaumstoffe (PUR)

Halbzeuge und Zwischenprodukte

Kunststoff-Halbzeuge

Baubetrieb / Bauwirtschaft

Dämmstoffe

Schaumstoffe und Vorprodukte

Polyurethan

Using CO2 in Rigid Foam Insulation Boards

For lightweight applications e. g. in automotive engineering BASF developed carbon fiber-reinforced polyphthalamide (PPA) grades with fillings of 20, 30 und 40 %.

The carbon fiber-reinforced PPA e. g. can replace aluminum and magnesium 

PPA Now with Carbon Fiber-Reinforcement

Elektronik

Automotive

Faserverbundwerkstoffe

Andere Werkstoffe

Lightweight Metal Replacement

Teknor Apex presents three halogen-free FR glass-reinforced polyamide compounds with UL94 ratings of V0.

Application example: engine cover in the automotive industry

Polyamide

Glass-Reinforced and Halogen-Free Flame-Retardant

Evonik has introduced a PEEK for FFF and FDM printers. The material was developed specifically for medical technology applications such as prostheses, surgical instruments and hearing aids.

The 3D-printable filament can be used, for example, for implants or hearing aids

Polyetherketon

Additive Fertigung

Hochleistungskunststoffe

Werkstoffe für additive Verfahren

Biocompatible and Easy to Process PEEK

Two new inorganic yellow pigments based on iron oxide and zinc oxide respectively are designed for coloration in a temperature range of between 220 and 260 °C.

The yellow pigments are used for all common polymer materials as well as for engineering thermoplastics even at the highest production temperatures

Pigmente, bunt

Additive

Farbstoffe und Pigmente

Farbstoffe

Yellow for High Temperatures

Polymaker will offer the Polymaker PC-r 3D printing filament made from recycled polycarbonate (PC). The PC for the filaments comes from materials supplier Covestro and consists of a combination of recycled plastic waste and virgin material.

The combination of recyclates and virgin material reduces the carbon footprint of the polycarbonate and still allows it to be extruded into filaments

Filamente für additive Verfahren

Polycarbonat

Kunststoff-Rezyklat

Water Bottles Become Filaments

Bipolar plates are one of the key components of fuel cells and redox flow batteries. They consist of plastics compounds highly filled with electrically conductive materials. To save space, cut costs, and reduce weight, there is increasing demand for the production of thinner plates without compromising robustness and service life. This can be achieved using modified polymers. With a new technology, bipolar plate films based on these modified polymers can be processed as coils.

The modified polymers enable films to be processed  as coils

Modified Conductive Compounds Make It Possible to Manufacture Bipolar Plates from a Bipolar Film Coil

Brennstoffzelle

Stromversorgung

Brennstoffzellen

Mobilität

Folien

Ultrathin Bipolar Plates for Fuel Cells

Atomic force microscopy can be used to determine various properties of polymer surfaces. However, until now it was still necessary to change the hardware on the probe for different measurement methods.

With the Tosca series, all AFM measurements can be carried out with only one actuator body and thus without hardware exchange

Characterize Plastic Surfaces More Easily with Atomic Force Microscopy

Messtechnik

Prüfen von Kunststoffen

Polymethylmethacrylat

Measurements without  Hardware Exchange

The new mobile communications standard 5G is advancing steadily. This development is also increasing the demand for materials that facilitate and ensure the high transmission rates for 5G signals. Plastics manufacturer Covestro has presented a corresponding thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).

Covers for cell phones must not only protect the devices from shocks, but also allow mobile signals to pass through without interference

Cell Phone Covers Made from TPU

Continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites have also become established with thin-walled housings for consumer electronics and information technology. Not only do they offer high stiffness and help to reduce weight, but also enable the integration of classy appearance and functions. What is more, if the housings are produced using the hybrid molding process, costs, processing steps, and cycle times can be reduced.

The Carbon 1 Mark II smartphone from Carbon Mobile was developed in Germany. The matt-black carbon fibers lend the smartphone a classy high-tech look

Composites Reduce Weight and Simplify Production of Electronics Housings

Composite-Halbzeuge

Glasfasern / -matten

Verstärkungsstoffe

Kohlenstofffasern / -matten

Kunststofffasern

Organobleche (gewebeverstärkte Thermoplast-Halbzeuge)

Lightweight to Fit in a Pocket

Electrical architecture in an E-car is significantly more challenging than for conventionally powered vehicles. Particularly for insulation of high-voltage (HV) components, the demands on the materials used are increasing. With specially-tailored materials for electric vehicles, challenges in automotive high-voltage technology can be overcome.

Insulation of high-voltage components in electric vehicles makes high demands on the materials used

Polyamide Specialties for Electromobility

Elektromobilität

High Voltage in Cars

For many components, the use of metal-replacing plastics is an attractive possibility e. g. to save weight and benefit from enhanced design freedom. In various applications, however, the thermal conductivity of the polymers is of equal importance. There are different additives that can be used to enhance this property. In the development of two polyamide families, Domo Engineered Materials investigated which of those additives are especially useful to this end, and applied Light Flash Analysis to examine the materials.

By way of adapting the specimen, the LFA 467 HyperFlash device from Netzsch enables both through-plane and in-plane TC measuring

Which Fillers Are Best Suited for Thermally Conductive Plastics, and How They Can Help Replace Metals

Heat Transfer with Plastics versus Metals

The interfacial tightness of hybrid polymer-metal parts such as injection-molded connectors represents a decisive quality characteristic. Until now, however, there has been a lack of suitable measurement technology with which to quantify the media tightness of such molded parts. A new method delivers significantly more accurate results than previous test methods.

The DDP method enables more accurate determination of the tightness of polymer-metal hybrids

Measurement Method for the Exact Leakage Determination of Polymer-Metal Hybrid Parts

Verbundwerkstoffe / Werkstoffverbunde

Stecker

Elektromechanik

Steckverbinder

How Tightly Sealed are Connectors Really?

Dow and NGSA Cooperate on Ambitious Grid Upgrade

Dow expertise and Endurance insulation system supports Saudi cable manufacturers supplying power grid upgrade.

As National Grid Saudi Arabia (NGSA) progresses with its ambitious power grid infrastructure upgrade, Dow has been providing materials for pre-qualification testing of power cables and Saudi manufacturers use Dow’s cable insulation system as they intensify EHV cable production.

NGSA, a subsidiary of Saudi Electricity Company (SEC), is seeing rapid progress in upgrading its power grid infrastructure with the help of national and international cable manufacturers. This is being achieved by replacing the old High Voltage (HV) cable underground network consisting of oil filled cables with XLPE cables. It is being further boosted up by the induction of XLPE cables at Extra High Voltage (EHV) level.

Since its four formerly separate grids were interconnected, NGSA has built power links with many neighboring countries including a High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) back-to-back converter station to connect 50 and 60 Hertz networks. In tandem with Dawiyat, another subsidiary of SEC, the fiber optic network has grown significantly with the expansion of its overhead transmission network. Now, submarine telecom cables at the landing stations in Jeddah, Al Khobar and Yanbu are connected to a high-performance data network with the help of optical ground wire from overhead transmission lines (OHL).

Championing Saudi Engineers and Technicians

A long-time champion of home-grown talent and improving the knowledge and skills of Saudi engineers and technicians, NGSA encourages Saudi-based cable manufacturers to develop the technical capabilities required to locally manufacture HV and EHV cables and systems. Local manufacturers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) are successfully supplying power cables up to HV level, not only in KSA but also in Gulf Coast countries. Now these manufacturers are stepping up into the production of EHV cables at 380kV level.

Dow is a strong proponent of innovative product solutions required to fulfil the growing energy demand in the Middle East, particularly in KSA. Dow has successfully conducted pre-qualification testing of 380 kV cables produced within KSA.

Successful pre-qualification test, requires the entire system, including cables and accessories, pass strict testing and requires a high level of processing acumen proven by the cable manufacturer as well as the utilization of materials of exceptional quality. International standards organizations such as the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) regulate EHV participation and only approve high performance cables with long service life.

Saudi cable manufacturers have quickly emerged as a force to be reckoned with in the Middle East. The proof is the construction of cable manufacturing towers ranging from 40 m to 125 m that house vertical continuous vulcanization and catenary continuous vulcanization lines. This was possible with investment in world-class equipment, including electrical cable testing equipment and facilities in accordance with international standards such as IEC 62067 for 150 kV-500 kV and AINSI/ICEA S-108–720 for 46–500 kV.

Recently, 380 kV power cables have been used to connect the Fadhili gas plant. This co-generation plant has a capacity of 1,500MW, including 400MW for the gas plant, while the remaining 1,100MW is supplied to the national grid.

Dow has a long history of close collaborations in the Kingdom, including the academic-research-industry partnership in form of the Dow Middle East Innovation Centre (Dow MEIC) and the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and the alliance between Dow and Saudi Aramco which formed the Sadara Chemical Company.

Inspired by the efforts of NGSA, strong collaborations have been developed throughout the value chain and culminated in successful deployment of electrical infrastructure to support the further economic growth of the KSA. Highlights of EHV cable installations include:

<ul><li>Connection of new power plants</li><li>Construction of compact EHV substations and interconnections in new administrative and residential districts, replacing the OHL by underground cables which come within the city boundaries, as the city expands.</li><li>Neom City, a mega-city that planned on the Red Sea coast, the northwestern Saudi province of Tabuk</li><li>Beautification of infrastructure at Red Sea tourist project spreading over islands, beaches, desert, mountains and volcanic areas as well as the power supply for 2nd stage of Riyadh Public Transport Project (RPTP) metro system are also recent examples.</li></ul>

Dow Europe GmbH  

https://www.dow.com

Gas Plant from National Grid Saudi Arabia (NGSA) in Fadhili

News Dow 23.2.21

Hisham K. Al Ghofaili, National Grid SA, Senior Power Transmission Engineer

Don B. Aparicio, National Grid SA, Power Transmission Engineer

Roshan Aarons, Dow Europe GmbH, Senior Technical Service & Development Specialist