Polymer Process and Analysis Webinar Series

Waterborne paints have become increasingly popular in recent years, so even more are being developed to satisfy market demand. In the development of such paints, it’s essential to understand the quantitative differentiation in the drying behavior of these aqueous paints. Additionally, manufacturers want to optimize paint properties, especially key properties like open time – the amount of time after applying paint when corrections can be made without leaving visible traces.

Challenges remain in the quest to prolong open time. Manufacturers seek to identify which additives are up to the challenge while remaining safe and economical. Objective, reproducible methods for testing additives are still lacking. 

Clariant, a world leading specialty chemical company, teamed up with Thermo Fisher Scientific to fill the void in adequate testing. Together, we developed a simple rheological method based on a novel measuring system attached to a highly precise air-bearing rheometer. The result is a reliable method to characterize the drying behavior of polymer dispersions and to investigate the effect of different additives on the drying process of polymer dispersions.

Watch this webinar to learn more about how you can easily test various formulations to optimize drying behavior of aqueous paints.

Note: the results discussed in this Webinar are based on cooperative work between Clariant Produkte GmbH (Dr. Jesus Pitarch Lopez and Joerg Rueger) and Thermo Fisher Scientific, Karlsruhe (Dr. Cornelia Kuechenmeister and Dr. Klaus Oldoerp).

Speaker: Dr. Klaus Oldoerp, Thermo Fisher Scientific
Duration: 30 minutes

Competitiveness through innovation: additive manufacturing in aerospace and medical device applications

3D printing is an additive manufacturing technique generating a lot of interest in industrial applications such as medical devices, automotive and aerospace parts. It can be used anywhere from product development through the production of final parts.

Advantages of 3D printing include design freedom, low-cost development and lighter weight materials. In medical applications in particular, 3D printing can improve patient comfort as well as reduce lead time and costs with personalized implants and prostheses.

This free webinar introduces the advantages and challenges of 3D printing followed by case studies in two different markets with stringent requirements for material properties, traceability of materials and reliability in production.

• Case Study 1: Evaluation of high-performance polymers and carbon-filled compounds for high temperature applications in aviation
• Case Study 2:  Development of high added-value materials for medical applications

Watch the webinar to learn more about successful 3D printing strategies from formulation and filament extrusion through the 3D printing process itself and subsequent material characterization.

Speaker: Marilys Blanchy, R&D Project Manager at RESCOLL Société de Recherche in Pessac Cedex, France
Duration: 60 minutes

Twin-screw extrusion (TSE) is a well-known process for compounding in the polymer, food and pharmaceutical industries. In fact, it’s the technique of choice for applications that require distributive and dispersive mixing. Due to modular screw design, the amount of shear energy in the process can be controlled with TSE. Beyond that, residence time can be adapted.  Even so, the mixing efficiency of TSE still depends on the type of flow during mixing. 

This webinar explains why an extensional flow is more efficient than the usual shear flow in twin-screw extrusion, especially in dispersive mixing. Dr. João M. Maia, Professor at Case Western Reserve University, presents newly developed extensional mixing elements (EMEs) which help generate that extensional flow

Learn how to improve your results in twin-screw extrusion; watch the webinar.

Speaker:  Dr. João M. Maia, Prof. at Case Western Reserve University, Dept. Macromolecular Science and Engineering. Director, CAPP - Center of Advanced Polymer Processing
Duration: 60 minutes

Simultaneous rheological and spectroscopic measurements provide an analytical tool that can be particularly helpful for product development for new polymeric materials such as novel thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs). With this combination, the changes in the rheological properties can be directly correlated with information about the molecular structure (FTIR).

TPUs are frequently used for sealants and adhesives, dampers, automotive parts, building and household products, in highly abrasive applications such as rollerblade wheels, and even in medical applications. They are multi-block copolymers typically produced using reactive extrusion.

Final product properties depend heavily on the composition of the TPU and the conditions under which it was processed. That’s how TPU is customized for specific applications. Yet during production, the extruder behaves like a “black box”; the ability to understand the reaction kinetics and changes in rheological properties is very limited.

This webinar covers how the interplay between composition and process can be investigated by using simultaneous rheometry and FTIR spectroscopy. This method allows changes of the rheological properties to be correlated with the evolution of the chemical structure and allows the effect of shear on the overall reaction kinetics to be investigated.

Watch the webinar to learn how to make better quality products with rheo-FTIR analysis.

Speaker:  Dr. João M. Maia, Prof. at Case Western Reserve University, Dept. of Macromolecular Science and Engineering. Director, CAPP - Center of Advanced Polymer Processing
Duration: 40 minutes

Metal injection molding (MIM) is a highly efficient state-of-the-art manufacturing process used in automotive, biomedical, jewelry, and many other industries. From stainless steel to super alloy and more, this process can reach high throughputs and deliver complex components with a homogeneous metallurgy structure.

This 2-part webinar investigates the development of biodegradable and bio-sourced formulation for innovative applications of the MIM process with fine Inconel powders. The result can be an eco-friendly process when based on biodegradable or bio-sourced materials.

Watch both parts of this webinar to get the full story:

Part 1: Study and characterization of PEG degradation in a super alloy feedstock
Following powder analysis and rheological behavior, analytical studies based on PEG, PLA and PHA binders will be discussed. The presentation will include an innovative simultaneous analysis of elaborated feedstock by infrared spectrometry and rheometry to simultaneously understand properties at macroscopic and molecular levels.

Part 2: New metal injection-molding high-loaded polymer made with bio-sourced polymers and innovative debinding process
A complete state-of-the-art process will be shown, starting with the analytical elaboration and characterization of high-loaded feedstocks with batch mixers. The feedstocks are then processed by MIM, debinded by conventional water process and by supercritical CO2 as a solvent. The optimization of supercritical debinding and heat treatment will be discussed as it enables better mechanical properties and leads to fewer defects.

Speaker: Thierry Barrière, Professor, Université de Franche-Comté, Besançon, FEMTO-ST Institute. The Applied Mechanical Department at this university is renowned for its MIM process expertise. The webinar recordings are based on the PhD thesis of Dr. A. Royer and related publications from 2015 to 2018.
Duration: 60 minutes