- Email: [email protected]
Conferences
February 2000
AaVitivesfor Polymers
In this approach the copolymer is combined with zinc white and fatty acid salts as compounding agents. This is claimed to prevent maldispersion of the silica and improve processability, and also to give a substantial improvement in heat emission, tensile strength and wear resistance. The authors conclude by noting the pace of growth of new technology in this field, adding that an ultimate aim must surely be to design and develop novel polymers that can provide a wet skid performance comparable with silica but without the need for it. This will call for a precise analysis of the phenomena that occur be tween the road surface and silica compounded rubber, and then incorporation of this functionality into the polymer itself.
In&mational Polymer Science and Technology, Vo126, No 2, 1999 pp T/26-T/33 (tr. from Nippon Gomu Kyokaishi, No 9, 1998)
Measuring the service life of light-correcting films Light-correcting films of low density polyethylene, containing luminophors based on complex rare earth element compounds, are a promising material for use in agriculture, in applications such as covering greenhouses and hot-beds. The additive system endows the film with unusual optical properties, making it capable of converting the ultraviolet component of natural or artificial light into radiation in the red region of the spectrum - effectively converting light to heat - so promoting the accelerated growth of the crops underneath. But there are still no standard methods for testing the properties of such tihns as a basis for comparison. The optical properties of the tihns are at present characterized by use of two indices: intensity of luminescence (the quantitative characteristic of the capacity to convert ultraviolet radiation into red light) and the service life of the luminophor (basically, its change in intensity of luminescence as a function of service life). A method of measuring the fust index under production conditions has been developed, but at present the best means of measuring the light ageing of the luminophor additive is by exposure under natural conditions.
10
While such tests may provide the most accurate results, they require a long period of time, with a large number of specimens and involving considerable costs. Moreover, the result is very much dependent on climatic conditions in the region of the test, making comparison between materials very difficult. A possible laboratory method for carrying out such accelerated testing was outlined in a recent paper by two Russian researchers, based on irradiation of light-correcting films under a highpower ultraviolet radiation source. Using this method, it was indicated that the service life of a luminophor in a 150 pm thick film under accelerated photochemical ageing was 75-80 minutes, which corresponded with a service life of 5-6 months under natural conditions in the local region. It was found that a span of 15 minutes under this accelerated ageing process corresponded with a period of one month of external exposure. While there were some slight differences in detail, it was concluded that, in general, there is a good correlation between the values determined for the dependences of service life of the luminophor on the service time from different test methods The method proposed made it possible to determine, under laboratory conditions - accurately, inexpensively and rapidly - the service life of a luminophor in a light-correcting film. It also opened the way to comparing the results obtained from different test methods, and to extrapolate them easily to what can be expected under natural exposure conditions.
International Polymer Science and Technology, Vo126, No 1, 1999 pp T/89-T/90 (tr. from Plasticheskie Massy, No 5, 1998)
CONFERENCES Polymer bonded magnets: “a perplexing climate” Polymer bonded magnets offer a field of considerable change, with very large growth potential and many new business opportunities. But, ac-
02000 Elsevier Science
Februarv 2000
cording to the organisers of a forthcoming conference, problems of patent infringements, new patterns of supply and demand and shifting price pressures contribute to “a perplexing climate” for raw materials suppliers, magnet producers, moulders and users. Polymer Bonded Magnets 2000 - the fifth conference on the subject - will be held on March 27-29 at Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Among the themes for discussion will be the ability of the industry to sustain its lo-year 20% growth rate, new applications offering best opportunities, effects of oversupply and declining prices, coping with changing end-user expectations and requirements and new strategies for dealing with patents, licensing and legal issues. The event will also include two PrsConference Workshops - on the design and application of polymer bonded magnets, and magnetizing and measurement techniques. The first will be a three-hour tutorial (led by Dr Peter Campbell, Director of Applied Technology-Magnequench International Inc) exploring design and working with polymer bonded magnets, covering how to achieve optimum magnetic properties, circuit configurations, device parameters and economics. It will include a workbook, case studies and illustrations. The second tutorial will provide an in-depth discussion of both in-line and post-production magnetization, and new techniques for measurement and demagnetization of bonded magnets, led by Dr Alessandro Tassi, Director of Laboratorio Elettrofisico SAS. Contact: Intertech Conferences, 19 Northbrook Drive, Portland, Maine 04105, USA; tel: +l-207 7819800; fax: +l-207 781 2150
Rapra Conferences on rubber Forthcoming conferences planned by Rapra Technology include meetings on EPDM rubber (May 11-12, Brussels, Belgium) and the 3rd Rubber Bonding Conference (May 15-16, Amsterdam, The Netherlands). Rapra Technology Ltd, Shawbury, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY4 4NR. UK; tel: +44-1939 250383; fax: +44-1939 251118
02000 Elsevier Science
Additivesfor Polymers
EVENTS - 2000 March 8-10, Berlin Germany Iron oxides for colounmt and cllemiad Applications 2000 - Conference: fax: + l-207 78 1 2 150; smail: [email protected] March 27-29, Nashville, USA Polymer Bonded Magnets 2000 - 5th International Conference: Intertech Conferences, 19 Northbrook Drive, Portland, Maine 04 105, USA; tel: +l-207 781 9800; fax: +l-207 781 2150 March 28-30, The Hague, The Netherlands Utecb 2000 - Conference and Exhibition on Polyurethanes: Crain Communications, London, UK tel: +44-20 7457 1407; fax: +44-20 7457 1440 April 5-6, Mannheim, Germany Plastics in Automotive Engineering - International Congress: VDI - Society for Plastics Technologies, Dr Ludwig G E Vollrath; tel: +49-211 62 14-527; fax: +49-211 62 14-160; email: [email protected] April 11-13, Wiesbaden, Germany AddPlast Europe - Exhibition and Conference European Plastics News, Leon House, 233 High Street, Croydon CR0 9XT, UK; tel: +44181 277 5516; fax: +44-181 277 5531 April 18-20, Loughborough, UK 6th International Conference on Adhesion and Surface Amdysis: Dr G W Critchlow, Loughborough University, UK; tel: +44- 1509 223387 May 3-4, Leeds, UK The Colour Delivery Challenge - Seminar: Paint Research Association, 8 Waldegrave Road, Teddington TW 11 8LD, UK; tel:+44181 977 4427; fax:+44-181 943 4705 May 8-13, Milan, Italy Plast 2000 - Exhibition and Conference: Enfiplast; tel: +39-02 822 83743; fax: +39-02 575 12490; email: [email protected] May 9-l 1, Birmingham, UK Materials Testing 2000 - Exhibition: British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing; tel: +441604 630124; fax: +44-1604 231489
AaVitivesfor Polymers
In this approach the copolymer is combined with zinc white and fatty acid salts as compounding agents. This is claimed to prevent maldispersion of the silica and improve processability, and also to give a substantial improvement in heat emission, tensile strength and wear resistance. The authors conclude by noting the pace of growth of new technology in this field, adding that an ultimate aim must surely be to design and develop novel polymers that can provide a wet skid performance comparable with silica but without the need for it. This will call for a precise analysis of the phenomena that occur be tween the road surface and silica compounded rubber, and then incorporation of this functionality into the polymer itself.
In&mational Polymer Science and Technology, Vo126, No 2, 1999 pp T/26-T/33 (tr. from Nippon Gomu Kyokaishi, No 9, 1998)
Measuring the service life of light-correcting films Light-correcting films of low density polyethylene, containing luminophors based on complex rare earth element compounds, are a promising material for use in agriculture, in applications such as covering greenhouses and hot-beds. The additive system endows the film with unusual optical properties, making it capable of converting the ultraviolet component of natural or artificial light into radiation in the red region of the spectrum - effectively converting light to heat - so promoting the accelerated growth of the crops underneath. But there are still no standard methods for testing the properties of such tihns as a basis for comparison. The optical properties of the tihns are at present characterized by use of two indices: intensity of luminescence (the quantitative characteristic of the capacity to convert ultraviolet radiation into red light) and the service life of the luminophor (basically, its change in intensity of luminescence as a function of service life). A method of measuring the fust index under production conditions has been developed, but at present the best means of measuring the light ageing of the luminophor additive is by exposure under natural conditions.
10
While such tests may provide the most accurate results, they require a long period of time, with a large number of specimens and involving considerable costs. Moreover, the result is very much dependent on climatic conditions in the region of the test, making comparison between materials very difficult. A possible laboratory method for carrying out such accelerated testing was outlined in a recent paper by two Russian researchers, based on irradiation of light-correcting films under a highpower ultraviolet radiation source. Using this method, it was indicated that the service life of a luminophor in a 150 pm thick film under accelerated photochemical ageing was 75-80 minutes, which corresponded with a service life of 5-6 months under natural conditions in the local region. It was found that a span of 15 minutes under this accelerated ageing process corresponded with a period of one month of external exposure. While there were some slight differences in detail, it was concluded that, in general, there is a good correlation between the values determined for the dependences of service life of the luminophor on the service time from different test methods The method proposed made it possible to determine, under laboratory conditions - accurately, inexpensively and rapidly - the service life of a luminophor in a light-correcting film. It also opened the way to comparing the results obtained from different test methods, and to extrapolate them easily to what can be expected under natural exposure conditions.
International Polymer Science and Technology, Vo126, No 1, 1999 pp T/89-T/90 (tr. from Plasticheskie Massy, No 5, 1998)
CONFERENCES Polymer bonded magnets: “a perplexing climate” Polymer bonded magnets offer a field of considerable change, with very large growth potential and many new business opportunities. But, ac-
02000 Elsevier Science
Februarv 2000
cording to the organisers of a forthcoming conference, problems of patent infringements, new patterns of supply and demand and shifting price pressures contribute to “a perplexing climate” for raw materials suppliers, magnet producers, moulders and users. Polymer Bonded Magnets 2000 - the fifth conference on the subject - will be held on March 27-29 at Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Among the themes for discussion will be the ability of the industry to sustain its lo-year 20% growth rate, new applications offering best opportunities, effects of oversupply and declining prices, coping with changing end-user expectations and requirements and new strategies for dealing with patents, licensing and legal issues. The event will also include two PrsConference Workshops - on the design and application of polymer bonded magnets, and magnetizing and measurement techniques. The first will be a three-hour tutorial (led by Dr Peter Campbell, Director of Applied Technology-Magnequench International Inc) exploring design and working with polymer bonded magnets, covering how to achieve optimum magnetic properties, circuit configurations, device parameters and economics. It will include a workbook, case studies and illustrations. The second tutorial will provide an in-depth discussion of both in-line and post-production magnetization, and new techniques for measurement and demagnetization of bonded magnets, led by Dr Alessandro Tassi, Director of Laboratorio Elettrofisico SAS. Contact: Intertech Conferences, 19 Northbrook Drive, Portland, Maine 04105, USA; tel: +l-207 7819800; fax: +l-207 781 2150
Rapra Conferences on rubber Forthcoming conferences planned by Rapra Technology include meetings on EPDM rubber (May 11-12, Brussels, Belgium) and the 3rd Rubber Bonding Conference (May 15-16, Amsterdam, The Netherlands). Rapra Technology Ltd, Shawbury, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY4 4NR. UK; tel: +44-1939 250383; fax: +44-1939 251118
02000 Elsevier Science
Additivesfor Polymers
EVENTS - 2000 March 8-10, Berlin Germany Iron oxides for colounmt and cllemiad Applications 2000 - Conference: fax: + l-207 78 1 2 150; smail: [email protected] March 27-29, Nashville, USA Polymer Bonded Magnets 2000 - 5th International Conference: Intertech Conferences, 19 Northbrook Drive, Portland, Maine 04 105, USA; tel: +l-207 781 9800; fax: +l-207 781 2150 March 28-30, The Hague, The Netherlands Utecb 2000 - Conference and Exhibition on Polyurethanes: Crain Communications, London, UK tel: +44-20 7457 1407; fax: +44-20 7457 1440 April 5-6, Mannheim, Germany Plastics in Automotive Engineering - International Congress: VDI - Society for Plastics Technologies, Dr Ludwig G E Vollrath; tel: +49-211 62 14-527; fax: +49-211 62 14-160; email: [email protected] April 11-13, Wiesbaden, Germany AddPlast Europe - Exhibition and Conference European Plastics News, Leon House, 233 High Street, Croydon CR0 9XT, UK; tel: +44181 277 5516; fax: +44-181 277 5531 April 18-20, Loughborough, UK 6th International Conference on Adhesion and Surface Amdysis: Dr G W Critchlow, Loughborough University, UK; tel: +44- 1509 223387 May 3-4, Leeds, UK The Colour Delivery Challenge - Seminar: Paint Research Association, 8 Waldegrave Road, Teddington TW 11 8LD, UK; tel:+44181 977 4427; fax:+44-181 943 4705 May 8-13, Milan, Italy Plast 2000 - Exhibition and Conference: Enfiplast; tel: +39-02 822 83743; fax: +39-02 575 12490; email: [email protected] May 9-l 1, Birmingham, UK Materials Testing 2000 - Exhibition: British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing; tel: +441604 630124; fax: +44-1604 231489