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Online materials database Matmatch has produced a whitepaper exploring the latest innovations in and the vital role of plastics in some of the world’s most demanding industries. The whitepaper outlines the latest developments in polymers for the food and beverage, medical and aerospace industries while also offering insight for product designers into sustainable end-of-life management for plastics.
In little more than 100 years, plastics have become one of the most used materials globally. This popularity is due to the material’s versatility, with the composition of a polymer affecting its properties and thereby its suitability for everything, from medical breathing apparatus and intravenous devices to food packaging and aircraft interiors.
The wide use of polymers has created broad awareness of the problems associated with many conventional plastic materials; namely, their environmental impact due to fossil fuel feedstocks and improper end-of-life management. These issues have prompted many developments and innovations that improve the sustainability of plastics. Even hydrocarbon-based plastics play a role in a greener world, says Matmatch.
“There are a lot of nuances in the conversations surrounding plastics,” explained Samir Jaber, technical content writer at Matmatch. “Innovations in biodegradable polymer technologies have presented viable options for using plastics in common single-use applications, with a significantly reduced environmental impact. But even plastics from hydrocarbons can provide environmental benefits in certain circumstances.
“In the aerospace industry, for example, hydrocarbon-based plastics can more readily withstand the exacting environmental demands than many bio-based alternatives. These plastics help make aircraft lighter, which in turn reduces fuel consumption and contributes to a decline in carbon emissions. The plastics are also in use for prolonged periods, preventing them from becoming plastic pollution.”
“However, that isn’t to say that product designers and design engineers should continue to embrace polymers in the traditional way. With our whitepaper, we want to provide insights into the latest options in innovative polymer technology, when hydrocarbon plastics are necessary and how to effectively manage plastic products. As with the rest of our platform, it’s all about presenting engineers and scientists with the necessary information and the available options.”
The whitepaper follows a series of initiatives from Matmatch to promote sustainability throughout the materials specification, selection and sourcing process. The company launched a guide to sustainable material selection earlier this year, including examples of suppliers providing materials comprising recycled or recovered plastics. The whitepaper complements the sustainability guide, offering insights for cases where “green plastics” are not applicable.
Download the Innovations in polymer technology whitepaper.
