Page 36 - Plastics news December 2023

FEATURE

Germany’s SKZ Plastics Center has bagged an accolade for its plastic mate-
rial that can reduce friction and wear by up to 85 percent with the addition of
lubricant microcapsules.

ccording to SKZ, nearly a quarter wide variety of commercially available wheels slide rails, etc. It could also
Aof the world's energy consump- oils can be encapsulated and incorpo- provide an alternative to polyfluori-
tion is due to friction alone. The cent- rated into the plastic like a powder," nated chemicals (PFAS) such as PTFE,
er’s investigations show that friction she continued. which has been found to be harmful
and wear values are reduced when SKZ has been exploring how the mi- to health and the environment.
using lubricant microcapsules in plas- crocapsules could be moulded into The work has been recognised by
tics, which rupture when friction is engineering plastics like POM, PA6, the Otto von Guericke Prize, which
applied.
PA6.6 without destroying them in awarded the project a place in the top
The aim of the research was to quan- the process. Moritz Grünewald, re- three research projects for 2023.
tify the benefits of the technology for searcher in the materials development SKZ CEO Professor Martin Bastian
industrial scale applications. group, said: "In this project, we were said: "In science, we talk about break-
able to produce plastic compounds on
Dr. Alexandra Latnikova of the Fraun- through innovations. Such leap inno-
hofer Institute for Applied Polymer a kilogram scale and even incorporate vations are what the economy and
Research IAP in Potsdam, Germany, additional reinforcing fibers without SMEs need. They would make it pos-
has developed lubricant-filled micro- destroying the microcapsules during sible to overcome energy crises or
capsules that can be incorporated processing. Subsequent tribological even the climate crisis. This project
into plastics at temperatures of up to tests showed a significant reduction in is therefore a prime example of pre-
260°C. "Lubricant microcapsules are friction and wear of up to 85 percent competitive research that creates real
5 to 50 μm oil droplets coated with in plastic-steel contact.” benefits for our society".
a very thin polymer shell," said Lat- The technology could one day prove
nikova. "The project has shown that a useful in bearing components, gear

How diversity, equity and inclusion can close the plastics skills gap and boost
profitability

new webinar will explain the link could unlock greater profit potential ganisations can impact teams, as well
A between diversity, equity and in- for UK SMEs in the plastics industry. as the importance of matching the
clusion (DE&I), and the unique role David Gray, Head of Content at Inter- right skillsets with the right individu-
they play in closing the polymer engi- plasInsights.com and British Plastics als to maximise productivity and staff
neering skills gap. & Rubber magazine, will present the retention.
Organised by the British Plastics Fed- results of the first ever survey of di- Finally, Anastasia Matthews, VP of
eration, in collaboration with Interplas versity in the UK's plastics sector. Global Diversity and Inclusion at Ber-
Insights, “Profitable Plastics: Unleash- Lauren Neal, author of Valued at ry Global will share her experiences
ing the Power of Diversity, Equity, and Work: Shining a light on bias to engage, of developing a DE&I strategy for a
Inclusion (DE&I) for Business Suc- enable, and retain women in STEM plastic processing business.
cess” will explain why a DE&I strategy will explain how behaviours within or-

36 PLASTICS NEWSASTICS NEWS December 2023
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