Events

"The first steps towards a new FR technology for plastics"

Peter Flanagan, Firestop Chemicals Ltd

Location: Room 225, Geoffrey Manton Building - Manchester Metropolitan University 

Date: Monday, 5th April 2004

Time: 18:00 for 18:30

Since the high profile fires of the HMS Sheffield, Kings Cross and Düsseldorf Airport flame retardancy has become an important performance requirement in numerous plastics applications. There is a growing requirement for improved flame retardancy and to achieve this performance the plastics market is mainly served by organic brominated FR's and low smoke zero halogen inorganic materials. Often used in conjunction with synergists, the brominated FR's are cost effective flame retardants but are coming under increased environmental pressure. The inorganic products are effective but are typically used at loadings above 60% in the polymer substrate which has a severe impact on final properties.

Firestop Chemicals Ltd is a British technology transfer company and has the ambition to offer a new FR alternative, Bizon. Based on Russian technology, the product is targeted towards thermoplastic applications. It is halogen free, has reduced impact on residual physical properties and is currently being developed in the company's Moscow based laboratory. Initial UL 94 test results in polypropylene are now available and will form part of the presentation.

Refreshments will be provided prior to the meeting to give members and non-members (who are most welcome) the opportunity to socialise, meet old friends and discuss matters of common interest.

Parking is available in the MMU Chester Street car park. Press button to get the parking attendant to raise the barrier. You will have to walk back to Oxford Road and then walk towards the Mancunian Way . The Geoffrey Manton Building is the third building after you pass under the Mancunian Way . The entrance is around the back of the building.

For further information contact Gary Ogden, Tel; 01706 754805

Email: gogden2006@tiscali.co.uk

The Manchester Polymer Group - AGM date has been postponed by two weeks and will now take place on 24th May commencing around 17:00 .

The AGM will be held in the Club House after the Golf Competition that is to be held Fairfield Golf Club . The Golf Competition will be again sponsored by Columbian Chemicals Company .

Following the AGM there will be a meal and after-dinner comedian.

Tickets for the meal and further details on the all the events to be held on the day can be obtained from Gary Ogden Tel; 01706 754805 Email: gogden2006@tiscali.co.uk

Annual Rubber & Plastics Industry Dinner & Dances

The annual Rubber & Plastics Industry Dinner Dances were held recently at Le Meridien Palace Hotel, Manchester on 16th and 30 th January respectively. As can be seen the evenings were enjoyed by all.

(l-r) Mr C. Tidswell (Hon. Treasurer), Mrs Tidswell, Mrs Adam, Mr W. Adam (Vice-Chairman), Mr & Mrs Shirt (Chairman's guests),
Mrs Fenn, Dr C. Fenn (Chairman), Mr & Mrs Davis (Director General BPF – Chairman's guests), Mrs Creaser-Ogden, Dr G. Ogden (Hon. Secretary

Some lucky ladies receiving a “spot” prize from the luckier Hon. Secretary, Dr G. Ogden

Dancing the night away to the sounds of “FEVER”

Nearly £3000 was raised for the Chairman's charity “Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths” through the generosity of all those that attended, together with a considerable contribution to the running costs of the Manchester Polymer Group.

The Committee would like to thank all the host companies that attended and through their generosity made for most enjoyable and successful evenings.

Host and supporting companies of the Rubber Industry Dinner & Dance

Adam Polymer Ltd

Aquaspersions

BASF

Cabot Carbon Ltd

Carter International Ltd

CDT UK Ltd

Chamberlain Associates

Chemox Ltd

Dovetail Polymers

Eastland Compounding

FLOWTECH design Ltd

Franklynn Industries UK Ltd

Hubron Speciality Products Ltd

Milliken Chemical Speciality Elastomers

Multiblend Ltd

OMYA UK

POLYnnovation

Rhein Chemie

Safic-Alcan UK Ltd

STEMACO (Raw Materials) Ltd

Univar Ltd

Weber & Schaer

Whitchem Ltd

Wilfred Smith Ltd

Zeon Chemicals Europe Ltd

Host and supporting companies of the Plastics Industry Dinner & Dance

Adam Polymer Ltd

Baerlocher

BASF

Bayer Chemicals UK

BTC Speciality Chemical Distribution

CDT UK Ltd

Chamberlain Associates

Chemix plc

Doeflex-Vitapol

FLOWTECH design Ltd

Hubron Speciality Products Ltd

Multiblend Ltd

OMYA UK

Plastribution Ltd

POLYnnovation

REAGENS UK Ltd

Vita Thermoplastic Compounds Ltd

If you would like details of next years events then please contact the Hon. Secretary, Dr. G. Ogden by e-mail at gogden2006@tiscali.co.ukor telephone 01706 754805.

Manchester Polymer Group - Technical Meetings

Date: Monday, 24th November 2003

Time: 18:00 for 18:30

'Carbon Black Dispersion Measurement in Rubber Vulcanizates via Interferometric Microscopy' by Dr Joseph Hallett, Columbian Chemicals Company

Carbon black dispersion is an important factor in the performance of filled rubber vulcanizates. Currently ASTM D2663 describes three procedures for assessing the dispersion of rubber compounds: Optical comparison; Optical Measurement; Surface profilometry. Of these, surface profilometry gives the quickest, quantitative results, but the equipment (the Surfanalyser) is no longer available, so a new method is required.

This paper describes a potential replacement for the Surfanalyser, Interferometric Microscopy. This method utilises optical interference to generate a topological map of the surface, from which a dispersion index can be calculated. This method has the advantage of being non-contact, polymer independent, and directly related to optical dispersion measurements via a calibration curve.

Location: Staff House, 5th Floor All Saints' Building, Manchester Metropolitan University

Refreshments will be provided prior to the meeting to give members and non-members (who are most welcome) the opportunity to socialise, meet old friends and discuss matters of common interest. Parking is available in the MMU Chester Street car park. Press button to get the parking attendant to raise the barrier. You will have to walk back to Oxford Road and then walk towards the Mancunian Way. The All Saints' Building is the first building after you pass under the Mancunian Way. The first entrance might be closed so you should go to the main entrance slightly further down Oxford Road. Take the lift to the fifth floor.

For further information contact Gary Ogden, Tel; 01706 754805

Email: gogden2006@tiscali.co.uk

Date: Monday, 10th November 2003

Time: 18:00 for 18:30

Compounding Screw Injection Moulding Machine by Andrew Armstrong, Krauss Maffei ( UK ) Limited

Outline of presentation

• What is an IMC machine?
• Machine technology and function
• Features of the IMC and the availability of the range
• Targeted sectors and current applications
• Advantages and argumentations

As in previous years The Manchester Polymer Group Committee is seeking more support from academic and industrial members for the evening meeting programme.

If you think that some of your colleagues within or outside your organisation would also be interested in the topic, please extend the invitation to them.

We thank you for your support and hope you will be able to attend. If you are intending to attend please reply giving your name and mobile contact number so that we might contact you in case arrangements have to be changed at short notice.

For further information contact Gary Ogden, Tel; 01706 754805

Email: gogden2006@tiscali.co.uk

Date: Monday, 20 th October 2003

Time: 18:00 for 18:30

An Introduction To Chemical Blowing Agents by Stephen Quinn, Product/Technical Manager, Bayer AG, Germany

Synopsis Every year there is a growing interest in the foaming of polymers. With this interest, there also follows new areas of application, varied processing techniques, temperatures, processing rates and an ever increasing technical demand on how these factors can be overcome and technically optimised for efficiency. One material which is clearly up to this task is Azodicarbonamide.

The material itself is not new to the industry but this paper now wishes to highlight it's finest attribute, it's flexibility. Azodicarbonamide is a chemical blowing agent that not only offers high levels of gas yield, it can be readily modified to allow its use in a large range of polymers and processing techniques. This paper will provide an overview to it's chemistry, it's acceptance to fine tuning and highlight some of the key market sectors where it has proven hugely successful. The use of a blowing agent is not simply to reduce weight and this paper will introduce a range of processing opportunity all of which can be accomplished from one base material, Azodicarbonamide.

Location: Staff House, 5 th Floor All Saints' Building, Manchester Metropolitan University Refreshments will be provided, prior to the meeting to give members and non-members (who are most welcome) the opportunity to socialise, meet old friends and discuss matters of common interest.Parking is available in the MMU Chester Street car park. Press button to get the parking attendant to raise the barrier. You will have to walk back to Oxford Road and then walk towards the Mancunian Way . The All Saints' Building is the first building after you pass under the Mancunian Way . The first entrance might be closed so you should go to the main entrance slightly further down Oxford Road . Take the lift to the fifth floor.For further information contact Gary Ogden, Tel; 01706 754805

Email: gogden2006@tiscali.co.uk

Location: Staff House, 5th Floor All Saints' Building, Manchester Metropolitan University Date: Monday, 6th October 2003 Time: 18:00 for 18:30

Meeting entitled: NANOTECHNOLOGY by Professor R.J. Young, Manchester Materials Science Centre

Synopsis Nanotechnology is defined as the branch of science and technology that uses materials and structures on the scale of 1000 nm down to 1 nm. The subject of nanotechnology is presently creating a great deal of interest although people in the polymer industry have been exploiting nanotechnology for over 100 years by incorporating carbon black (a nano-sized form of carbon) into rubber and plastics!

Current excitement in the field of polymer science and technology resides in the addition of nano-sized fillers such as nano-clays and nano-tubes to composite matrices. Carbon nanotubes, a newly-discovered form of the element carbon, are mainly responsible for the development of this "new science". In particular the interest in single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) has increased rapidily since their discovery in 1993, due to their exceptional electronic and mechanical properties.

Their outstandingly high Young's modulus (about 1 TPa and similar to diamond) and their structure-dependent electronic properties make them ideal candidates for many applications including nanoscale sensors. SWNTs have excited a great deal of scientific interest because of their remarkable properties and possible applications are already being suggested. One, based on an original idea of Arthur C Clarke, is for use in a "space elevator" that could be employed to lift material to a space station in earth orbit. The concept has not been feasible in the past as long cables of conventional materials will break under their own weight and the prospect of using carbon nanotube composite cables is being actively pursued by organisations such as NASA. The challenges involved in such a venture will be discussed, along with research taking place in Manchester in the field of carbon nanotubes and their polymer matrix composites.

Location: Staff House, 5th Floor All Saints' Building, Manchester Metropolitan University Date: Monday, 6th October 2003 Time: 18:00 for 18:30

Refreshments will be provided, prior to the meeting to give members and non-members (who are most welcome) the opportunity to socialise, meet old friends and discuss matters of common interest. Parking is available in the MMU Chester Street car park. Press button to get the parking attendant to raise the barrier. You will have to walk back to Oxford Road and then walk towards the Mancunian Way. The All Saints' Building is the first building after you pass under the Mancunian Way. The first entrance might be closed so you should go to the main entrance slightly further down Oxford Road. Take the lift to the fifth floor. For further information contact Gary Ogden, Tel; 01706 754805

Email: gogden2006@tiscali.co.uk

Monday, 22nd September 2003 Assembly of Plastics Products - a bewildering choice for the designer by John McLoughlin, POLYnnovation

Synopsis:Many single plastic components become highly successful "ready products" as soon as they leave the machine that shaped them. Think of a beer crate or garden chair. If only life was always that simple. Most products are made up of a number of individual components, all shaped and engineered to fit together to perform specified functions. Sometimes, the resulting assembly is all-plastic, but often the designer is obliged to use a variety of materials. In each case, fundamental choices of assembly methodology must be made early in the design and development phases if performance and financial targets are to be met. This talk will highlight some of the many factors that need to be considered by designers in making those choices. It will be illustrated by examples of good practice, "tricks of the trade" that can remove the need for assembly, and a selection of avoidable "blunders" that can give plastic components a bad name.

Location: Staff House, 5th Floor All Saints' Building, Manchester Metropolitan University Date: Monday, 22nd September 2003

Time: 18:00 for 18:30 Refreshments will be provided, prior to the meeting to give members and non-members (who are most welcome) the opportunity to socialise, meet old friends and discuss matters of common interest. Parking is available in the MMU Chester Street car park. Press button to get the parking attendant to raise the barrier. You will have to walk back to Oxford Road and then walk towards the Mancunian Way. The All Saints' Building is the first building after you pass under the Mancunian Way. The first entrance might be closed so you should go to the main entrance slightly further down Oxford Road. Take the lift to the fifth floor.

For further information contact Gary Ogden, Tel; 01706 754805 Email: gogden2006@tiscali.co.uk

MPG Meeting - 7/4/03 - Staff House - MMU @ 18:00Please Note - this is a change to our scheduled meeting. This meeting was originally due to be held on 17th March. The Manchester Polymer Group Committee is seeking more support from academic and industrial members for the evening lecture programme. As part of our efforts, we have decided to make individual contact with the members we believe are likely to be specifically interested in some of our lecture topics.

If you think that some of your colleagues within or outside your organisation would also be interested in the topic, please extend the invitation to them. A way of doing this may be to print a copy of the attached Word file and post it on strategic notice boards or simply by forwarding this email to individuals. We thank you for your support and hope you will be able to attend.

The Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining National Lecture Competition The Manchester Heat of the competition took place on Tuesday 4th March at the Manchester Materials Science Centre (University of Manchester & UMIST). The event was jointly organised by the Manchester Polymer Group and the Manchester Metallurgical Society. There were four lectures, given by post-graduate students, covered a wide field of materials science, such as the structure of carbon nanotubes, polymer dendrimers, extraction and uses of cardomol, with the winner concerning polymers in kites, enthusiastically presented by Finlay Stewart. He won a cash prize of £75 and the will now be judged against students in the Merseyside area, with the regional winner gaining a place at the National Finals at the Armourers and Braziers in London in April.

The three runners up, Atoshi Ghosal (dendrimers), Marcel Lucas (carbon nanotubes) and Kannan Prabhakaren (cardomol) each received a cash prize of £25.

Dr. Diane Abbott, Education Co-ordinator of the IOM3 congratulating Finlay Stewart on his success together with Dr. Clive Fenn, Vice-Chairman, Manchester Polymer Group.

Dr. Clive Fenn, Kannan Prabhakaren, Marcel Lucas, Finlay Stewart, Atoshi Ghosal and Dr. Diane Abbott

If you require further information please contact Gary Ogden, Honorary Secretary, on 01706 754805 or by e-mail at gogden2006@tiscali.co.ukor gogden@raydex-cdt.co.uk