Articles Tagged with ''innovation''

Sustainability has become a key driver for the adhesives industry. Once considered a “nice to have” feature, sustainability is increasingly valued by both adhesive producers and end users. In addition, regulations calling for safer, cleaner materials, especially in Europe, are driving the demand for more environmentally friendly products.

As vehicle manufacturers worldwide look to reduce weight from their cars and trucks in order to boost fuel economy and reduce emissions, they must set aside the mindset that has dictated traditional material and process choices and instead consider new and emerging technologies. This includes selecting adhesives and other joining options. Each car today contains, on average, 15 kg (~ 33 lbs) of adhesives,―and this amount will likely increase in the future.

When it comes to underwater adhesion, shellfish are the true experts. Mussels, barnacles and oysters attach to rocks with apparent ease. Yet our man-made glues often fail when trying to stick in wet environments. “Our current adhesives are terrible at wet bonding, yet marine biology solved this problem eons ago,” said Jonathan Wilker, a professor of chemistry and materials engineering at Purdue University.

Is your company the next Blockbuster? Not a blockbuster hit, but Blockbuster, the company that owned the video rental market until it was upended by an innovative competitor, Netflix. One thing is for certain: If your company isn’t innovating, all of its products or services eventually become commodities. Or they’re toppled by the next Netflix.

Teflon, or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), is one of the most versatile industrial coatings available today. Best known for its nonstick properties, Teflon offers an extremely low coefficient of friction, chemical inertness, and excellent dielectric stability. Far more than a product for cookware, Teflon’s non-stick properties can be used to solve a variety of design challenges, including preventing the buildup of contaminants, corrosion and bacteria, and reducing friction or sticking between parts that come into contact. It can also be used as an ingredient in heavy-wear, high-load applications.

International Data Corp. (IDC) discovered more than 900,00 smartphones are damaged by liquids every day globally.1 IDC’s research has found that liquid damage is the second-largest cause of damaged smartphones after broken screens, representing 35% of all devices repaired. This damage results in significant costs to the end users, device manufacturers, carriers and retailers, with the impact of liquid damage estimated to be worth nearly $100 billion each year.