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“Soft House” for cleaner living
August 1st, 2013
The row house is a staple of urban development, creating side-by-side neighbors with at least one sidewall in common with the next house. In March, the International Building Exhibition in Hamburg, Germany, displayed a new twist on the row house—the newest Soft House, designed by Kennedy & Violich Architects Ltd. (KVA) MATx, Boston, Mass., and […]
Absorbable polymers deliver medications
August 1st, 2013
TissueGen® Inc., Dallas, Texas, has developed a breakthrough drug-delivery system that consists of polymers that can be integrated into implantable fabrics and medical devices. The polymer technology includes fiber extrusion at room temperature, which preserves the biological activity of therapeutic agents that might be deteriorated under high temperature extrusion techniques. Biomedical Structures LLC, Warwick, R.I., […]
Rising economic tide for boaters
August 1st, 2013
The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) reported a 10.7 percent increase in retail sales of new power boats and sailboats in 2012, demonstrating that a rising economic tide lifts all boats. The figures, part of NMMA’s annual U.S. Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract, show that 37.8 percent of American adults, or 88 million people, are expected […]
Environmental rules for sealants
August 1st, 2013
ASTM International will partner with the Adhesive and Sealant Council (ASC) to develop Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) for sealants and engage the industry in developing Product Category Rules (PCR). “Groups like the United States Green Building Council [are] inserting EPD requirements within its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program, for example,” says Matthew […]
Good news for geosynthetics
August 1st, 2013
The road to growth for geosynthetic textile markets goes straight through developing countries, according to a Textiles Intelligence report, “Markets for geosynthetic products and profiles of five leading manufacturers.” Large-scale construction of infrastructure (roads, railways and landfills, for example) will drive growth in the market, which has seen robust growth even during times of economic […]
Nylon yarns made from castor oil seed
August 1st, 2013
Chemical company Radici Chimica SPA of Novara, Italy, has developed a polymer partially manufactured from sebacic acid, a biological source obtained from castor oil seeds. Its sister company, Radici Yarn, recently introduce a new nylon yarn, Radilon® 6.10, made of the renewable source polymer, giving the yarn a high degree of sustainability and performance. Castor […]
Currency manipulation an ongoing trade issue
August 1st, 2013
A bipartisan group of 226 members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter urging President Obama to tackle the problem of currency manipulation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement negotiations. Lawmakers are particularly concerned about including Japan, because Japan “has a well-documented history of manipulating the value of the yen to help its exporters,” […]
Growing industrial hemp for research
August 1st, 2013
Industrial hemp is an important agricultural commodity, not a drug,” says U.S. Representative Jared Polis, D-Colo. To prove it, Polis and two other House members helped pass an amendment to H.R. 1947, the Federal Agricultural Reform and Risk Management Act, that would allow colleges and universities to cultivate industrial hemp in states where it is […]
Fisher Textiles joins Elementum alliance
August 1st, 2013
Brands and retailers want more sustainable and environmental products. Manufacturers of sustainable materials want a greater share of the market. Elementum, a partnership alliance for sustainable brands, works to bring the players together and remove obstacles to use of renewable materials in the supply chain. Fisher Textiles Inc., Indian Trail, N.C., recently joined the partnership […]
Fiber giant Lenzing turns 75
August 1st, 2013
Lenzing AG, the Austrian company that manufactures viscose from manmade cellulose fibers, celebrated its 75th anniversary in June—and expects to see many more as a worldwide leader in cellulose fiber technology and research. Among the innovations keeping Lenzing a growing concern are a research center for cellulose and fiber chemistry, approximately 1,400 patents or patent […]