June 2023 Injection Molding Blog
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June 15, 2023
New Ultra Durable Copolymers Promote Extended Product Service Life 
New polycarbonate (PC) copolymers developed by SABIC will hit markets soon. These novel copolymer resins are optimized for chemical resistance supporting applications such as mobility, healthcare, consumer electronics, and other industrial applications. The copolymers are part of SABIC's LNP CRX resin portfolio which features various attributes that are geared towards durability such as resistance to intense levels of humidity, heat, and overall extreme environmental conditions. The resins also boast an excellent UL 746C F1 weatherability rating, and low temperature ductility. SABIC has been known to incorporate sustainability wherever they can and have incorporated recycled, upcycled, and renewable content in their thermoplastics. All grades in the LNP CRX portfolio provide flame retardancy and offer excellent processability for injection molding. In fact, SABIC has displayed various injection molded products made from the materials including molded housings and connectors, molded enclosures, and extruded profile and sheet products. These new extremely durable copolymers serve the firms sustainability efforts by extending the service life of products and thereby decreasing the use of energy, water, raw materials, and other resources. SABIC also mentioned that the new copolymers also help customers protect their brand image and minimize costly recalls and warranty claims. Learn more here.  

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June 30, 2023
Molded Plastic Homes Provide a Solution to the Homelessness Crisis

Innovative firm LifeArk looks to provide a solution to homelessness by introducing a novel plastic modular housing system that provides sustainable permanent supportive housing at vastly reduced costs. The key factor here is molded plastic specifically HDPE, which is a highly durable plastic that is used for various applications. Here LifeArk is using a propertary HDPE skin combined with a HDPE core that snap on together to create Prefabricated housing units. The novel housing system is being tested as part of a pilot project in L.A. , a city which has seen a dramatic rise in homelessness. LA county awarded LifeArk a $1 million innovation grant for the construction of dozens of housing units, which will be seamlessly incorporated into a community within the city. A compelling factor that makes these housing units a feasible solution is the reduced costs and their build quality. According to municipal officials the median cost of a conventional housing unit in LA is $470,000 , where as a prefabricated plastic molded housing unit only costs about $190,000. And while the homes may be low in cost they boast excellent durability having been certified by the State of California’s Housing and Community Development for Factory-Built Housing and Components  and by the IAPMO-UES. Moreover, the Housing modules have an impressive 30 year lifespan and are fully recyclable. Learn more here.