Improvements in existing materials and the development of new ones are helping to meet the demands of challenging applications As the need for stronger, more durable and lighter-weight materials increases, the demand for high-performance plastics and polymers continues to grow.…
Producers continue to improve the performance of their flame retardants while ensuring safe handling and environmental responsibility No matter where you are reading this article — in your home, on the train, in an airplane, at the library or office…
New materials and designs help processors improve efficiency and reliability As in other areas of chemical manufacturing, processors want more efficiency from their distillation and mass-transfer operations. Increasing capacity, finding solutions to issues such as foaming and fouling that slow…
Particle-size analysis methods are changing for the better, reducing rework and improving yield Particle-size analysis plays an important role in many chemical processes that involve dry powders and granules, fibers, suspensions, emulsions, gels, sprays, inhalants and the like. Processors rely…
Developments from the 2015 AFPM annual meeting frame a picture of the current state of the U.S. petroleum refining industry On a broad level, the outlook for the U.S. petroleum-refining industry remains bright, despite a recent decline in crude oil…
Precious and rare-earth metals are used in countless consumer products, and advanced processes to efficiently recover these materials from waste present promising alternative sources Metal is all around us — we drink out of aluminum cans and eat with stainless-steel…
Calibration-free, modular and automated gas analyzers offer benefits to the chemical process industries While there are countless types of gas analysis instruments available, users of every type are asking for technologies that require less of their time. Processors are demanding…
New sensor, sealing and vapor-recovery technologies aim to reduce methane emissions On January 14, the Obama Administration announced a new goal to cut methane emissions from the oil-and-gas (O&G) sector by 40–45% from 2012 levels by 2025. The announcement builds…
Integration between instruments and systems allows manufacturers to align process parameters with business performance As technological advances in instrumentation and control continue to progress, processors are beginning to realize that not only can their process control system keep a watchful…
Activity in standards development, industry initiatives and R&D are fueling the growth of additive manufacturing (3-D printing) technology in industry The field of additive manufacturing (AM) — often referred to as three-dimensional (3-D) printing — has seen explosive growth in…