On the Cover
Colors developed for containers made with high levels of post-consumer recycled polyolefin offer improved consumer appeal.
Clariant Masterbatches.

Packaging
Environmental Sustainability Drives New Developments
The packaging industry is in the midst of a revolution, driven by increased demands for environmentally friendlier and sustainable packaging alternatives. New developments in materials and processes are leading to lighter containers and reduced packaging, improved recyclability, faster production cycles, and innovative new uses of renewable biobased resins.
By Richard Stewart

Plastics Welding: The Choices Widen
The many ways to weld plastics include well-established technologies such as heat staking, hot-plate, ultrasonic and vibration welding, recently adopted methods like infrared and laser welding, and technologies looking for applications, such as microwave welding. You'd think that would be enough; you'd be wrong.
By Peter Mapleston

Self-Healing Materials
When developing structural materials, engineers must consider two fundamental design concepts: damage prevention and damage management. The latter forms the basis of self-healing materials and is also the foundation for material development in nature. The paradigm is based on the notion that the formation of damage is not problematic so long as a subsequent, autonomous process of "removing" or "healing" the damage counteracts it.
By Professor Sybrand van der Zwaag

Filling and Reinforcing with Natural Fibers
Efforts to increase resin performance and reduce raw material costs are leading researchers and resin producers to evaluate reinforcements and fillers derived from natural fibers and other biomass Tests show that these perform as well as or better than conventional materials in virgin and recycled polymers.
By Laura Flórez

Packaging Takes the Heat
Hot foods test the limits of containers.
Heat is generally the enemy of plastics, especially resins used in commodity packaging. So a balancing act is required in the design of attractive, inexpensive food and beverage packaging that can also resist the temperature demands of hot-fill or retort applications. Other factors besides heat—notably a container's desired clarity and barrier properties—affect what determines the best package structure and process.
By Michael Tolinski

For Members Only: SPE's Free Online Technical Library
Your SPE membership grants you free access to SPE's Online Technical Library, a resource that includes more than 800 technical papers from SPE conferences and technical journals.
By Tobi Gebauer