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February 1, 2021
Microwave NDT Inspection Techniques for Wind Turbine Blades
Microwave NDT Inspection Techniques for Wind Turbine Blades
Microwave nondestructive testing (NDT) allows inspection of opaque and solid materials using electromagnetic energy in the microwave frequency range (300 MHz to 300 GHz). The NDT device emits an electromagnetic beam onto and through the material being tested. The signals reflected from the material under test are then captured and displayed visually for evaluation. Microwave NDT can be used to inspect high density polyethylene (HDPE) butt fusion and electrofusion as well as fiberglass, ceramic, and other composite materials and applications.
Currently, research is focused on developing microwave NDT techniques for inspecting composite wind turbine blades, which may be 350 feet above the ground making inspection difficult. These large blades can have manufacturing defects, damage from impacts, and weaknesses from use over time that can lead to blade failure. Microwave NDT has an advantage over ultrasound for testing fiberglass parts because it does not need to be in close contact with the material under test, meaning it could be deployed on drones to inspect wind turbine blades.
You can read more about the research being done into microwave NDT in this article co-written by BHC consultant, Bob Stakenborghs. You can also watch Bob demonstrate microwave NDT in a video here.
Currently, research is focused on developing microwave NDT techniques for inspecting composite wind turbine blades, which may be 350 feet above the ground making inspection difficult. These large blades can have manufacturing defects, damage from impacts, and weaknesses from use over time that can lead to blade failure. Microwave NDT has an advantage over ultrasound for testing fiberglass parts because it does not need to be in close contact with the material under test, meaning it could be deployed on drones to inspect wind turbine blades.
You can read more about the research being done into microwave NDT in this article co-written by BHC consultant, Bob Stakenborghs. You can also watch Bob demonstrate microwave NDT in a video here.
February 2, 2021
COVID-19 Vaccines Drive Sourcing Increase for Medical Injection Molded Plastics
COVID-19 Vaccines Drive Sourcing Increase for Medical Injection Molded Plastics
According to the Thomasnet.com platform, sourcing for medical injection molded plastics has increased 133% since 2019, with a 77% growth over the previous quarter of 2020 alone. With over 90 different vaccines in development or manufacture now, the demand for vials, syringes, and freezers has significantly increased. Plastic injection-molding suppliers have been awarded multi-million dollar contracts from the U.S. Departments of Defense and Health and Human Services to provide additional syringes and vials to meet the increased demand, estimated at 6 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses globally.
Two manufacturers with innovative solutions to the increased demand and related shortages are ApiJect and SiO2. ApiJect uses its Blow-Fill-Seal aseptic technology to create plastic, prefilled syringes. SiO2 has developed a plastic alternative to borosilicate glass vaccine vials by stretch blow molding an injection molded preform into the vial shape and then coating it with a very thin layer of glass. Read more about these innovative solutions here.
BHC has an injection molding team that is ready to assist with your next project.
Two manufacturers with innovative solutions to the increased demand and related shortages are ApiJect and SiO2. ApiJect uses its Blow-Fill-Seal aseptic technology to create plastic, prefilled syringes. SiO2 has developed a plastic alternative to borosilicate glass vaccine vials by stretch blow molding an injection molded preform into the vial shape and then coating it with a very thin layer of glass. Read more about these innovative solutions here.
BHC has an injection molding team that is ready to assist with your next project.
February 3, 2021
Baker Hughes/Saudi Aramco Joint Venture to Produce Reinforced Thermoplastic Pipe for Oil Fields
Baker Hughes/Saudi Aramco Joint Venture to Produce Reinforced Thermoplastic Pipe for Oil Fields
Saudi Aramco and Baker Hughes have formed a joint venture to produce reinforced thermoplastic pipe to replace steel pipe in building oil field hardware. The joint venture will expand on a commercial product Baker Hughes manufactures in Midland, Texas. The reinforced thermoplastic pipe is lighter, highly corrosion resistant, and longer lasting than the traditional steel piping used in the oil fields.
The joint venture has started building a new facility in King Salman Energy Park (SPARK) in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. In a 2018 SPE paper, Saudi Aramco tests showed that reinforced thermoplastic pipe could be successfully used for flowlines and was 30% the cost of comparable steel pipe. The joint venture is expected to create high-performance pipe that could be used in conventional gas production. To read more about the joint venture and the use of thermoplastic pipe in oil fields, click here.
The Team at BHC includes experts in spoolable composite pipe to assist in your project.
The joint venture has started building a new facility in King Salman Energy Park (SPARK) in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. In a 2018 SPE paper, Saudi Aramco tests showed that reinforced thermoplastic pipe could be successfully used for flowlines and was 30% the cost of comparable steel pipe. The joint venture is expected to create high-performance pipe that could be used in conventional gas production. To read more about the joint venture and the use of thermoplastic pipe in oil fields, click here.
The Team at BHC includes experts in spoolable composite pipe to assist in your project.
February 4, 2021
Packaging Innovations at PACK EXPO
Packaging Innovations at PACK EXPO
Packaging World editors recently attended the virtual PACK EXPO Connects Innovation Stage presentation to see the latest in the plastic containers and packaging industry. Sandi Childs, Director of Film and Flexible Programs at APR , had this to say during the presentation, “The entire supply chain has to work together to increase the supply of plastics available to be recycled, enhance the quality of the material that’s expected to go back into the marketplace, and ensure that there’s adequate demand for products made from recycled plastics.”
The push to produce recyclable materials has created new innovations in the flexible packaging market. Some of the products demonstrated during the presentation included a new thermoformed Klearcup from Klöckner Pentaplast, AmPrima mono-material polyethylene films by Amcor Flexibles that are recyclable, a new monolayer PE for frozen food and standup pouches from Italian firm ITP, and Orbis Corporation’s reusable all-plastic box for closed supply chain loops. You can read about these new innovations and more new products here.
The Packaging Team for BHC is ready to assist you with consulting on your next project.
The push to produce recyclable materials has created new innovations in the flexible packaging market. Some of the products demonstrated during the presentation included a new thermoformed Klearcup from Klöckner Pentaplast, AmPrima mono-material polyethylene films by Amcor Flexibles that are recyclable, a new monolayer PE for frozen food and standup pouches from Italian firm ITP, and Orbis Corporation’s reusable all-plastic box for closed supply chain loops. You can read about these new innovations and more new products here.
The Packaging Team for BHC is ready to assist you with consulting on your next project.
February 5, 2021
Cimarron Composites Acquired by Hanwha Solutions
Cimarron Composites Acquired by Hanwha Solutions
South Korea based Hanwha Solutions recently announced a deal to acquire Cimarron Composites. The deal, if approved by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, will give Hanwha the technology to manufacture tanks for hydrogen tube trailers as well as other vessels used in the green hydrogen industry and aerospace applications. Hanwha plans to invest $100 million in Cimarron by 2025 with the goal of becoming the global leader for composite high pressure tanks by 2030. Read more about the acquisition here.
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