Page 65 - Plastics News May 2026
P. 65
PRODUCT NEWS
the enzyme exhibit distinct thermal stabilities, the catalytic interface. This structural arrange-
supporting the concept of functional segmenta- ment supports both heat resistance and sub-
tion within the protein. strate adaptability, offering a basis for the de-
sign of improved enzymes for industrial plastic
Implications for enzyme engineering
recycling applications.
The results demonstrate that effective enzymes Source – RECYCLING magazine
for PET biorecycling may require a stable core
structure combined with localized flexibility at
HIGH-VISCOSITY PHOTOPOLYMERS TRANSFORM
ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
dvanced printing technologies from Cu- ♦ AM aims to match the scale and ubiquity of
biCure and Supernova are redefining ad- molding and forming processes. Companies
Aditive manufacturing with high viscosity like CubiCure and Supernova are enabling
photopolymer resins. this shift through high viscosity photopoly-
mer technology
Key Points:
♦ AM photopolymer resins have long lever-
♦ High-viscosity photopolymer technologies aged existing adhesive and coating chemis-
are pushing additive manufacturing closer to try, accelerating resin development. Howev-
true production-scale performance, helping er, despite resin development and hardware
bridge the gap with traditional molding and advances, photopolymer performance has
forming. often lagged behind that of traditional man-
♦ Traditional AM photopolymers face key limi- ufacturing materials. As a result, many AM
tations—including weak thermomechanical photopolymers still fall short of thermoplas-
properties, anisotropy, and high VOC emis- tic standards, limiting end use adoption.
sions—largely due to the need for low-vis- AM Photopolymer Limitations
cosity formulations that compromise mate-
rial performance. ♦ Common AM photopolymer shortcomings
include weak thermomechanical perfor-
♦ New approaches using high molecular weight mance, severe anisotropy, and higher VOC
resins and advanced printing methods (like emissions, raising product and chemical
hot lithography and viscous lithography) en- safety concerns. A key driver of these issues
able stronger parts, better layer bonding, is the need to drastically reduce print viscos-
reduced emissions, and expanded material ity, or the measure of resin flow during the
capabilities—including elastomers, flame-re- print process. This trade secret and hard-
tardant plastics, and multi-material systems. ware-specific process is critical to ensure
May 2026 PLASTICS NEWS 67
