Bando Chemical Industries Ltd. (TYO:5195) recently received a chairman’s award from the Energy Conservation Center, Japan (ECCJ), as part of the 2018 Energy Conservation Grand Prize awards. The company won this off the back of its Hyper Flat Drive (HFD) System, a flat belt drive system that was rated strongly for enabling a high level of energy conservation. This marks...
Kraton Corp. recently developed a new type of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) latex under the name Cariflex IR2GL1. Taking the form of a new styrene block copolymer TPE latex, the product is aimed toward use in the likes of surgical gloves. Cariflex IR2GL1 foregoes the conventional need for vulcanization while exhibiting strength, softness and flexibility. In addition, it is free from...
Kyokuto Sangyo Co. Ltd., a major producer of rubber and resin linings, has worked with semi-major general contractor Hazama Ando Corp. (TYO:1719) to develop a paint that uses low-energy neutrons to suppress radioactivation. The new paint utilizes a hydrogen component that it contains to slow down neutrons, then sees these neutrons absorbed by a boron compound to suppress radioactivation. Tests...
Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108) is set to launch its ST series of low-friction elastic sliding bearings, which help to reduce the effects of earthquakes by slowing the shaking of buildings. The series is fit for use in a wide variety of applications, ranging from low-rise buildings to skyscrapers. Elastic sliding bearings are primarily composed of a multilayered rubber component and a...
Air Water Inc. (TYO:4088) has developed a highly heat-resistant new O-ring using general-purpose fluororubber (FKM). This was achieved via efforts from subsidiary Air Water Mach Inc., which produces and and sells O-rings in addition to other sealing products. The new product combines fluororubber with Zeonano SG101, a series of single-walled carbon nanotubes that Zeon Corp. (TYO:4205) produces via the super-growth...
Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. (TYO:5101) recently announced that it has developed a double-tube internal heat exchanger (IHX) that offers improved cooling efficiency for automotive air conditioning systems. The product has already been adopted in the new Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Compass. While conventional IHX systems use two separate refrigerant tubes, Yokohama Rubber’s new offering partially integrates these. This allows the...
