In just 120 years, the aerospace industry has gone from a single bicycle shop to a massive global industry that helps humanity reach for the stars. Even after a century of rapid innovation, the aerospace industry continues to evolve to this day. In this blog, we take a look at some of the most important trends shaping the future of the aerospace industry ..read more

Since the first plane was constructed by the Wright Brothers with the tools, wood, and canvas available at an early 20th-century bicycle shop (plus a built-from-scratch 12-horsepower engine), aerospace advancements have always been constrained by the available materials. New materials would be critical to letting aircraft fly faster, higher, and further than ever in the coming decades. At the same time, the aerospace industry has also taken a lead role in pioneering a number of advanced materials that have proved valuable across a variety of other industries ..read more

The aerospace industry just turned 120! We launched our guide to performance polymers in the aerospace industry to celebrate ..read more

The defense industry has always been at the forefront of innovation, with many military advances eventually making their way into the civilian economy. At the same time, the military has also proven its ability to keep legacy equipment running decades after its initial deployment, so long as it continues successfully performing its mission (like the venerable B-52). For a look at the historical development of the U.S. defense industry, please see our blog here. In this article, we focus on trends shaping the future of the U.S. defense industry ..read more

Since playing a part in the birth of interchangeable parts, the U.S. defense industry has always been at the forefront of global manufacturing and engineering innovation since its inception. But the defense sector has not always been the economic lynchpin it is today. In this article, we provide a concise overview of the U.S. defense industry’s historical development, with a focus on defense OEMs’ long history of spearheading manufacturing innovation ..read more

Torlon PAI (Polyamide-Imide) is a high performance, melt-processable thermoplastic and is among the most expensive plastics on the market. Torlon can be injection molded, compression molded, and extruded, and is ideally suited for severe service environments. Torlon was introduced in the 1970s by Amoco Chemical and is now manufactured by Solvay ..read more

When working with any polymer, if the material surface energy is relatively low, then any coating will not flow well and fisheyes, pinholes, gaps, or air bubbles will form. If the material surface energy is too high, then the paint, ink, or coating may bleed or be difficult to control. Therefore, the surface tension of the liquid and the surface energy of the material must be matched for the application ..read more

PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) is one of the most popular and widely utilized fluoropolymers in the world, known for its remarkable properties like high-temperature resistance, chemical inertness, and excellent electrical insulation. To amplify its intrinsic qualities or to introduce new properties, PTFE materials, such as Rulon, are often compounded with various fillers. Let's delve into the world of PTFE fillers to explore their specific benefits on the properties and applications of PTFE ..read more

“An unprecedented number of new semiconductor wafer fabrication plants are now under construction or planned in the United States. These reflect major investment plans by both U.S.- and foreign-owned companies such as Intel, Texas Instruments, Micron, Taiwan’s TSMC, South Korea’s Samsung, and GlobalFoundries, among others. The new facilities, if and when they become operational, will reduce U.S. dependency on foreign chipmaking operations and will benefit all downstream U.S. manufacturing industries.” — Report from The Center for Strategic & International Studies ..read more

The etching and plasma deposition process is one of the most complex aspects of semiconductor manufacturing. The efficiency and yield of these processes have decisive implications for the economics of semiconductor manufacturing facilities ..read more