Polymers in Sport and Leisure

References and Abstracts
Item 220
Plastics Technology
44, No.2, Feb.1998, p.45-8
BIOCIDES KEEP BUGS OFF YOUR PLASTICS
Manolis Sherman L
Biocides are now a growing presence in polyolefins
and other plastics, due to consumer demand for ‘germfree’
products. The use of biocides or antimicrobial
additives in plastics traditionally has been limited
chiefly to flexible PVC and to PU foams, as they are
the most susceptible to attack by fungi, bacteria, and
algae that can cause discolouration, odour and
deterioration of mechanical properties. Plasticisers are
a key food source for these micro-organisms in PVC.
Popular applications for biocides in these two plastics
include roof liners, tarpaulins, wall and floor coverings,
pool and ditch liners, shower curtains, bath mats,
outdoor furniture, marine upholstery, insulation foams,
and sports-shoe soles. In more recent years, increasing
public concern about food-borne pathogens and other
germs in the environment has been driving consumer
demand for antimicrobials in products made of
polyolefins and other plastics ranging from housewares
such as cutting boards to children’s toys. An outline of
new developments is presented.
USA
Accession no.668819
Item 221
Plastics News(USA)
9, No.45, 5th Jan.1998, p.20
BOATS CAST OFF WOOD IN FAVOUR OF
PLASTICS
Pryweller J
Engineered thermoplastics and composite, whether in
extruded sheet or injection moulded form, are reported
to have dominated at the recent International Marine
Trades Exhibit and Conference. Several parts
suppliers indicated the shift from wood to plastics.
Some had placques with the word wood, surrounded
by a circle with a slash mark through it. Composite
supplier Kayco admonished booth visitors to let
Kayco ‘get your wood out’. Meanwhile, several
leading makers of yachts and pleasure craft, including
Sea Ray Boats and OMC Boat Group, adorned their
latest models with a heavy cache of plastic parts. On
one of Sea Ray’s 54-ft. yachts, the customised cabin
and deck used thermoplastics in areas that once had
been the domain of teak and plywood. They and other
manufacturers were considering changing their hulls
from GRP to acrylic or new composite materials.
Details are given.
KAYCO INC.; SEA RAY BOATS INC.; OMC BOAT
GROUP INC.
USA
Accession no.668549
Item 222
Kunststoffe Plast Europe
87, No.12, Dec.1997, p.22-4
FASTER AND FURTHER
Murauer H
Fischer
The development is described of high tech tennis racquets.
Long range, high power and light weight are among the
requirements for modern racquets which can be met by
the use of fibre-reinforced plastics materials and
technologies. The manufacture of racquets at Fischer is
detailed with respect to material selection, quality
assurance, and production methods.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.666988
Item 223
High Performance Textiles
Sept.1997, p.3-4
ATHLETIC WEAR
Aquatic Design Inc. of the USA have invented fabric that
is waterproof, breathable, and elastic, and is deal for
outdoor sports-wear, it is reported. The construction of
the fabric is described, and its properties highlighted.
FILAMENT FIBER TECHNOLOGY INC.; AQUATIC
DESIGN INC.; AKZO NOBEL
USA
Accession no.665254
Item 224
Polyurethanes World Congress ’97. Conference
proceedings.
Amsterdam, Netherlands, 29th Sept.-1st Oct.1997,
p.381-92. 43C6
QUASI-PREPOLYMERS FOR HIGH-
PERFORMANCE APPLICATIONS
Madan S; Franyutti S; Recker K; Pantone R S
Bayer Corp.; Bayer AG
(SPI,Polyurethane Div.; ISOPA)
PU moulded elastomers prepared by reacting
4,4’diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI)-terminated
prepolymers with certain polyfunctional, active hydrogen
chain extenders produce elastomeric materials with
unique physical and mechanical properties that are
distinctly better than those of cold-curing or one-shot PU
systems. However, the low percentage of free isocyanate
groups (% free NCO) results in high ratios of prepolymer
to chain extender and high viscosities. Processing is
therefore less flexible, requiring higher temperatures and
specialised equipment. A new group of MDI quasiprepolymers
(with 23% free NCO) are described. They
are liquid at room temperatures and can be processed with
conventional one-shot processing equipment at similar
ratios, but exhibit properties superior to conventional one-
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