Food and beverage packaging has come a long way since the prehistoric days of using natural materials like leaves and gourds for containers. Today’s food and beverage industry demands packaging that’s far more sanitary, innovative and eye-catching than what nature can provide.

By the time you read this column, the battle for Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) reform will be fully engaged. Battle lines will have been drawn, cosponsors for bills will have been recruited, and charges and counter charges will have been swapped back and forth in Senate committee hearings.

A little over two years ago, I adopted a dachshund named Sebastian. He is absolutely adorable, with big, baby-like eyes. At just 12 lbs, he is also baby sized.

BASF recently announced an international anniversary program to mark its 150th anniversary this year. In addition to celebrations and a historical retrospective, BASF has prepared a global co-creation program with partners on the topics of energy, food, and urban living.

Two-part adhesives are an ever-growing segment of the adhesive and sealant industry, with applications in aerospace, construction, automotive, consumer goods, and the DIY/repair sectors.

Through quantitative measurements of sealant structure and flow behavior, rheology helps formulators understand the relationship between formulation components and their impact on application properties.

Kusumgar, Nerlfi & Growney recently announced it has begun its fifth “U.S. Paint & Coatings Industry” study. The industry is reportedly continuing its recovery from the global recession of 2008-2009.

Tertiary amine catalysts used for manufacturing polyurethanes and polyisocyanurates are known to degrade over time, producing products such as aldehydes that can directly contribute to emissions of organic compounds.

PPG Industries’ aerospace coatings group has installed the first commercial system in the U.S. for application of its aerospace electrocoat (e-coat) primer to aircraft parts at the U.S. Coast Guard Aviation Logistics Center in Elizabeth City, N.C.

An automotive supplier uses a machine vision system to inspect up to 900 parts per min to substantially improve quality and productivity. The system checks for the presence and uniformity of a bead of sealant applied to the interior of a metal canister (see Figure 1).