composites - Polymers Alliance Québec

Automation in the Polymer Industry: A Key Driver for Meeting Today’s Challenges

Polymer industry, composites, manufaturer, plastic / By APQ

The plastics and composites industry, particularly within the Polymer Industry, is facing growing challenges: a shortage of skilled labour, increasing pressure to reduce costs and environmental impacts, and the need to maintain consistently high product quality. More recent issues, such as the loss of work permits for some foreign workers, have further intensified the labour […]

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Self-Healing Materials: Towards a New Era of Durability

Innovation, composites, Polymer industry / By APQ

Self-healing materials (also referred to as autonomous healing materials or self-healing/self-repair materials) are a class of materials capable of repairing damage autonomously, without human intervention, after sustaining mechanical or structural degradation.¹ While most research has focused on polymers—including thermoplastics, thermosets, and elastomers—as well as composite materials, self-healing concepts have also been successfully applied to a

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Recycling Hazardous Waste: A Critical Issue for the Composite Materials Sector

composites, Ecology & Environment, Legislation, manufaturer / By APQ

Composite materials are widely used across many industries due to their numerous advantages. However, their manufacturing not only involves the use of hazardous substances, but also relies on processing operations (polymerization, cutting, lamination, machining, etc.) that release potentially toxic volatile compounds (vapors, gases, dust). In this context, waste generated from the synthesis or processing of

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Natural Fibers: The Material of the Future for Sustainable Composites

composites, Composites innovation, Ecology & Environment, Sustainable development / By APQ

Composed of two materials with complementary mechanical properties, a matrix and a reinforcement, composites are highly sought after in sectors such as construction, energy, transportation, and telecommunications. These materials stand out for their performance, particularly in terms of high strength and light weight. However, while common practice relies on synthetic fibers such as glass or

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Hydrogen: A Growth Opportunity for Composite Manufacturers in the Development of High-Pressure Tanks

Composites innovation, composites, Ecology & Environment, Innovation / By APQ

With its Plan for a Green Economy, the Government of Québec has set a target to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 37.5% by 2030 compared with 1990 levels (1). Achieving this objective will require significant efforts, particularly in the transportation sector, which accounts for 44% of total emissions. In this context, green hydrogen—producing neither

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Toward the Bow of Tomorrow: Uniting Art and Finesse with Innovation in Composite Materials

composites, Innovation / By APQ

Pernambuco wood bows are highly prized in the world of classical music. This rare and precious wood has been sought after for more than 200 years for its exceptional acoustic and mechanical properties. Pernambuco offers an ideal balance of density and lightness, firmness and flexibility, speed and resonance, showcasing the innovation in bow making. Pernambuco

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