Current market trends present new challenges and opportunities for innovating novel materials across various applications. This demand is driven by consumer choices, brand owner commitments, and regulatory requirements. For instance, advancements in polymer processing technologies, such as the adoption of 3D printing for functional part fabrication, necessitate stronger materials. Additionally, consumer preferences, brand owner and resin manufacturer commitments, and regional regulations require the incorporation of post-consumer and industrial recycled content into familiar applications like packaging. A newer trend is the shift towards safer materials, which involves substituting substances of concern additives. This presentation will demonstrate how these challenges are being addressed through polymer processing and applied rheology. The first part of the talk will cover the generation of thermoplastic composite filaments for 3D printing applications. The second part will discuss the author's industrial research interests at Dow, including mechanical recycling, mono-material packaging, and safer materials.
