In modern manufacturing, specialty polymers have become indispensable due to their tailored properties that meet specific industry demands. These advanced materials are engineered to enhance performance across various sectors, notably in automotive, packaging, buildings and recycling. By incorporating specialty polymers, manufacturers can achieve objectives such as reducing weight, improving durability and compatibilize the immiscible polymers.

Understanding Specialty Polymers

Specialty polymers are chemically modified polymers designed to enhance general-purpose polymers with specific characteristics. At PLUSS, these polymers are produced by a grafting mechanism through reactive extrusion. Majorly monomers like maleic anhydride and glycidyl methacrylate are used to graft the base polymers. This modification enhances properties such as polarity, adhesion to various substrates, and compatibility with reinforcements and fillers. 

PLUSS offers a diverse range of specialty polymers under brands like OPTIM, BindEX, NOVIS, reCoupp, and OPTIPET. These products are utilized in sectors including automotive, wire and cable, wood plastic composites, flexible packaging, white goods, and recycling. 

Applications of specialty polymers

1.Enhancing Automotive Functional Components with improved durability and safety

In the automotive industry, functional components are critical to overall vehicle performance and durability. These components must withstand harsh conditions. Polymers such as PP, nylon and PBT play a pivotal role in these applications. Specialty polymers further enhance their properties through grafting technologies, improving strength and resilience. For example, OPTIM® E-131, a maleic anhydride–modified polyolefin elastomer, acts as an effective impact modifier for polyamides, delivering superior performance even under sub-zero temperature conditions and OPTIM® P-425, a maleic anhydride-modified polypropylene, act as coupling agents for fillers, enhancing the mechanical properties and durability of automotive parts

2.Enabling Performance of Polymers in White Good

White goods frequently use polymer blends (e.g., PP/PA, ABS/PA, PP/PBT, PC/PBT) to balance cost, strength, and aesthetics. Grafted polymers improve compatibility, adhesion, and toughness in polymers used for white goods. By strengthening interfacial bonding in blends and reinforced materials, they enhance impact resistance, thermal durability, and surface finish. These grafted polymers also improve processability, enabling durable, high-quality appliance components with longer service life and improved manufacturing efficiency. 

3.Improving Wires, Cables, and Building Materials Performance with Grafted Polymers

In wire & cable and building material applications, grafted polymers act as effective compatibilizers and adhesion promoters. In cables, they improve bonding between polyolefins, fillers, flame retardants, and conductors, enabling higher filler loading, better mechanical strength, flexibility, and crack resistance without compromising electrical performance. In building materials, including polymer-based alternatives to aluminium composite panels, grafted polymers enhance adhesion with mineral fillers and fibers, delivering lightweight, corrosion-resistant, flame-retardant, and weather-durable composites with improved dimensional stability and long-term service life. OPTIM® E-119, a maleic anhydride-modified polyolefin, acts as coupling agents for fillers, enhancing the mechanical properties and durability of wire and cable.

4.Promoting adhesion in packaging with grafted Polymers

Grafted polymers play a critical role in enhancing the performance of laminated, coextruded, blown and multilayer films in packaging applications. Acting as compatibilizers and tie layers, they improve adhesion between non-polar polyolefins and polar materials such as polyamides and EVOH. This results in strong interlayer bonding, improved mechanical strength, puncture resistance, and reliable seal integrity. Additionally, grafted polymers enhance additive and filler dispersion, improve barrier properties, and ensure stable processing, enabling downgauging while maintaining durability, safety, and high-performance requirements in advanced packaging films.

Specialty polymers are pivotal in advancing manufacturing processes across various industries, particularly automotive, white goods, wires and packaging. Their ability to be customized for specific applications such as enhancing durability, mechanical enhancement—makes them invaluable. As industries continue to evolve, the role of specialty polymers in driving innovation and meeting complex manufacturing demands will only grow.​

Contact PLUSS for Advanced Specialty Polymer Solutions

To explore how PLUSS’s specialty polymers can enhance your manufacturing processes, visit pluss.co.in or contact our team for personalized solutions.

In the food industry, temperature regulation is crucial for maintaining product quality, shelf life, and safety. With increasing concerns about energy consumption and environmental impact, businesses are seeking innovative ways to meet these challenges.

Thermal energy storage (TES) offers a sustainable and efficient solution, particularly in applications such as cold storage, cold chain logistics, and food transportation. By using phase change materials (PCMs), TES systems can significantly reduce energy costs while ensuring precise temperature control. In this blog, we’ll explore how leveraging TES can transform cooling systems in the food industry, making them more energy-efficient and eco-friendly.

What is Thermal Energy Storage (TES)?

Thermal energy storage refers to the technology that stores thermal energy for later use. It works by using materials that can absorb and release heat during phase transitions, such as when a material changes from solid to liquid. Phase change materials (PCMs) are at the core of TES systems, allowing energy to be stored in the form of latent heat. These materials absorb heat when they melt and release it when they solidify, providing a sustainable way to regulate temperatures.

TES systems are particularly beneficial in industries that require consistent and reliable cooling, such as the food industry, where maintaining proper temperatures is essential for both quality and safety.

The Role of Thermal Energy Storage in the Food Industry

1.Cold Storage Solutions:

Cold storage facilities are fundamental to the food industry. Keeping food at the right temperature is critical to preserving its quality and preventing spoilage. However, refrigeration systems are energy-intensive and increased demand would lead to a substantial impact on energy demand, leading to high electricity costs, particularly during peak demand hours. By integrating thermal energy storage, these systems can be made more efficient.

PCM-based TES systems allow cold storage facilities to absorb thermal energy which acts as a buffer during the day when operations demand movement of materials. Much heat ingress and thermal loss happens during this stage and Phase Change Materials absorb this heat ensuring stability in indoor temperature and therefore not burdening the refrigeration unit to constantly ramp up and down.

Benefits of TES in cold storage:

• Reduces energy consumption during peak demand.
• Decreases operational costs by shifting energy demand.
• Improves temperature stability inside storage units.
  
• Reduces the need for backup systems like diesel generators

2. Cold Chain transportation:

In cold chain logistics, maintaining the temperature of products as they move through the supply chain is vital. From farms to consumers, the temperature-controlled transport of perishable items like fruits, vegetables, and meats relies on constant refrigeration.

Thermal energy storage plays a key role in reducing energy consumption in cold chain logistics. By incorporating TES systems into transportation fleets, food distributors, and warehouses, companies can store cooling energy in PCMs and use it when needed. This helps to lower the reliance on traditional refrigeration units and reduces carbon emissions, contributing to a greener supply chain. PCMs offer the option to ship part loads at different temperatures as PCMs can be chosen based on the requirement of the fruits & vegetable or Dairy products.

Challenges in the Food Industry and How TES Solves Them

Challenges		TES Solutions
High Energy Costs		PCM-based TES reduces energy costs by storing energy during off-peak hours.
Temperature Instability in Cold Storage		TES maintains consistent temperatures, preventing spoilage and food waste.
Reliance on Diesel for Backup Power		TES eliminates the need for diesel generators, reducing operational costs.
Carbon Emissions from Refrigeration		Sustainable TES solutions help reduce carbon footprints in food operations.

Advantages of Thermal Energy Storage for the Food Industry

1. Sustainability By reducing the reliance on traditional energy sources and backup generators, thermal energy storage reduces the carbon footprint of food industry operations. TES systems provide a sustainable way to store and use energy, helping businesses align with green initiatives and environmental regulations.
2. Cost-Effectiveness Thermal energy storage can help companies reduce their energy bills by shifting energy use to off-peak hours when electricity costs are lower. It also extends the life cycle of cooling equipment and reduces the need for costly upgrades.
3. Better Temperature Control TES systems ensure precise temperature control, which is essential for maintaining food quality and preventing spoilage. By maintaining a consistent temperature, businesses can reduce food waste and improve the overall shelf life of products.
4. Scalability TES systems can be customized for different scales, from small cold storage units to large industrial facilities. The flexibility of TES technology makes it an ideal solution for businesses of all sizes in the food industry.

Thermal energy storage is transforming the way the food industry handles cooling and temperature regulation. By incorporating phase change materials into cold storage, transportation, and food processing systems, companies can not only cut costs but also reduce their environmental impact. The flexibility and sustainability of TES make it an ideal solution for businesses aiming to improve energy efficiency and achieve long-term sustainability goals.

 

Contact Pluss for Sustainable Thermal Energy Storage Solutions

For businesses looking to implement thermal energy storage in their operations, Pluss offers cutting-edge solutions using phase change materials. Contact Pluss to learn how our TES technology can help you reduce energy costs, improve food safety, and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Visit pluss.co.in for more details or get in touch with our team to discuss your requirements.

What is Climate Technologies?

As per United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Climate Technologies are any technologies that we use to address climate change which is explicitly focussed on reducing GHG emissions. 

Recognition and understanding are growing of government, business and public responsibilities for responding to climate change. There is also a growing awareness of the need to have clear guidance across the value chain in both adapting to and mitigating climate change and creating science-based and transparent frameworks to accelerate the transition to sustainable logistics services. 

There is a constant pursuit for the appropriate “Climate Technologies” tailored to the Business

Broadly climate technologies can be classified into 10 families critical to meeting the net-zero challenge.

 Image reference: https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/operations/our-insights/making-supply-chain-decarbonization-happen

Climate Technologies for Cold-chain Logistics

Out of the above 10 families of climate technologies we have narrowed down on 2 families with case in example of technologies or products relevant to the cold-chain sector. 

This list would provide as a quick guide on the opportunities of interventions for stakeholders in the cold-chain industry such as manufacturers of chilled and frozen food products, e-retailers, HoReCa and logistics provider helping them reduce carbon footprint in their value chain.

1.Batteries and energy storage 

Renewable energy for cooling application:

We have known solar as the most commonly and largely adopted renewable source of energy. The challenge of using renewables to its full potential is its intermittent nature of availability. Incase of value chain at the first mile where the challenge is accessibility to constant supply of power; solar or wind power can be harnessed to provide energy. Since the final energy requirement in this case is in the form of cooling, thermal energy storage strategy should be applied to integrate with renewable power instead of electric batteries. For instance, a solar based coldroom of size 10ft x 10ft would require a lead acid battery which has a service life of 3 years. In addition, there is a substantial loss in multiple conversions of the energy. There are atleast three conversions – electrical energy to chemical energy, chemical energy to electrical energy and electrical energy to cooling energy.

To enable a 100% off-grid solar micro-coldroom, a 4kwP solar PV panel coupled with refrigeration unit which provides energy for the day time cooling as well as thermal energy storage for night time which totals upto 14kWh(*Thermal units). Now if this unit was to draw power from electrical battery storage the required installed capacity would be 17 kwh(Electrical units).

 

	Thermal Energy Storage	Battery storage
Cost of storage, per kwh	INR 8,000	INR 5,000
End of Life, yrs	15 years	3 years
Conversion efficiency	95%	80%

*1.2kwh of electrical energy is needed to produce 1kwh of thermal energy

The above table offers key parameter comparison that points towards a high carbon footprint for an electrical battery(lead acid type) considering the replacement every 3 years and conversion efficiency alone. The end of life disposal and its environment hazard is even great for electric batteries while in case of thermal energy storage for cold applications , the core  materials used are non-toxic/ environmentally safe salt hydrates with water as a major constituent.

Image reference: Pluss Advanced Technologies: Off-grid Micro-Coldroom using thermal energy storage.

Back-up and thermal efficiency for cooling application

The most common backup system used to tackle power outages is diesel generators which at the current rate costs Rs. 38 per unit of electricity. In terms of the carbon emissions, a litre of diesel contributes to 2.62 Kgs of carbon emissions. Cleaner and more efficient storage technologies such as Li-ion batteries and thermal energy storage strategies could be applied to operate large coldwarehouses. Li-ion batteries have a very high electrical energy density, however the high capital costs could prove to be a limitation for these to be implemented for applications where energy in the final consumption stage is in the form of electricity. 

Again for refrigeration/HVAC systems,  thermal energy storage systems as a medium to store and enable demand flexibility proves to be a cleaner and  carbon-neutral solution with a decent pay back of less than 2 years on CAPEX. 

The incorporation of Phase Change Materials(PCM) as a thermal energy storage strategy improves the thermal performance of the refrigeration unit as well enabling reduction in the run time of the compressor 

Image reference: Pluss Advanced Technologies –  Commercial chest freezers with thermal Energy Storage(TES) 

Electrification of reefer trucks

The cost of a reefer truck is on an average about 60% higher than a normal truck varying slightly depending on different capacities. Reefer trucks form a crucial part of cold chain for both short and long duration transport.

Hybrid Reefer trucks enable a way to eliminate the use of diesel to run the cooling unit. For first mile intra-city distribution, these trucks provide upto 16 hours of temperature-controlled delivery with only 8 hours of electric charging which would offset about 30-35 Litrs of diesel.* It is important to underline that the refrigeration unit is used to maintain the temperature range of product load and not cool it down. 

This is a case in example of using a combination of electrical battery storage and thermal energy storage. 50% of the fuel used in reefer vehicle is consumed towards operating the cooling unit, therefore thermal energy storage makes more sense than deploying electric batteries.

Image reference: Pluss Advanced Technologies –  Partially electric Refrigerated truck with thermal Energy Storage(TES) 

2.Circular economy

A circular economy is an economic system aimed at eliminating waste and the continual use of resources. Circular systems enable re-use, sharing, repair, refurbishment, re-manufacturing, and recycling. This closed-loop systems minimizes resource inputs and reduce waste, pollution, and carbon emissions. In cold-chain logistics, for small volume distribution and for long distances small capacity shipper boxes are used which are often heavily packaged with thermal insulation packaging, Phase Change Materials(PCMs) or ice packs constitute to 50% of the weight and volume than the product itself. In most cases the common reason for resistance towards designing one’s business around circular economy is the cost of reverse logistics not being viable. However, strategically we are bound to lose in the long term as the cost of these single use systems are bound to inflate due to indirect costs such as  waste generation, emissions, depleting resources and rising energy costs are indirect effect of single use economy.

 Image source: https://www.triumvirate.com/blog/do-you-know-about-the-circular-economy

Digital transformation integrated with resilient and reusable materials

Use of more durable materials and reusable materials, IOT integration to track and monitor and business model innovations such as  “pay per use” could be a win-win situation for both producers and customers to make this mechanism work.

Technologies such as Phase Change Materials(PCMs) in cold-chain logistics are designed for a life of over 3,000 cycles. 

It is an abundant stress on landfill and reproduction of such components even if the capital cost of the product is inexpensive for customers. 

A case in example of the economic and environmental benefit is for long duration logistics for pharmaceuticals. Typically a shipper box carrying pharmaceuticals uses EPS(Expanded polystyrene)  commonly known as thermocol  is slow to degrade and if proper considerations towards disposal is not given, it can leach chemicals that contaminate water sources. 

Further the manufacturing of EPS releases significant amount of HFC(HydroFluorocarbons) which are also know as “Super greenhouse gases”. HFC’s has far greater impact towards global warming than CO2, as illustrated in the image below.

Using reusable alternatives can enable one to do more with less. Essentially by reusing a company can typically use 50% of the packaging material to ship the same amount of products. The capital cost of such reusable shippers would be 5X and yet the total cost reduction impacted by lower freight cost, better payload to total volume ratio would 25%. This reduction in cost is taking into consideration the added cost of reverse logistics to get the empty shipper box back. The below table offers a glimpse of the comparative anlaysis between “one time use” shipper vs “multiple” use shipper strategy.

   

Total Number of vaccines moved  (units per month)	75,000
	Current Situation With EPS Box	Proposed Rental Program (with sustainable packaging materials) Solution
Vaccines per box, units	50	100
Times the box can be reused in a month, no.	0	4
Boxes required per month, nos.	1,500	187.5
Cost per box	860
Rental per month per box		6000
Total Box Cost	12,90,000	11,25,000
Weight per box (kg)	30	13
Forward freight (@ Rs. 15 per kg)	6,75,000	1,46,250
Reverse Freight		1,46,250
Total Freight	6,75,000	2,92,500
Total Cost	19,65,000	14,17,500

Cost benefit template: Domestic inter-city shipment spanning from 48 to 72 hours

Moving away from Analysis Paralysis and Cost-Centricity approach

Companies in Cold-chain logistic services or ones in the business of temperature sensitive products have a very huge opportunity to make a difference to fight against climate change. In comparison to rest of the world, the Indian cold-chain industry is still in its growing phase which in itself offers India an opportunity to setup the infrastructure with newer, efficient and far more environmental resilient systems. Therefore, there is a need to implement climate technologies in small scale pilots with careful baseline data preparation to measure and evaluate the benefits.  At the rate of acceleration in the global climate change, we do not have the luxury to analyse on theory or wait to follow the western world. On the ground deployment of innovations must be a priority with the intention to fail fast and move on to different solutions and iterate.  

Sustainability and decarbonisation have to become everybody’s business and entrenched in the organizations culture. Strategic plan with the goals towards operating cost reduction, fossil fuel elimination and elimination of GHG emission to be set for the organisation by a dedicated internal team responsible for sustainable initiatives. It is imperative to give ourselves a wake-up call that being sustainable is not a cost centre but a non-negotiable element of the growth strategy for the organization. 

Author: Vishnu Sasidharan, VP Climate Technologies

References:

1. https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/paris-agreement
2. https://ir.kraftheinzcompany.com/news-releases/news-release-details/kraft-heinz-cements-climate-ambition-commits-carbon-neutrality
3. https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/operations/our-insights/making-supply-chain-decarbonization-happen
4. https://unfccc.int/topics/climate-technology/the-big-picture/what-is-technology-development-and-transfer 
5. https://epe.global/2019/10/18/measuring-pollution-from-the-eps-manufacturing-process/

Introduction

Safety and durability are paramount when you choose your ideal vehicle. Considering fuel-fuel free and zero emissions transportation  as a primary factor, have you ever wondered how Electric Vehicles outperform the Internal combustion Engine (ICE) incumbent maintaining Electric Vehicles(EV) efficiency and reliability?

Choosing an electric vehicle (EV) often comes with a myriad of questions. Imagine a technology that keeps your EV battery balanced in dynamic weather conditions, ensuring peak performance through innovative Thermal Management Techniques. Indeed, we will choose that vehicle with packed advantages and features like durability, range, IOT, and so many others.

This blog deeply explores the passive thermal management ability of Phase Change Technology (PCM) and its groundbreaking innovation by Pluss® Li-ion thermal management techniques for electric vehicles.

The Challenge of Temperature Control in Electric Vehicle Batteries

Does the climate bother your Electric Vehicle because it struggles to offer the claimed range and longer than expected charging time? EV batteries are like athletes—they perform best in their “goldilocks zone,” not too hot, not too cold. Essentially for li-ion cell temperatures below -5 deg C and above +45 deg C are detrimental to the life cycle and performance. Therefore, extreme weather can tip the scales, leading to faster degradation, reduced range, or even safety concerns.

A crucial solution for overcoming all the above problems is Thermal Management Techniques, which help to balance:

• Temperature fluctuations
• Unequal impedance distribution
• Dynamic heat transfer efficiency
• Prolongation of thermal runaway event

Pluss® offers a passive cooling solution using Phase Change Materials (PCM) Technology, ensuring safety, durability, and longevity for EVs. This integrated technology is the real game changer in the realm of Electric Vehicles.

Phase Change Materials (PCM) Technology: A Revolutionary Approach

Thermal management is one of the critical factors in safeguarding optimal temperature regulation and system efficiency. It includes:

• Active Cooling
• Passive Cooling
• Passive Cooling using Phase Change Materials (PCM)

Passive Cooling using PCM is considered the best option for maintaining effective Thermal Management Techniques since it does not demand energy to generate cooling, which inturn leaves the manufacturers to utilize battery capacity to improve range. Secondly, active cooling is not a feasible option in 2 & 3 wheelers as it would add significant burden on the weight and cost of the 2 wheelers. PCMs absorb and release heat as it transits between a solid and liquid state to maintain a stable temperature.

There are many advantages added to the PCM’s cap, which makes it unique to:

• Maintain a uniform temperature across the battery module
• Mitigate propagation of heat from cell-to-cell in the event of a fire.
• Improve the usable capacity of the li-ion cell by 25%
• 50% increase in life of the battery pack

Integrating PCMs into Electric Vehicle Battery Packs

There are many variants of PCM and selection of the most optimum PCM depends on three major factors – Long term compatibility with interfacing components, Thermal characteristics, ease of serviceability. 

These tests validate the material’s ability to maintain battery performance under extreme conditions, offering insights into its durability and safety features. The destructive test validates the material’s ability to prolong or mitigate thermal runaway event (Uncontrolled kinetic chain reaction between cells, which is caused due to heat). 

The tests and feedback demonstrates the following:

• The battery capacity has been increased to 22%-24%.
• With the integration of PCM, the thermal regulation time increased from 27 minutes to 50 minutes at peak current.
• A thermal runaway event can be prolonged by 4X. 
• Extremely easy to remove incase of a demand for servicing.

Fig: Illustrating the effect of thermal runaway

Benefits of PCM Technology for Electric Vehicle Batteries

PCM integration in EV batteries holds numerous benefits, including innovative solutions that will lead to revolutionary changes with cutting-edge Thermal Management Techniques in the world of Electric Vehicles.

Below are some of the innovative benefits of PCM integration in Electric Vehicles:

• 20% of the battery energy saved per cycle
• Battery longevity – 5 to 7 years
• Eco-friendly Environment
• Cost-efficient and low operation costs

The Future of PCM Technology in EV Thermal Management

The PCM technology in Electric Vehicle Thermal Management is quite challenging; much like a balanced diet for the human body, the battery requires thermal stability to optimally feed the energy and extraction of this energy. While PCM today is gaining fast traction in the systems without active cooling, at Pluss’ we are working towards optimizing efficiency of active cooling systems. This would mean more power with the same battery capacity or opportunity to reduce the battery capacity, making a case for PCMs to boost performance.

At-Home blood sample Collection: Importance of Temperature integrity

In May 2022, Arshita Mahesh Aggarwal, the daughter of a high-ranking IPS officer, experienced a distressing situation during a home blood test in Chennai. After paying Rs.950 for the service, the phlebotomist’s* negligence left her with a painful bruise and a questionable report. The lab indicated her T4 (thyroxine) level was 5.6 nmol/L, starkly outside the reference range of 52 to 127 nmol/L. This alarming result led to considerable stress and a whirlwind of medical consultations, only for a retest at another lab to reveal normal levels. Seeking justice, Arshita approached the Chennai District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission for compensation.

*Phlebotomy – the drawing of blood – has been practised for centuries and is still one of the most common invasive procedures in health care. Each step in the process of phlebotomy affects the quality of the specimen and is thus important for preventing laboratory error, patient injury and even death. For example, the touch of a finger to verify the location of a vein before insertion of the needle increases the chance that a specimen will be contaminated.

 

The Root of the Problem: Pre-Analytic Errors

The lab dismissed the error as typographical, but the real issue might lie in the pre-analytic phase of sample collection. This phase, encompassing the time from sample collection to lab processing, is critical and particularly challenging in home sample collection. Temperature control plays a pivotal role, as samples must be maintained between 2-8°C to remain viable.

Designed by Freepik

In India’s scorching climate, this requirement is difficult to meet, especially when samples are transported over long distances.

 

Why Temperature Control Matters

Blood samples exposed to extreme temperatures can undergo biochemical changes that compromise their integrity.

Blood is a complex mixture of cells, proteins, enzymes, and molecules. Temperature fluctuations can cause proteins to denature, enzymes to deactivate, and cells to degrade. These changes lead to inaccurate test results and potential misdiagnoses, jeopardizing patient care.

According to the University of California, Los Angeles, blood components should be stored as follows:

Red blood cells can be stored for up to 42 days at 1°C to 6°C, depending on additive.
Platelets can be stored at 20°C to 24°C for up to 5 days with constant agitation.
Plasma that is frozen at temperatures of -18°C or below within 8 hours of collection, platelets can be stored for up to 1 year.

Designed by Freepik

 

Innovation in thermal packaging solutions:

To combat these challenges, thermal energy storage materials like Phase Change materials (PCM) are yet not fully exploited to its potential. The combination of PCM, insulation and its selection offers the thermal packaging industry to innovate and engineer thermal packaging solutions that solve several problems around precise and safe transport of diagnostic samples.

These materials offer an array of temperature options to create a robust, foolproof and custom solution depending on the required temperature, duration and criticality. PCMs are at the forefront of this innovation. PCMs absorb or release energy as they change phase, providing precise temperature control. Unlike traditional ice, PCMs offer long-lasting thermal stability.

Courtesy: RGEES LLC/Paradigm – Innovative sample carrier which doubles up as the PCM coolant carrier offering a robust protection

When designed with a phase transition temperature matching the ideal storage range, PCMs ensure samples remain within the 2-8°C window, even in extreme conditions.

 

Need for a different approach and temperature for different samples

Pre-validated temperature-controlled packaging using PCMs can maintain the critical 2-8°C range. This technology not only prevents temperatures from rising above 8°C but also keeps them from dropping below 2°C, even during India’s hot summers.

For certain samples such as for blood platelets which require controlled room temperature which is defined as +15 to +25°C. Selection of specific PCM designed to maintain this range is used instead of using gel packs or ice packs which are not recommended.

Whole blood intended for platelet separation must be maintained at +20 to +24°C prior to processing, as lower temperatures can impair platelet function and their separation efficiency. Platelets should be prepared within 8 hours of blood collection and stored at 20-24°C with continuous agitation to prevent aggregation, which could compromise their viability. Depending on the type of blood bag used, platelets have a shelf life of 3-5 days. Due to the room temperature storage, there is a risk of bacterial contamination; hence, the storage area should consistently remain below 24°C. During transport, platelets should be kept in a blood transport box that maintains a temperature range of 20-24°C. Platelets must not be refrigerated and should be transfused as soon as possible.

 

What it enables: Precise and robust Temperature control

Implementing PCM-based temperature-controlled packaging in sample transportation could transform healthcare diagnostics. Reliable temperature control ensures accurate test results, reducing stress for patients and their families.

PCM based range of products like the Prongo® bag and Celsure® from Pluss demonstrates the efficacy of PCM-based solutions in real-world condition;

 

More examples of different form factors and design to enable operational ease and functional enhancements shown in the images below;

Conclusion

Arshita’s story highlights the critical importance of proper sample transportation in healthcare diagnostics. Embracing innovative solutions like thermal energy storage with PCMs can mitigate temperature-related risks and ensure the reliability of test results. It’s time to execute on and embrace technologies in materials, thermal engineering and digital integration which are today available towards development of future of blood sample collection & transportation in healthcare.

Author: Deepika Singhal & Vishnu Sasidharan

Contributor: Raman Chauhan