materials feature | Bioplastics
Novamont has launched its first
agricultural mulch film
postable materials for household films. Bio-Flex F1137 and F1138 are both certified compostable (according to EN 13432) and meet the high demands placed on household films. Bio-waste bags made from F1137 allows organic
waste in the home to be collected in a hygienic way. The high moisture resistance helps to keep the water from kitchen waste inside the bag, keeping the waste bin clean and dry.
Carrier bags made from F1138 are already used in
Italy. They can be reused as carrier bags multiple times, then serve as waste bags for the collection of organic waste. Recently, the company started operating an extra
compounding line – supplied by KraussMaffei Berstorff – for the production of biopolymers. FKuR now has three lines from KM Berstorff. The latest line is equipped with a ZE 75 R UTXi and designed for output rates of up to 1,000 kg/h. “The main benefits of these lines are minimum
downtime combined with unparalleled flexibility, which enables us to process a wide range of biopolymers with- out any retooling“, said Carmen Michels, FKuR’s CEO. Mvera B5011 from Metabolix is a new film grade
Aimplas and its Ecobionet partners have developed biodegradable nets for food use
resin that is designed to meet international industrial standards for compostability, while enabling customers to produce films for compostable bags and packaging applications with high transparency. It is certified for compostability by Vincotte to meet the EN13432 standard and by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) to meet ASTM D6400. The resin processes well on existing blown film equipment and has a good balance of puncture toughness, tear propagation resistance, seal strength, printability and durability, says the company “It pairs robust bag durability with superior clarity,
touch and feel,” said Bob Engle, vice president of biopolymers at Metabolix.
Metabolix earlier launched Mvera B5010, which
balances physical properties with the toughness and load-bearing capability needed for translucent shopping and food waste bags.
High heat PLA Innovia Films and Corbion Purac are teaming up to develop polylactic acid (PLA) film that is transparent and resistant to higher temperatures. Many biopolymers, including PLA, have limited heat resistance – which can limit their application. Corbion and Innovia say that the new films have lower shrinkage at high temperatures than existing PLA films, and offer properties much closer to traditional PET. Potential opportunities for the new film include food and non-food packaging and many industrial applica- tions. Juice and soup pouches made from the film could withstand the temperatures required for sterilisation, for example. Non-food applications might include release liners for pressure sensitive products, window films, and protective films for smartphone screens. Many of these applications require thermal stability during processing or use. Steve Langstaff, product development manager at Innovia, said: “Dimensional stability, particularly at high temperatures, is a real weakness in biofilms. This development will fill a performance gap in the market.” Corbion Purac’s lactide monomers are sourced from GMO-free, renewable feedstocks such as sugarcane, and form the basis for PLA. The resulting homopoly- mers can withstand boiling water, and now boast performance characteristics to rival their oil-based counterparts, says the company. Jeroen Jonker, senior vice president for bioplastics
24 FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION | January/February 2014
www.filmandsheet.com
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