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Compostables have “negligible effect” on plastic waste stream
Biodegradable plastics producers have hit back at claims that their products affect the quality of recycled polyethylene (PE). Industry association
European Bioplastics cites a number of studies that say a level of 10% compostable plastic in the waste stream has a “negligible” effect on the physical properties of the resultant recycled PE. European Plastics Converters (EuPC) had earlier published a study claiming that just 2% of compostable plastics is enough to affect the mechani- cal and visual properties. “Studies and field trials
have demonstrated that a small fraction of compostable plastics do not negatively impact the quality of the recycling stream,” said François de Bie, chairman of
European Bioplastics. He added that compostable
materials in the PE stream were easier to handle than others, such as polystyrene, or polypropylene. The studies cited by
European Bioplastics were carried out at the Institute for Bioplastics and Biocomposites at the University of Hanover, the Italian National Packaging Consortium (Conai) and bioplastics company Biotec.
The Hanover research
examined the influence of different compostable plastics on LDPE, with a contamination level up to 10%. The research- ers found no reduction in viscosity, elasticity or tensile strength, in comparison with pure LDPE. There was no noticeable optical change, and a slight decrease in melt flow rate at a level of 10%. The compostable plastics used in the study included a
PLA/PBAT blend (BASF’s Ecovio); pure PBAT; and a starch blend. The Biotec study concluded that its Bioplast material (a starch/PBAT blend) had a similar effect to contamination by PS or PP. At the same time, it found that a 2% contamina- tion by PET led to material that was impossible to process by blown film extrusion. The Conai study found that 10% inclusion of Novamont’s Mater-Bi starch-based resin had no effect on recycled PE. The earlier study, which claimed that 2% of composta- ble plastics was enough to affect PE performance, was commissioned by EuPC and carried out by the Transfer Centre for Polymer Technology (TCKT) in Austria. ❙
www.european-bioplastics.org ❙
www.eupc.org
Simona makes acquisition in US
Simona has extended its reach in North America by acquiring a leading US sheet producer. Laminations Inc, which
makes high-density polyethyl- ene (HDPE) and fluoropolymer sheet products and lining laminates, is based in Archbald, Pennsylvania. Michael Schmitz, president of Simona America, said the acquisition gives the company a broader range of products and production methods, as well as greater production capacity to supply the growing North American market.
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Laminations’ capabilities in HDPE include a number of colour technologies and a broad product range developed for applications in outdoor recreational structures, signage, furniture and the marine industry. Its products, marketed under the Lamcorr brand, include flame-inhibiting PP, PVDF, PFA, E-CTFE and a proprietary grade of PVC. They are used widely in applications for semiconductor and chemical processing equip- ment.
“This acquisition is part of FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION | January/February 2014
our global strategy to pen- etrate growth industries and establish significant positions for our plastics in all interna- tional regions,” said Wolfgang Moyses, Simona’s CEO. Michael Lynch, formerly
president and CEO of Lamina- tions, becomes CEO of Simona America. “The combination of
products, market expertise and technologies strengthens our position in the semicon- ductor and chemical process- ing industries,” he said. ❙
www.simona.de
Moyses: “This acquisition is a significant part of Simona’s global strategy”
www.filmandsheet.com
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