Innovation | bioplastics
Bioplastics producers continue to develop the performance and processibility of their products. Peter
Mapleston explores the latest innovations in
bioplastics for injection moulding applications
greener plastics
Across the property spectrum, plastics derived from renewable resources, biodegradable and not, are making inroads into more markets, often in applications where performance counts just as much as carbon footprint. As with any new technology, there are hiccups along the way, but overall the polymers are getting more plentiful, and better in terms of performance, while ways to further improve their capabilities using additives and blending technologies are becoming more established. Italy-based Bio-On is an intellectual property
company with expertise in production of polyhydroxyal- kanoates (PHAs) from agricultural processing waste, typically from beet or cane sugar production. The company claims to be able to deliver new PHA grades that can replace materials such as PP, PE, PC and many other injection moulded plastics. A key benefi t of its products, which it markets under the Minerv brand, is said to be a minimal need for modifi cation of processing equipment. “The best and most interesting thing is that we use the same moulds without changing anything [on the machine],” says com- pany owner Marco Astorri. “Our new PHAs are so high-performing that they do not require invasive modifi cations other than to the process parameters.” PHAs are linear polyesters created by bacterial fermentation of sugar. Astorri points out that the family
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of plastics “can bring together more than 100 differing monomers to produce materials whose properties vary very greatly.” He says this means its technology can produce thermoplastic or elastomeric materials with melting points ranging from 40°C to more than 180°C. Astorri also claims that Bio-On is currently the only
company making PHAs from agricultural waste without the use of organic solvents and with a natural process and ingredient list, including colorants. He also says Minerv-PHA is the fi rst bioplastic obtained from sugar co-products that will dissolve in just a few days in bacteriologically impure water (such as river water, for example). “PHAs are also the only plastics biodegrad- able in the ocean,” he says. Bio-On has its own demonstration PHA production plant at Bologna but has developed a range of modular production equipment, which its engineering partner Techint Engineering & Construction can install anywhere in the world. The current range can support capacities from 5,000 to 10,000 tonnes/year.
Social commitment Italian lighting manufacturer Floss has used a Bio-On PHA grade to produce a limited edition of its Philip Stark-designed Sissi table lamp, which is
March 2015 | INJECTION WORLD 43 Main image:
Perstorp’s Capa thermoplastics deliver
enhanced impact
performance Below: Bio-
On’s PHAs are produced from agricultural waste
Serving up
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