bioplastics | Innovation Right: Schul- man’s Apigo Bio
renewable TPOs are targeted at durable goods such as
toothbrushes
ages. Designed by ICA, this capsule is made in API’s proprietary Apinat Bio compostable polymer. It is compression moulded on a Sacmi CCM 24-cavity high speed machine (a type normally used to make bottle closures) at an output rate of up to 600 capsules/ minute. API says the project is in the early stage of commercial produc- tion for the European market. Also last year, German
bioplastics specialist Biotec launched its Bioplast 900 series of heat resistant materials that are aimed squarely (if not exclusively) at this market. Bioplast 900, which is 69% bio-based and fully biodegradable (according to EN 13432), is suitable for various hot-fill applica- tions as well as cutlery and medical devices, the company says. Novamont, meanwhile, was expected to hold a joint press conference with major coffee producer
Lavazza earlier this month to announce what it described as “a new paradigm in coffee.” The company would not disclose more details to Injection World ahead of the event, but it is expected the two companies will announce a cooperation in the use of at least one of Nova- mont’s bioplastics (which it markets under the Mater-Bi and Origo-Bi names) in Lavazza-branded
Above:
Ziehl-Abegg’s ‘bionic’ fan is moulded in a 70% bio-based PA from Akro-Plastic
coffee capsules. The performance of various bioplastics, notably PLA, PHA and also starch-based types, can be en- hanced with polycaprolactones (PCL) and Perstorp, a world leader in PCL technology with its Capa brand, is increasing its activities in this area. It has a new pilot plant at Warrington in the UK (mainly used to develop polycaprolactones for polyurethanes), and has recently invested to increase its technical resources and establish a new laboratory at Perstorp in Sweden. Linda Zellner, Perstorp’s bioplastics project manager,
Right: Green Dot’s Terratek Flex composta-
ble elastomer is used to produce these scented play ice-cream scoops
says the company intends to take a leading position in the development of new bioplastic products. “Capa thermoplastics add significant value to biopolymer performance and end-of-life solutions,” she says. Zellner says Capa thermoplastics improve functional properties of bioplastics, especially toughness and flexibility. The polycaprolactones also have very good compostability. Perstorp currently offers around seven grades of Capa thermo- plastics with different molecular weights and flow indices. Properties are highly dependent on molecular weight. Most applications call for grades with molecular weight of around 6,500.
46 INJECTION WORLD | March 2015
www.injectionworld.com Capa thermoplastics
are normally used in blends at addition rates of between 10 and 30%, depending on
requirements in terms of perfor-
mance and also cost. Pricing is in line with competing materials such as
PBAT, says Zellner. Engineering bioplastics
While most bioplastics development has been focused on the packaging sector, bio-based plastics have an equally long – if not longer – track record in the
technical sector. Arkema’s castor oil-based high performance Rilsan PA11 polymer has been on the market for around 60 years, for example. And partially or fully bio-based polyamides continue to make progress. Akro-Plastic partnered with processor Ziehl-Abegg
to develop a polyamide 6,10-based Akromid S 30% glass reinforced compound for production of the company’s “bionic bio-fan”. Partly derived from castor oil, Akromid S has a bio-based carbon content of up to 70%. Like other engineering-grade bioplastics, it is not biode- gradable. “In engineering plastics applications, this property is completely undesirable,” the company says. Akro-Plastic says that, compared with standard poly-
amides, PA 6,10 has advantages in terms of reduced water absorption, improved chemical resistance and lower density. As a result of the density reduction the blades weigh 6% less, while the reduced moisture absorption yields better mechanical performance and dimensional stability. In the new fan, Ziehl-Abegg makes use of bionics
(the study of natural systems) as well as bioplastics and the engineering team based the blade geometry on an owl-wing pattern, which is said to result in a reduction in fan noise. The fan is expected to find application in industrial refrigerators, heaters and heat pumps, and also for cooling various pieces of electrical and
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