materials feature | Bioplastics
NatureWorks is expanding the property and applications
envelope for its Ingeo PLA bioplastic
poor after 96 hours. For olive oil and butter, Ingeo achieved an excellent rating at all-time intervals while ABS was rated poor at both 24 and 96 hours. For isopropanol, Ingeo was rated good to very good. For dish soap, Ingeo was rated very good to excellent. Ingeo also passed a further series of independent
chemical resistance tests performed by processing group Nypro, using a method designed to test how plastics used in consumer electronics stand up to common items such as hand cream, sun-block, insect repellent, nail polish remover (acetone), and hand sanitizer (isopropyl alcohol). It passed each test, while ABS failed with insect repellent and nail polish. Taiwan-based compounder Polyalloy, which is an
affiliate of co-rotating twin-screw extruder manufac- turer Sino-Alloy Machinery, is also working on improv- ing the properties of PLA, using material from Corbion Purac. It reports that while traditional compounding can solve the problem of heat resistance in PLA, the moulding cycle time can still be too long, and the resin’s susceptibility to hydrolysis is also a significant limitation for its application. “Since 2013, with the high stereochemical purity PLA
Corbion plans to scale up PLA production
Corbion announced in October 2014 that it intends to invest €60 million in a 75,000 tonnes/year PLA production plant in Thailand. In May 2015, the company revealed that it had signed letters of intent for one third of this production volume, meeting the target it had set for the investment to commence. Tjerk de Ruiter, CEO of Corbion, said: “There is an attractive demand
outlook for PLA, albeit at a lower growth pace than previously assumed. Given our strong position in lactic acid, our unique high heat technology and the market need for a second PLA producer, we plan to forward integrate in the bioplastics value chain, from being a lactide provider to a PLA producer.” Corbion has already begun to test, validate and sell pre-marketing volumes of PLA. “The pre-engineering is in full progress and is expected to run till end of the year,” said Tjerk de Ruiter. According to Corbion, worldwide PLA
capacity is almost sold out and with the PLA market expected to grow to 600,000 tonnes/ year by 2025, the market is seeking additional PLA suppliers. The company will continue selling lactides to both existing and new PLA polymerization customers. ❙
www.corbion.com
32 COMPOUNDING WORLD | June 2015
from Corbion Purac, we successfully developed VeryGreen, a new generation of PLA compounds based on non-GMO cassava or sugar cane,” says assistant general manager Yiko Chen. “These compounds improve the crystallization rate of PLA, which in addition to excellent heat-resistance performance also greatly shortens the processing cycle time. The performance of anti-hydrolysis is also much higher than traditional PLA compounds, which all contribute towards unlocking more applications for PLA. PLA can now be used in a wide variety of durable products including automobile parts, consumer electronics, toys, stationery and home appliances”. VeryGreen is available in a number of specifications.
VG7262 is an impact-modified grade with a notched Izod impact strength of 22
kg.cm/cm at 23˚C, similar to ABS. VG7274 is a fibre-reinforced grade that withstands temperatures up to 160˚C and also has a high modulus. “With its excellent anti-hydrolysis properties it can replace melamine in tableware applications,” Chen claims. VG7233U is a thermoforming grade designed for compostable food packing – it is resistant to 100˚C, while fast crystallization facilitates high-speed produc- tion. VG7213 is a general-purpose injection grade resistant to 120°C, designed for microwavable and dishwashable tableware as well as toys and stationery. The newest application is in 3D filament extrusion. Chen says further grades for lamina- tion and foaming are coming soon. ABS is also in the sights of the three-year EU-sponsored Naturtruck research project, which began last year. Researchers are investi- gating how to make completely bio-based automotive parts. Various technological centres and manufacturing companies are collaborating to develop thermoplastic composites using PLA and natural fibres as an alternative to ABS for parts for truck cabin interiors. The main objective is to develop injection moulded parts with improved thermal properties and flame
www.compoundingworld.com
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