Bioplastics | materials
Bioplastics aim to get durable
Interest in bioplastics continues to grow. An increasing variety of bioplastics are now fi nding market approval and the materials are competing with or being used in conjunction with established plastic compounds. Applications for bioplastic compounds are also becoming much more diversifi ed, with bio-based materials no longer restricted to applications in packaging but making inroads into roles requiring durability and high levels of technical performance. NatureWorks has been developing its Ingeo bio-based PLA compounds for injection moulding in durable applications and the company says it is increasingly fi nding a functional fi t within the broader plastics materials mix based on the price/performance balance that the compounds can offer. “The market sees Ingeo as a strong styrenics replacement,” says Frank Diodato, NatureWorks Global Segment Lead, Durables. “For fl ame retardant applications, programmes such
as the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) run by the Green Electronics Council in the USA are encouraging offi ce equipment suppliers and electronics manufacturers to innovate with bio-based formulations. We see market interest in two approaches - alloying Ingeo with polycarbonate or ABS, and compounded semi-crystalline Ingeo formulations. However, with the functional properties they now offer at a higher bio-content, we believe the market will move away from the alloys towards these semi-crystalline Ingeo compounds,” he says. “For non-fl ame retardant applications, NatureWorks
www.compoundingworld.com
Bioplastic compound development is focused on satisfying ever more
demanding performance requirements with the goal of replacing conventional polymers in durable applications, writes Mark Holmes
has developed new Ingeo formulations, based on our recently commercialised polymer manufacturing technology, which provide a good balance of properties. Inherent issues with PLA such as brittleness and thermal stability are overcome with these compounds. With the exception of retaining high rigidity, the end result in terms of performance looks quite different than with just PLA, and with high bio-content because the addition of a petroleum-based polymer is no longer needed, it is very attractive.” Traditionally, PLA has been alloyed or compounded with a petroleum-based polymer to achieve the properties required for more demanding applications, but the trade-off is a lower bio-based content. Nature- Works says its new Ingeo formulations derive their functionality from the crystallisation polymer chemistry employed. The base biopolymer in the Ingeo formula- tion is made by the fermentation of dextrose from corn starch to lactic acid, then transforming that building
Main image: Castor oil
beans are one of a number of raw material
sources for the latest genera- tion of durable bioplastics
June 2016 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 41
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