reinforcements | Natural fibres
Right: SEM images of PP/ hemp shive
composite with a maleic anhydride grafted PP
coupling agent Source: IWNiRZ
expand the use of reSound in building and construction, sports and leisure, and furniture manufacturing. The coloured compounds were developed as part of
the Divergent Desires collection for PolyOne’s InVisiO colour and design service. PolyOne says they “explore the convergence of technology and nature,” helping manufacturers achieve their often-conflicting desire for lighter weight parts that still deliver good performance. Formulations are designed to limit the impact of the pigments on mechanical properties. PolyOne says that, compared to other natural fibre
reinforced solutions, reSound NF materials offer mechanical property improvements of more than 20% for tensile and flexural properties, 10°C to 20°C higher heat deflection temperature, and an increase of more than 50% in impact strength. According to the company, independent testing has shown that reSound NF formulations offer equivalent performance to short glass fibre reinforced alternative, at a 5-10% lower density. Compounds are compatible with physical and chemical foaming processes. Recycling tests show very stable performance
Right: Poly-
One’s reSound NF natural fibre com- pounds can now be
supplied in black and coloured versions
compared with short glass fibre compounds, PolyOne says. “It seems the limitation in the on-line re-introduc- tion of reground PP-SGF into the manufacturing process does not apply to reSound NF material, which offers a potential ‘no scrap’ process for manufacturers,” according to Jason Eckel, Global Marketing Director, Specialty Engineered Materials at the company. Polymer compounder, So.F.Ter, says its Polifor NF
product line, which is based on polypropylene reinforced with natural fibres, “offers sustainability, lightness and improved performance for a wide range of industries, from automotive to design.” So.F.Ter uses various bio-based fillers in its compounds. These are sourced from FSC or PEFC certified cultivation, which So.F.Ter notes “adopt responsible management systems which have no negative impact on the environment, territory and local communities.” The compounds offer the same rigidity as polypropylene compounds with an equivalent percentage of talc but are much lighter because of lower density (-8%), provide better resistance to high temperatures (+ 17%) and offer a significantly higher impact resistance (up to + 67% in the notched Izod test). The company is eyeing the automotive industry in
particular. It says possible applications include interior and exterior parts, both structural and aesthetic. Examples include cowl vent grilles, internal consoles and pillars, structural dashboard carriers and various parts of the luggage compartment. With their ability to withstand operating temperatures up to 110-120°C, the compounds can also be used for under-the-hood applications such as the air filter box. It is not just crops grown on land that are being
considered for use in plastics compounds. Algae technology company Algix has partnered with the University of Georgia and Kimberly-Clark to commer- cialise the cultivation of aquatic biomass as a feedstock for bio-based plastics compounds. It uses mobile algae harvesting platforms and downstream dewatering, drying and jet milling operations to produce dry algae biomass in free-flowing granules that are then com-
44 COMPOUNDING WORLD | March 2016
www.compoundingworld.com
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