Innovation | natural fibres and fillers
Improving performance through natural progression
Natural fibres and fillers are making substantial progress into the world of plastic compounding. Peter
Whether sourced from trees, cotton plants, flax or even algae, natural fibres and fillers are making clear inroads into the world of plastic compounding. A key driver is, without doubt, improved environmental performance. However, these alternative filler and reinforcement products can also offer other benefits to users. This article explores some of the most recent developments focused at compounding applications. Several companies with long-standing experience in the pulp and paper industry are expanding into natural fibre-reinforced plastics or biocomposites. In Sweden, for example, Stora Enso is investing €12m in a new production line based on wood fibres that will manufac- ture biocomposite granulates. Production is scheduled to begin during the first quarter of 2018 and capacity will be approximately 15,000 tonnes/year. Meanwhile, in Finland, Metsä Group is building one of the biggest lignocellulosic biorefineries in Europe. One of the projects aimed at developing new biocomposites around this biorefinery model is a cooperation with Elastopoli, which has already developed a wet mixing technology to achieve a homogenous mix of nanocellu- lose suitable as a reinforcing fibre for various polymers. The new work will develop enhanced and more environ- mentally-friendly manufacturing technologies.
www.compoundingworld.com
Mapleston takes a look at some of the most recent developments
Developed by Elastopoli and commercialised by fellow
Finnish company Aqvacomp, the Aqvacomp cellulose fibre reinforced biocomposites have now been in the market for almost a decade. Musical instruments such as guitars, violins, cellos and clarinets were among the first products to incorporate parts made with Aqvacomp compounds; more recently, the company has branched out to other more technical areas and is now working together with consumer electronics and automotive industries seeking lightweight solutions that also offer good acoustic and haptic properties (Aqvacomp does offer standard grades but prefers to work with the customers on solutions for individual applications). Elastopoli CEO Markku Nikkilä says the company’s
process is a hybrid between paper making technology and reactive compounding and creates cellulose reinforced thermoplastic composites with improved me- chanical properties. He says these can match the performance of glass fibre reinforced alternatives and surpass that of mineral filled thermoplastics while
March 2017 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 27 Main image:
Compacted flax fibre pellets
from Procotex overcome feeding
issues for compounders
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