Show review | 2016 Leap Technology of Denmark – an expert
in electroactive polymers – is already using the film in an ‘intelligent suit’ that monitors a patient’s movement, and so could be used to improve physiotherapy. “It’s due to be launched in the next few months,” said Glowacki.
Fashion in lights Covestro also showcased smart fabrics at the show, in the form of this luminous dress – which featured light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that are incorporated directly into the fabric. It comprises a flexible, formable film made of thermoplastic polyure- thane (TPU). The TPU is the substrate
for printed copper circuits, which are arranged
in a meandering pattern and so can also be bent and stretched. Smart circuits are made using a multi-stage
process. First, copper films are laminated onto the PU films. The printed circuits are produced in a subsequent structuring operation. The coated films are then shaped as needed, using conventional thermoforming. “The films are resistant to standard etching and imaging processes,” said Covestro film expert Wolfgang Stenbeck. “Formable electronic systems can also be directly laminated onto textiles, as in the case of the luminous dress.”
Packaging advances Evonik has teamed up with Kalwar to develop an anti-fog packaging film. The film uses Kalwar’s Calvasol technology – a
coating process that imparts anti-fog properties. It is aimed particularly at fruit packaging in order to enhance appearance on the shelf. “Calvasol not only replaces established production methods but – by using smart combinations – enables entirely new products,” said Evonik. The technology can also be used to add release and
anti-block effect to films. At the same time, Evonik says that its 1,7-octadiene
crosslinkers have been approved for food use by the European Food Safety Authority. It is valid for long-term packaging at room tempera-
ture, and for hot filling. “The requirements for packaging – in particular for
perishable food – are growing constantly,” said Frank Kraushaar, head of polymer additives at Evonik. “With 1,7-octadiene, we support our customers in meeting these requirements.”
www.filmandsheet.com December 2016 | FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION 43 Crosslinkers improve polymer properties by linking
polymers strands into a three-dimensional structure. Evonik’s 1,7-octadiene is used mainly with PE and PP, in amounts below 1%. This addition allows the polymer to be processed more quickly, and improves melt viscosity. Evonik offers other chemical crosslinkers, including
its Taicros range that allows electron-beam crosslink- ing of polyamide. In the bioplastics sphere, Novamont of Italy used
K2016 to introduce the fourth generation of its Mater-Bi material. The material is made using bio-derived butanediol (BDO) – at the world’s first industrial-scale bio-BDO plant, says Novamont. BDO is usually made from butane, but in this case is fermented from sugars – us- ing E. coli type bacteria, and technology developed by US-based Genomatica. Novamont’s Mater-Biotech plant, at Bottrighe near
Venice, will produce 30,000 tonnes/year of BDO when fully operational – claiming it produces half the CO2
of
conventional production. At this point, it expects to be employing up to 70 people. “Mater-Biotech, together with Novamont research
centres, is a formidable platform for industrial biotech- nology,” said Catia Bastioli, CEO of Novamont. Further downstream, Novamont has collaborated with Mobert to produce fruit and vegetable bags made from the latest version of Mater-Bi. It has also teamed up with Polyrema on a special cold-stretch technology called Ultra Flat Plus, to make high performance bioplastic film. Both these technologies were seen at K2016.
Wacker’s
Pallet protection Braskem of Brazil launched a new polyethylene (PE) resin called Braskem Flexus Cling, which was devel- oped for extruding into stretch films – which are used to protect cargo during transport.
Elastosil film
can be used to make sensors in smart textiles
Sabic’s Supeer resin is aimed at applications such as pouches
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