Innovation | bioplastics


applications such as plantable pots and shrub contain- ers, made from reclaimed plant fibres and compostable polymers that the company does not identify. “Using biodegradable plantable pots made with


Terratek BD2114 can reduce greenhouse water con- sumption by as much as 80%,” the company claims. “Current compostable planters are most often made from paper, peat or cardboard, which allow water to quickly evaporate from potting soil, requiring growers to water plants more often. Terratek BD2114 does not absorb water, retaining moisture in the potting soil.” The compound is said to be more durable and have a


longer shelf life compared to traditional biodegradable pots. It can be easily coloured. The company also recently introduced compounds


based on Braskem’s “I’m Green” sugar-derived polyeth- ylene reinforced with up to 60% natural fibres and with a renewables content of over 90%. Bio-based polyamides have been available for many


years now, but virtually all of them are longer- chain varieties for fairly niche applications. That could be about to change, with the introduction of a PA56, very similar in properties to PA 6 and 66, but which uses a diamine derived from renewables.


Cathay Industrial Biotech last June began construction of new capacity for its bio-based polyamide monomer and polymers. The company says there will be a “significant” expan- sion in its production capability for bio-based long chain dicarboxylic acids (LCDAs), bio-pentamethyl- enediamine (DN5), and bio-polyamides. For now, it is mostly targeting the textile market (which it says has a ravenous appetite for bio-based products), but it also has an eye on engineering plastics. Cathay currently has production assets in Jinxiang,


Condition


Shandong province, in China, with a production line of LCDA, “multi-thousands” of tonnes of DN5, and pilot quantities of bio-PA. The new production facility, in Wusu, Xinjiang province, is scheduled for start-up in the third quarter of this year. It will double Cathay’s current annual capacity for LCDA and provide an additional 50,000 tonnes of DN5 for conversion into 100,000 tonnes of polyamide 56. Cathay can use DN5 as the basis for various polyamides, including PAs from 510 to 518, as well as 56. Total bio-based content of the polymers depends on the acid monomer: its PA56 uses a fossil-based acid, but the company makes bio-based acids for most of its longer-chain


polyamides. PA56 can be used in similar


applications to PA6 and 66 (see table for properties). Trials are ongoing with such


applications as air intake manifolds and engine covers, electronic connectors, and power tools. Alex Kedo, vice president for the company’s international business, points out that PA56 is more flame retardant than PA66, with a limiting oxygen index (LOI) of 32, compared with 25 for PA66.


Typical properties of Cathay PA56 versus PA6 and 66 Property Density


Melt Temperature Water Absorption


Tensile Stress at Yield Flexural Modulus


Izod Notched Impact Heat Deformation Temperature Flammability Renewable content www.injectionworld.com


Dry @ 23°C 10°C/min


Water, 24hr@ 23°C DAM DAM DAM


0.455MPa 1.82MPa


Test Method ISO 1183 ISO 11357


Similar to ISO 62 ISO 527 ISO 178 ISO 179 ISO 75 ISO 75 UL 94


Unit


g/cm3 °C %


MPa MPa


KJ/m2 °C °C


%


PA66 1.14 262 1.3 86


2750 5


200 70


V-2 0


PA6 1.13 221 1.8 81


2550 6


160 55


V-2 0


PA56 1.14 254 2.4 88


2680 5


200 67.5 V-2 47


March/April 2017 | INJECTION WORLD 25 Above:


Mugs made of waste cork,


oyster shell, wheat using


materials from Natureplast


Left: A coaster made from Green Dot hemp-filled biocomposite based on sugar-derived PE


s


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