REINFORCEMENTS | NATURAL FIBRES AND FILLERS
Above: Granules and test bars made of bioplastic and lignocel- lulosic fibres at Norway’s RISE PFI research institute
cooperation between research institutions and industry in Europe and Latin America and includes partners from Argentina (IMAM Institute of Materi- als in Misiones), Chile (UFRO University of La Frontera), Finland (VTT Technical Research Centre), Germany (Fraunhofer WKI Institute for Wood Research), and Peru (PUCP Catholic University), as well as RISE PFI. The project is following two main routes:
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Nanostructured cellulose fibrils are claimed to enhance the mechanical, physical, thermal, and dimensional properties of PP and PA compounds
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production of nanocellulose for biomedical applications and production of 100% biocompos- ite materials based primarily on bio-based thermo- plastics and cellulose fibres. The biocomposite materials will be produced by compounding processes and by in-situ-polyesterification, where the polymer itself is polymerised directly onto the fibre surface. “A major novelty of this approach is that the chemical bonding between the reinforcing fibres and the bioplastic does not require any additional coupling agent and will strengthen the material,” says Claudi Schirp, Project Manager, Biopolymer Synthesis, at Fraunhofer WKI. Modification of fibres prior to compounding with bioplastics also improves the bonding between the two phases. “We have recently demonstrated that an environmentally-friendly enzymatic-assisted modification of lignocellulosic fibres with hydrophobic compounds improves the compatibility of the fibres with the hydrophobic biopolymers, thus reducing also the water uptake,” Chinga Carrasco says. “This is addressing a major challenge of cellulosic fibres: the fibres are hygroscopic and absorb water. This characteristic can be a challenge for compounding processes, as well as for the final product where the dimensional stability is a major requirement as is the case in automotive parts.” Chinga Carrasco says that, in addition to bio-compounds for injection moulding, ValBio-3D will produce novel thermoplastic filaments for 3D printing. “3D printed objects are commonly weaker than the corresponding injection moulded products.”
COMPOUNDING WORLD | March 2018
“The biopolymers reinforced with fibres will contribute to 3D print complex structures with appropriate mechanical properties. Biocomposites offer also the potential of cost-reduction, as the lignocellulosic fibres are cheaper than the biopoly- mer, but this also depends on [using] the appropri- ate compounding equipment,” he explains. “We expect that this biocomposite material can be used to mimic woody products, but also in new complex geometries, individually designed by the consumer.” At Canada-based Performance BioFilaments, Business Development Director Geoffrey Fisher says the company sees natural fibres as “a promis- ing avenue for compounders to grow their busi- nesses and increase revenues via new and im- proved offerings that make a difference for the environment, significantly enhance material properties, and address key mark et trends and customer requests.”
Nanostructured options “With the launch of Performance BioFilaments’ nanostructured cellulose fibrils (NFCs), compound- ers can take advantage of a highly renewable, biodegradable, and recyclable biomaterial that enhances mechanical, physical, thermal, and dimensional properties of engineering thermoplas- tics,” Fisher says. NFCs have already been demonstrated to enhance the material properties of PP and PA and, says Fisher, “will soon be shown to improve ABS as well as other engineering thermoplastics, for automotive, marine, rail, sports equipment, personal electronics, home appliances, and specialty applications.” A new entry into the market is Attis Innovations, which has a portfolio of bio-based polymers and resin extenders, as well as fillers. The company has just announced a strategic partnership with Genarex, which it says will allow it “to service customers with a versatile array of materials which bring value and cost savings to a host of applica-
www.compoundingworld.com
PHOTO: GARY CHINGA CARRASCO, RISE PFI
PHOTO: PERFORMANCE BIOFILAMENTS/FP INNOVATIONS
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