MATERIALS | BIOPLASTICS
Ingenia’s new InBio ITZ486 toughening agent for PLA films
A recent development from P3N Technology, Addisperse, and AFAB Engineering is micro hemp fibres and micro hurd fibres that can be used to improve physical properties of bio-based plastics. Addisperse says that flexural strength and heat deflection temperature are improved in PLA. One of the challenges that sometimes arises with unfilled bioplastics as well as with natural fillers is unwanted odour from volatile organic compounds. Albee says that the company’s Addisperse odour-eliminating additives bind with the odour compounds to neutralise the odours. The company has a development product for neutralising odours in bio-based polymers, such as PLA, and in compounds with natural fillers, such as hemp. The latest from Addisperse Technology for PLA and PLA/PHA blends is the HP30-BP nucleating agent masterbatch, a modified grade of Applied Minerals’ Dragonite halloysite, an aluminosilicate clay with a tubular morphology. Using 2% of the additive maximises crystallinity, which improves dimensional stability, reduces part warpage, and
Source: Ingenia
reduces cycle time during injection moulding. The additive acts as a reinforcing agent in unfilled compounds as well as enhancing compounds with natural fibre reinforcements, said Paul Albee, consultant with P3N Technology, which collabo- rates with Addisperse. Addisperse also introduced the Bio 500 impact modifier designed for unfilled or filled PLA, PHA, and PBS. The additive does not affect clarity and is bio-based and biodegradable. It improves impact, flexibility, and tear-resistance. It also improves compostability of PLA-based compounds. Ingenia’s new InBio ITZ486 is a toughening agent for PLA films that improves tear and tensile elongation without compromising the high clarity of PLA.
Best practices
Bio-based polymers and the natural fillers that are sometimes added to these materials tend to be more temperature- and shear-sensitive than conventional formulations. Some are also sensitive to hydrolytic degradation and require drying before and after compounding. Different types of equipment can be used for compounding. Con- tinuous mixers, such as those from TPEI and from Farrel Pomini, are being used for compounding bioplastics and natural fillers. Co-rotating twin- screw extruders (TSE) are also being used. Heat, shear, pressure and hydrolysis can cause
Micro hemp (left) and micro hurd fibres (right) are sourced from industrial hemp grown in the US Source: Addisperse Technology
20 COMPOUNDING WORLD | November 2024
degradation when compounding bioplastics. To control these in a TSE, it is crucial to manage the screw design, residence time, peak and average shear rate, shear stress, and feed location, among other aspects, said Charlie Martin, President of Leistritz Extrusion, in a presentation at AMI’s Bioplastics event. It is also important to monitor pressure, setpoint and melt temperatures, motor
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