BIO-BASED POLYMERS | MATERIALS
Key technical benefits of the MFA-series include
what Hallinen says is a rather uncommon combina- tion of fast injection moulding cycle times and good thermal resistance: “Customers who have been working with fossil plastics have been positively surprised by the processability of our products. We also offer on-site injection moulding assistance for those who want to optimise their production with bio-based ArcBiox materials.” A new development grade from the MFA-series has given results that the company describes as “revolutionary.” Hallinen says the material can be processed with cycle times with a cold mould, and its impact properties are comparable to those of polycarbonate. Flexural modulus is 1.8 GPa and the heat deflection temperature (HDTb) is 80°C without post-crystallisation. “There is still more develop- ment to be done, but we consider this mix of properties completely unforeseen in bio-based and compostable materials,” he says. One recent application for Arctic Biomaterials is the Belightful Butterfly Feeder, injection moulded in ArcBiox A1008. This is a durable, weather-resistant compound made using an extremely high impact PLA (grades in the ArcBiox A-series have Izod unnotched strengths ranging from over 100 kJ/m2 up to no-break). Parts can be made using a cold
mould with short cycles, unlike many other high- impact PLA compounds that require an additional annealing step or long moulding cycles with a hot mould to obtain the necessary level of crystallinity. Bio-Fed, a branch of compounder Akro-Plastic, says its M-Vera portfolio of biodegradable and/or bio-based compounds continues to grow. It already supplies a wide range of injection mould- ing compounds with renewable content ranging from 50% to almost 100%. They are PLA-, PBAT- or PHA-based. One new grade derived almost entirely from
renewables, M-Vera GP1045, is home compostable. Bio-Fed says it is particularly suitable for applica- tions requiring high stiffness (tensile modulus is 2 GPa), including a wide range of household articles, toys, packaging, coffee capsules, and so on. Stanislaw Haftka, Sales Director at Bio-Fed, says it has food safety approval in the EU. A bioplastic with a comparably comprehensive properties profile is currently difficult to find on the market, he reckons. For rigid applications, various materials are available depending on the specifications and customer requirements. M-Vera GP1015 and M-Vera GP1018 are certified OK Compost Industrial and cover a wide range of mechanical properties. “Bio-Fed is happy to support its customers from the first trials on, and also offers its services as a cooperation partner for the development of new
Eurotec bio-based materials comparison Property
Tecobio PL30 WR30 NL
PLA, 30% wood fibre reinforced, natural
Stress at Break Tensile Modulus
Izod Impact, notched (+ 23˚C) HDT (1.80 MPa) Source: Eurotec
www.injectionworld.com 65 MPa
6000 MPa 4.5 kJ/m2 55 ˚C
Competitor Grade
PLA, 30% wood fibre reinforced, natural
62 MPa
5750 MPa 2.4 kJ/m2 53 ˚C
Tecotek PY30 WR30 NL
Above: Products made from Arctic Biomaterials’ ArcBiox MFA-series
Left:
Application for M-Vera portfolio of biodegradable and/or
bio-based compounds from Bio-Fed
Competitor Grade
PBS, 30% wood PBS, 30% wood fibre reinforced, natural
35 MPa
3500 MPa 5.5 kJ/m2 85 ˚C
35 MPa
2000 MPa 3.5 kJ/m2 85 ˚C
June 2021 | INJECTION WORLD 43
fibre reinforced, natural
IMAGE: BIO-FED
IMAGE: ARCTIC BIOMATERIALS
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