MATERIALS | BIOPLASTICS


Right: Bio-on is developing bioplastics such as PHA at its new research centre in Italy


the space dedicated to the devel- opment of new biopolymers will be extended by over 600 m² to a total of 1,000 m², where over 20 researchers will be based. The company adds that an additional €2.5m is set aside to fit out the laboratories with the latest scientific equipment, on top of the €20m being invested in the new production plant at Castel San Pietro Terme, near Bologna. All the PHAs developed by Bio-on are made from renewable plant sources with no competition with food supply chains. They can replace a number of conventional polymers currently and the company says they guarantee the same thermo-mechanical properties as conven- tional plastics with the advantage of being 100% naturally biodegradable. Bio-on has also recently entered a partnership


with Kering Eyewear to develop new materials based on Minerv PHAs for the eyewear industry. Kering Eyewear’s aim is to develop a sustainable business model, providing its team of designers with a series of materials for the luxury and sport and lifestyle sectors. Researchers from the two companies will collaborate to design, certify and put on the market new eco-sustainable materials to be integrated with the use of cellulose acetate, one of the most common materials used in the majority of the eyewear products on the market to date. Eastman Chemical Company and Origin


Below: Eyewear is one of the target applications for Eastman’s Treva cellulose- based material


Materials (formerly known as Micromidas) have entered into a non-exclusive licence agreement for Eastman to license its proprietary 2,5-furandicarbo- xylic acid (FDCA) and FDCA derivatives production technology from renewable resources to Origin Materials. Origin also recently purchased an oxidation pilot plant from Eastman that will enable Origin to demonstrate the licensed technology. FDCA is a bio-based building block and can be converted into a number of high-value chemicals or materials, such as polymer resins, films and fibres. The largest initial use of FDCA is expected to be in bio-based polyethylene furanoate (PEF) to make beverage containers and


food packaging. Eastman has also developed Treva, a versatile, cellulose-based thermo- 20 INJECTION WORLD | March 2018


plastic that combines high-level performance and sustainability. The company says that Treva’s composition is about half cellulose, sourced from trees grown in sustainably managed forests that are


certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The new material is claimed to have excellent


flow rates, durability and dimensional stability to allow for


less material usage, thinner parts and longer product life, enhancing lifecycle


assessments. Eastman adds that Treva offers good chemical resistance, standing up better than other engineering thermoplastics to some of the harshest chemicals, including skin oils, sunscreens, and household cleaners. The material’s low birefringence makes it suitable for electronic device screens and retail displays. Good flow characteristics also enable design


freedom, says Eastman, allowing Treva to be used with complicated designs and in filling thin parts. Under recommended processing conditions, recent thin-wall spiral flow testing shows that Treva flow rates are better than polycarbonate and polycarbonate/ABS blends, and comparable to ABS. Treva is designed to allow for superior surface gloss, clarity and warm touch and feel. The material also has good colour saturation, and secondary processing and decorating capability, creating additional design and branding options. Applications include: eyeglass frames, wearable


electronics, headphones, and many other personal devices that come in direct contact with the skin; electronic display applications, such as lenses and covers, which consumers need to see through; electronics, housings, intricate cosmetics cases, and other products with high design and complex specifications; and automotive interior compo- nents where chemical resistance and aesthetics are desired. VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has developed an environmentally sound and eco- nomical method for producing FDCA from plant sugars for the production of drinking bottles, for example. VTT says that its new method provides a new route for the packaging and beverage industries to expand the use of renewable materi- als in their production. VTT has patented the method for producing FDCA, the monomer for PEF polymers, from sugar or sugar waste. Due to the solid acid catalyst and bio-based solvent with


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