bioplasticsMAGAZINE_1403

ISSN 1862-5258
May/June
03 | 2014
Highlights
Injection Moulding | 10
Thermoset | 34
bioplastics MAGAZINE Vol. 9
... is read in 91 countries

Sustainable Packaging
for future generations
SCA has developed lightweight packaging
solutions based on paper laminated with FKuR’s
bioplastics. By using Green PE fully biobased
solutions can be created, whereas the Bio-Flex ® product
line enables fully biodegradable product solutions.
product, SCA can guarantee a secure long term supply
of truly sustainable packaging.
Paper packaging extrusion-coated with Green PE
For more information visit

Editorial
dear
readers
Busy days – these days! … After Chinaplas, interpack and quite a number
of conferences even our 3 rd PLA World Congress will be over when
you read this.
For this issue we promised a comprehensive review for both Chinaplas
and interpack. However, as Chinaplas did not show very much breaking
news apart from what we covered in the show preview, we just have a
small review for this event. All in all it could be noticed that an increasing
number of Chinese companies (suppliers as well as visitors/buyers)
are more and more interested in the biobased origin of raw materials
and are not so much focused only on the biodegradability any more.
Suppliers of PBAT for example are looking for biobased 1,4-BDO …
For interpack there is no review at all. It turned out that the preview
already covered most news. The few items that are related to interpack
in this issue are marked with a small interpack icon.
ISSN 1862-5258
May/June
03 | 2014
The other editorial focus topics in this issue are thermoset and
injection moulding.
Some recent news and reports raise new questions and will certainly
be discussed in our upcoming issues. These are the news about “renewable
polyolefins” and other conventional thermoplastics by applying a
mass balance approach. Please read my comment on page 6 and stay
tuned…
As usual this issue is once again rounded off by a number of industry
and applications news…
We hope you enjoy reading bioplastics MAGAZINE
Sincerely yours
Michael Thielen
bioplastics MAGAZINE Vol. 9
Highlights
Injection Moulding | 10
Thermoset | 34
... is read in 91 countries
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bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/14] Vol.9 3

Content
03|2014 May/June
Injection Moulding
Injection moulding of PTT ............................10
The blend makes the difference .......................14
From Science & Research
New biocomposites for car interior ....................18
PHA from sunlight ..................................20
Editorial ............................. 3
News ............................. 5 - 7
Application News ..................... 22
Event Calendar ....................... 53
Suppliers Guide ...................... 50
Companies in this issue ............... 54
Events
Biobased packaging 2015 ............... 8
Biobased materials for automotive ....... 8
applications 2015
Chinaplas 2014 - Review ............... 17
Talc filled PLA ......................................24
Supercritical Fluid assisted injection moulding ...........38
Applications
White teeth – Naturally! ..............................23
Materials
New high heat resistance grade .......................27
Green biocomposites for architects. ....................28
PHA Modifiers for PLA Fiber ..........................21
Renewable 5-HMF ..................................41
Thermoset
Co-creation makes bio-resins work ....................34
Biobased Epoxy .....................................37
Market
European and Global Markets 2012 and Future Trends. ....42
Microplastic
Microplastics in the Environment ......................46
Basics
Injection Moulding ..................................49
Imprint
Publisher / Editorial
Dr. Michael Thielen (MT)
Samuel Brangenberg (SB)
contributing editor: Karen Laird (KL)
Layout/Production
Mark Speckenbach
Julia Hunold
Head Office
Polymedia Publisher GmbH
Dammer Str. 112
41066 Mönchengladbach, Germany
phone: +49 (0)2161 6884469
fax: +49 (0)2161 6884468
info@bioplasticsmagazine.com
www.bioplasticsmagazine.com
Media Adviser
Elke Hoffmann, Caroline Motyka
phone: +49(0)2161-6884467
fax: +49(0)2161 6884468
eh@bioplasticsmagazine.com
Print
Kössinger AG (7,500 copies)
84069 Schierling/Opf., Germany
Total print run: 3,400 copies
bioplastics MAGAZINE
ISSN 1862-5258
bM is published 6 times a year.
This publication is sent to qualified
subscribers (149 Euro for 6 issues).
bioplastics MAGAZINE is printed on
chlorine-free FSC certified paper.
bioplastics MAGAZINE is read in 91 countries.
Not to be reproduced in any form
without permission from the publisher.
The fact that product names may not be
identified in our editorial as trade marks is
not an indication that such names are not
registered trade marks.
bioplastics MAGAZINE tries to use British
spelling. However, in articles based on
information from the USA, American
spelling may also be used.
Editorial contributions are always welcome.
Please contact the editorial office via
mt@bioplasticsmagazine.com.
Envelopes
A part of this print run is mailed to the
readers wrapped in BoPLA envelopes
sponsored by Taghleef Industries, S.p.A.
Maropack GmbH & Co. KG, and
SFV Verpackungen
Cover
Cover: Monika Gniot (Shutterstock)
4 bioplastics MAGAZINE [02/14] Vol. 9
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News
Biofore Concept Car uses biomaterials
The Biofore Concept Car, presented at the Geneva
International Motor Show 2014, showcases the use of
UPM’s (Helsinki, Finland) innovative biomaterials in the
automotive industry. The majority of parts traditionally
made from plastics are replaced with high quality, safe and
durable biomaterials, UPM Formi and UPM Grada, which can
significantly improve the overall environmental performance
of car manufacturing. The Biofore Concept Car is designed
and manufactured by students from the Helsinki Metropolia
University of Applied Sciences.
Parts made of UPM Grada thermoformable wood material
are the passenger compartment floor, centre console,
display panel cover and door panels. Grada technology
revitalises the forming of wood with heat and pressure, and
opens up new opportunities for designs not achievable with
traditional methods. UPM Grada’s unique forming properties
enable high quality ecological designs which are also visually
appealing.
Parts made of UPM Formi biocomposite include front
mask, side skirts, dashboard, door panels and interior
panels. UPM Formi is a durable, high quality biocomposite for
injection moulding, extrusion and thermoforming production.
Consisting of renewable fibres and plastic, the material is
non-toxic, odourless and uniform in quality. UPM Formi is
ideal both for industrial and consumer applications. UPM‘s
responsible supply chain combined with use of renewable
raw materials ensure a small carbon footprint.
“Sustainability is a major subject globally. We were
excited to be able to design and build a vehicle that would
demonstrate that already today we have biomaterials that are
a real alternative to traditional oil-based materials. During
the past four years of building the Biofore Concept Car, our
students have come to see that these biomaterials are of high
quality, durable and also offer new design opportunities,”
says Pekka Hautala, Project Director from Metropolia.
“The Biofore Concept Car showcases the potential of
UPM’s biomaterials. Not only for the automotive industry, but
also for various other end-uses including design, acoustics
- a wide range of industrial and consumer applications. The
possibilities are endless,” says Elisa Nilsson, Vice President
of Brand and Communications at UPM.
“According to our Biofore strategy, we create value from
renewable raw material - wood from responsibly managed
forests - and strive for a more resource efficient future.
The Biofore Concept Car is a fine manifestation of this. We
are proud of the cooperation with Metropolia’s automotive
engineering and industrial design students, and what we
have achieved together,” Nilsson concludes.
bioplastics MAGAZINE will report in more detail about the
biomaterials in upcoming issues.
www.bioforeconceptcar.upm.com
Bio-succinic acid market volume
is expected to reach 710,000 tonnes
Allied Market Research recently published a new market
research report titled “Bio-succinic Acid Market - Size, Share,
Trends, Opportunities, Global Demand, Insights, Analysis,
Research, Report, Company Profiles, Segmentation and
Forecast, 2013 - 2020.” As per the study, the global bio-succinic
acid market volume is expected to grow at a CAGR of 45.6%
between 2013 and 2020. The market revenue was estimated
to be $115.2 million in 2013 and is expected to grow to $1.1
billion by 2020. Increase in demand of bio-based chemicals
is the major driver for this market. In addition, rising crude
oil prices, adoption in newer industrial applications namely,
1,4-Butanediol (BDO), PBS, polyester polyols (polyurethane),
and plasticizers will enable faster growth of the market
“The potential for bio-succinic acid market is in the
replacement of existing succinic acid and adoption in newer
industrial application areas, namely, 1,4-butanediol (BDO), PBS,
polyesterpolyols (polyurethane), alkyd resins and plasticizers.
These factors together will provide faster growth thrust to the
market” states Allied Market Research analyst Sarah Clark.
“Presently, price of bio-succinic acid may hinder market growth
as it costs higher than petroleum based succinic acid. However,
mass production and improvement in production techniques
will quickly address the cost viability issue of the bio-succinic
acid market” adds Ms. Clark. Moreover, lower volatility of
feedstock prices will add to its stable adoption in various
application segments.
www.alliedmarketresearch.com/bio-succinic-acid-market
bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/14] Vol. 9 5

News
SABIC launches
renewable polyolefins
BASF presents
biobased Ultramid
SABIC (headquartered in Saudi Arabia) recently announced
that it will launch its first portfolio of certified renewable
polyolefins, certified under the ISCC Plus certification scheme,
which involves strict traceability and requires a chain of custody
based on a mass balance system. The portfolio, which includes
renewable polyethylenes (PE) and polypropylenes (PP), responds
to the increasing demand for sustainable materials from SABIC’s
customers, most notably in the packaging industry, and is
applicable for all its polyolefins grades, potentially for all market
applications.
SABIC is the first petrochemicals company to be able to
produce renewable second generation PP & PE. SABIC has a
unique position in Europe to be able to crack heavy renewable
feedstocks made from waste fats and oils in its assets.
SABIC worked closely with the International Sustainability and
Carbon Certification (ISCC) organization to prove the sustainability
of the new feedstock. Independent third party auditors checked
and ensured the reliable use of the mass balance system within
SABIC.
In addition, SABIC worked closely with the Dutch Ministry
of Economic Affairs under a Green Deal, on the concept of
‘sustainability certificates’, with the ultimate objective to
encourage the production and use of bio-based polyolefins within
the industry.
The ISCC Plus certified polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene
(PE) materials will be produced initially at SABIC’s production
facilities at Geleen in the Netherlands. MT
www.sabic.com
BASF now offers high performance Ultramid ®
(polyamide), which is derived from renewable raw
materials. BASF uses an innovative approach that replaces
up to 100% of the fossil resources used at the beginning of
the integrated production process with certified biomass.
The share of renewable raw materials in the sales product
is then indicated in the respective quantity. A third-party
certification confirms to customers that BASF has used the
required quantities of renewable raw materials which the
customer has ordered in the value chain.
The resulting Ultramid, which is produced according to
the so called mass balance approach, is identical in terms
of formulation and quality but associated with lower green
house gas emissions and saving of fossil resources. Also,
existing plants and technologies along the value chain can
continue to be used without changes.
“Consumer demand for products made of renewable raw
materials continues to rise,” says Joachim Queisser, Senior
Vice President of the Polyamides and Precursors Europe
regional business unit. “This offering opens excellent
possibilities for packaging film manufacturers to market
their products accordingly.” MT
www.basf.com
interpack - review
Editor‘s note on these two news
What new kind of (tricky ?) new approach is this? Or is it not at all tricky but quite reasonable at the end of the day?
The idea is to throw a biobased carbon source (from oil crops or even from used oils and fats) into a cracker, which typically
stands at the beginning of a complex chemical site with many outlets and inter-connections. Whilst usually running on fossil oil
or gas, now a specific amount of a biomass derived input is fed into it for a while. This biobased content is then allocated to and
assigned to a respective output, here an amount of produced renewable plastic. This is completely independent from whether a
scientist would detect or not any biobased carbon in the respective product when applying the radio carbon method. At least no
one can tell how much biobased content is actually in the end product. The claims however inform about “renewable polyolefin”
or a product “Derived from up to 100% renewable feedstock”. It’s all done by calculation. Think about the competitive product,
which might be a biobased carbon containing product. Is it OK to call a Mass Balance calculated product renewable polymer?
What do you think needs to be the legitimation for such claims? You may be aware about the CEN TC 411 standardisation which
is ongoing and which tries to answer such questions through science and broad stakeholder and expert agreements.
The whole approach seems like a huge black box: there is (biobased) input on one end and there is assigned biobased
plastics as output on the other end. It is comparable to 100% renewable electricity. I do buy 100% renewable electricity, knowing
well that the power coming from my outlet is being produced by a nearby coal power station... is this OK?
This new approach poses a lot of questions. Let this editor’s note be food for thought and let’s discuss these questions in
detail in the upcoming issues of bioplastics MAGAZINE. Michael Thielen
6 bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/14] Vol. 9

News
New online platform at bioplasticsmagazine.com
Tap into the online resources of the new bioplastics MAGAZINE news platform!
On our website bioplasticsmagazine.com we used to have a News-section, that was, however, not well maintained.
This is has changed now. A new platform at
news.bioplasticsmagazine.com now offers a new online
resource targeted at readers seeking a medium that answers
the need for reliable news and informative content with
immediate appeal. Visitors will find new news-items every
day now. Together with the printed bioplastics MAGAZINE, and
the new, biweekly bioplastics MAGAZINE newsletter, it offers
a platform for professionals in the industry to reach out to
prospective partners, suppliers and customers across the
globe.
The bioplastics MAGAZINE newsletter reaches a
targeted audience of some 7000 international bioplastics
professionals across all continents. The platform offers
readers up-to-date news and advertisers the power to
create integrated campaigns, built on interaction between
the different media channels and taking advantage of the
different strengths of each. For advertisers, a perfect means
to add value to opportunity.
Visit news.bioplasticsmagazine.com (without www) every day to stay up-to-date.
Newlight Technologies sprints ahead
US telecom giant Sprint takes pride in its reputation for
bringing sustainable options to market. The company, just
recently announced that it is becoming one of the first to
use AirCarbon, a new carbon-negative PHA made from
greenhouse gas to create plastic products.
The material will be used to produce cell phone cases for the
iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s. Sprint is the first telecommunications
company in the world to launch a carbon-negative product
using AirCarbon.
AirCarbon is manufactured by California-based
sustainable materials producer NewlightTechnologies,
using a proprietary carbon capture process to convert air
and greenhouse gases (GHGs) into a plastic that has similar
durability and performance characteristics to petroleumbased
plastics. The conversion technology can synthesize
high-performance thermoplastics from a wide range of
sources, including methane and/or carbon dioxide from
agricultural operations, water treatment plants, landfills,
anaerobic digesters, or energy facilities. The PHA material
has wide applications, as it can then be formed and moulded
into almost any given design.
Newlight announced on January 1st of this year that it had
achieved successful commercial scale-up of its technology.
Today, its commercial site is a four-story operation with a
multi-million pound per year nameplate production capacity,
using air and captured methane-based carbon emissions
from a farm to produce AirCarbon.
“AirCarbon offers a new paradigm in which products we
use every day, like cellphone cases, become part of the
environmental solution,” said Mark Herrema, Newlight
Technologies co-founder and CEO. “Newlight’s mission is
to replace petroleum-based plastics with greenhouse gasbased
plastics on a commodity scale by out-competing on
price and performance – harnessing the power of our choices
as consumers to make change. We’re thankful for companies
like Sprint, which are helping us realize our founding vision of
taking greenhouse gases and turning them into commercially
useful products that generate both an environmental and
economic benefit.”
As Herrema pointed out: “We have spent over a decade
optimizing our technology. Today, we have a four-story plant
capturing carbon that would otherwise go into the air, using
that carbon to make products that would otherwise be made
from oil. As a result, our efforts have shifted from technology
development to commercial expansion.” KL
www.newlight.com
bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/14] Vol. 9 7

io PAC
Biobased
packaging
conference
may 2015
amsterdam
bio CAR
Biobased materials for
automotive applications
conference
fall 2015
» Packaging is necessary.
» Packaging protects the precious goods
during transport and storage.
» Packaging conveys important messages
to the consumer.
» Good packaging helps to increase
the shelf life.
BUT:
Packaging does not necessarily need to be made
from petroleum based plastics.
biobased packaging
» is packaging made from mother nature‘s gifts.
» is packaging made from renewable resources.
» is packaging made from biobased plastics, from
plant residues such as palm leaves or bagasse.
» The amount of plastics in modern cars
is constantly increasing.
» Plastics and composites help achieving
light-weighting targets.
» Plastics offer enormous design opportunities.
» Plastics are important for the touch-and-feel
and the safety of cars.
BUT:
consumers, suppliers in the automotive industry and
OEMs are more and more looking for biobased
alternatives to petroleum based materials.
That‘s why bioplastics MAGAZINE is organizing this new
conference on biobased materials for the automotive
industry.
» offers incredible opportunities.
www.bio-pac.info
www.bio-car.info

PRESENTS
2014
THE NINTH ANNUAL GLOBAL AWARD FOR
DEVELOPERS, MANUFACTURERS AND USERS OF
BIO-BASED PLASTICS.
Call for proposals
Enter your own product, service or development, or nominate
your favourite example from another organisation
Please let us know until August 31st:
1. What the product, service or development is and does
2. Why you think this product, service or development should win an award
3. What your (or the proposed) company or organisation does
Your entry should not exceed 500 words (approx 1 page) and may also
be supported with photographs, samples, marketing brochures and/or
technical documentation (cannot be sent back). The 5 nominees must be
prepared to provide a 30 second videoclip
More details and an entry form can be downloaded from
www.bioplasticsmagazine.de/award
The Bioplastics Award will be presented during the
9 th European Bioplastics Conference
December 2013, Brussels, Belgium
supported by
Sponsors welcome, please contact mt@bioplasticsmagazine.com
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/13] Vol. 8 9

Injection Moulding
Injection moulding of PTT
Combining the benefits of renewability with
processing and performance advantages
As the demand for bio-based polymers with renewable
materials content, smaller carbon footprint and reduced
dependence on fossil fuels continues to grow, the
challenge for advanced polymer producers is to offer these
environmentally friendly attributes without compromising
processing and end-use performance.
DuPont took up the challenge in developing a new biobased
engineering thermoplastic —Sorona ® EP PTT (poly
trimethylene terephthalate) — working closely with plastics
processors and parts manufacturers to prove several key
processing and finished part benefits versus PBT (polybutylene
terephthalate), PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and PC/
ABS (polycarbonate/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) in developmental
and commercial programs.
With Sorona EP, DuPont achieved a new combination of
advantages in one product – a renewably sourced engineering
plastic that can be processed in the same way as PBT
and PET, and also offers very low shrinkage and warpage,
plus enhanced surface finish, gloss, and scratch resistance
in finished parts.
The DuPont PTT contains 20% to 37% renewable content
made from starch, using proprietary fermentation and chemical
processes, resulting in high-performance resins suitable
for engineering applications. A DuPont cradle-to-gate
study indicates that the bio-based Sorona EP has a smaller
carbon footprint than the traditional fossil route used to
make the same polymer. Using bio-feedstock makes Sorona
EP less dependent on fossil fuels, yet the performance of
these products more than competes with conventional PBT,
PET and PC/ABS.
Renewably sourced Sorona was one of the bio-based polymers
independently certified to meet the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA) BioPreferred program
standards for biobased content. In addition to replacing
petrochemical based ingredients with those made with renewable
resources, the DuPont PTT also provides a 30% reduction
in energy use and a 63% reduction in carbon dioxide
emissions compared to incumbent materials such as nylon 6.
Grades and properties
Sorona EP is currently available in a selection of grades
including unreinforced, medium toughened, and15%, 30%
and 45% glass-fiber reinforced grades. Table 1. shows grade
properties, and comparison with equivalent glass-reinforced
PBT and PET polymers.
Toyota chose DuPont Sorona EP for instrument panel
vent louvre vanes on the Prius hybrid electric car to ensure
scratch resistance and excellent surface appearance
Diagram 1:
Drying curve of 15% glassreinforced
Sorona EP at 120°C
Moisture Content (%)
0 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20
0 1 2 2 2 5
During at 120 °C, -40 °C Dew Point
DuPont Sorona 3015G NC010 [Melt Temperature / Residence Time]
10 bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/14] Vol. 9

ISO Sorona 3301
Unreinforces
Sorona
3015G
PBT-GF15
Sorona
3030G
PBT-GF30 PET-GF30 Sorona
2045G
Stress at Break, MPa 60* 125 109 165 140 158 180
Strain at Break, % 15 3 3.5 2.5 2.7 2.5 1.6
Tensile Modulus, MPa 2,400 6,500 5,800 11,000 10,000 11,000 16,000
Notched Charpy, kJ/m 2 4 5.5 7 9 11 11 9
Melting Temperature, °C 228 227 225 227 225 252 227
Density, g/cm 3 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.56 1.53 1.56 1.7
Parallel 1.3 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.2
Mold Shrinkage, 2 mm, %
Normal 1.4 0.7 1.1 0.7 1.1 0.8 0.5
Table 1:
Properties of currently
available Sorona EP
grades, and comparison
with equivalent
glass-reinforced PBT
and PET polymers
* Stress at Yield
Commercial successes
“The end-use advantages of Sorona EP — higher strength
and stiffness at elevated temperatures, lower warpage and
shrinkage, and improved scratch resistance and surface appearance
— are already being seen in successful commercial
programs,” said Thomas Werner, Business Development Manager,
DuPont Performance Polymers.
“These attributes make Sorona EP an excellent choice for
many precision molded industrial and consumer products,
including automotive parts such as instrument panel air conditioning
vent louvers — chosen by Toyota for the Prius —
electrical/electronic components like connectors, switches,
plugs, mobile phone housings, and for furniture.”
In its renewably sourced fiber form, Sorona is already widely
used in residential and commercial carpets, apparel and
automotive mats and carpets. Mohawk Group, the worlds largest
flooring manufacturer, HBC Bulckaert and Godfrey Hirst
Carpets, specify the DuPont biopolymer for durability and
stain resistance. In automotive, the Toyota SAI ® has ceiling
surface skin, sun visor and pillar garnish of Sorona, complementing
the car’s eco-friendly design.
Processing characteristics and recommendations
Material preparation
Like PET polyester, pellets of Sorona EP must be dried to
a moisture content below 0.02%, using a dehumidifier drier
with direct material transfer in a closed hopper, to ensure
that optimum mechanical properties are achieved. The dew
point of the drier must remain below -20°C.
A drying temperature of 120°C is recommended, allowing 4
hours drying for a newly opened bag, and 6-8 hours for a bag
that has been opened for more than 1 week.
Flow length
Sorona EP exhibits good flow properties, allowing parts
with long flow paths and narrow wall thicknesses to be molded
easily. Good flow also contributes to generating a high
surface finish and glossy appearance, even with glass-fiber
reinforced grades.
Using a standard 1mm thickness spiral flow test, Sorona
EP exhibited 20% greater flow than standard PBT, allowing:
Diagram 2:
Strain at break of Sorona EP as a function
of melt temperature and residence time
Diagram 3:
Recommended cylinder temperature
setting as a function of residence time
ain at Bre
5 10 15 20 25
0 10 20
250 °C / 6 min
250 °C / 10 min
250 °C / 15 min
270 °C / 6 min
275 °C / 10 min
Temperat
ture
230 240 250 260 270 280
270 °C
250 °C
235 °C
90 °C
5 min
Residence
Time
Molding Settings
[Melt Temperature / Residence Time]
Front
Center
Rear
bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/14] Vol. 9 11

improved filling of longer cavities
reduced part thickness
reduced melt temperatures to fill the
same cavity, enabling shorter molding
cycle time
gating simplification.
Melt stability - mechanical properties
Sorona EP exhibits good melt stability
without significant change in mechanical
properties up to a residence
time of 10 minutes, when dried to below
0.02% moisture content and molded at
a recommended melt temperature of
250°C. The melting point of Sorona EP
is 227°C, close to PBT at 225°C.
Melt stability - cylinder profile
When molding semi-crystalline polymers
such as PBT and Sorona EP PTT,
the cylinder temperature profile should
be adjusted as a function of residence
time to minimize degradation, maintain
stability, and achieve an optimum balance
of homogeneity while maintaining
the high molecular weight of the molten
material.
Effect of mold temperature on
aesthetics
Superior surface quality and a high
gloss effect require a minimum temperature
of 80°C in a polished mold. Increasing
the mold temperature to 90°C will
further improve the excellent scratch
resistant properties of the DuPont PTT.
This has been demonstrated in Erichsen
scratch hardness testing showing that
increasing the mold temperature from
70°C to 90°C increases the scratching
force by up to 8N.
Effect of mold temperature on
shrinkage and warpage
Shrinkage is caused by thermal contraction
and crystallisation of the polymer
during the hold pressure and cool
down phase. Uneven wall thickness and
anisotropic fillers will reinforce a tendency
to deform.
Non-reinforced Sorona EP exhibits
approximately 0.4 to 0.5% lower shrinkage
than standard PBT, while parts
molded in glass-reinforced Sorona EP
have shown less warpage versus standard
glass-reinforced PBT. To produce
molded parts of Sorona EP with optimum
characteristics and low postshrinkage
requires a sufficient degree
of crystallization. This is influenced to a
large extent by mold temperature.
A mold temperature of 80°C is sufficient
to produce parts with low postshrinkage.
Higher mold temperatures
(>85°C) contribute to reduced dimensional
changes caused by post-crystallization
(post-shrinkage).
Meeting growing demand for
bio-based polymers
With Sorona EP, DuPont has developed
a PTT polymer that meets the growing
demand for a sustainable bio-based
Photo 1: excellent high gloss finish of
unreinforced Sorona EP pigmented using
a masterbatch
engineering plastic with in-use performance
equivalent to, or better than,
PBT, PET or PC/ABS polymers.
It also exhibits a molding behavior
similar to high-performance PBT in
conventional injection molding equipment.
Processing conditions are essentially
the same with some minor adjustments,
following DuPont processing
recommendations.
Compared to PBT, glass-fiber reinforced
Sorona EP exhibits better mechanical
properties at elevated temperatures
including enhanced strength
and dimensional stability, stiffness, lower
warpage and shrinkage, and improved
surface appearance.
The new backbone chemistry of PTT
provides new functionality to a PBT-like
polymer. A skilled molder with PBT expertise
should have no concerns about
testing Sorona EP. The reward will be in
the added value of higher quality finished
components.
www.dupont.com
Diagram 5:
Backbone chemistry of Sorona EP PTT
Diagram 4:
Shrinkage and post-shrinkage of Sorona EP PTT polymers
Annealing conditions: 1 hour in an oven at 120°C
HO
C
C
C
OH
1,3 Propanediol
(PDO)
+
HO
O
C
O
C
OH
Terephthalic Acid
O
O
O C O
C C C C C C C
O C O
O
O
Polytrimenthylene terephtalate
S hrinkage
(%)
0.80 1.00 1.20 1.40 1.60 1.80
Standard PBT after annealing
Standard PBT
DuPont Sorona 3301 NC010
after annealing
DuPont Sorona 3301 NC010
40 60 90 110
Melt Temperature (°C)
12 bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/14] Vol. 9

9th & 10th September 2014
Thon EU Hotel, Brussels
Bioeconomy in Action –
from Rhetoric to Reality
e Bio-based Global Summit will inform decision
akers from the Bio Chemical, Plastic, Polymer
d Packaging markets of the real potential
d viability of the Bio economy – in terms of
emicals, plastics and fuels.
Speaking at the Bio-based Global Summit will be:
Maira Magnani, Ford Research & Advanced
Engineering Europe
esse Putzel, Senior Sustainability Manager, BAM
(Packaging Design Agency)
Dr John Williams, Group Technical Director,
Sinvestec
Rulande Henderson, PhD, Commercial Director,
Econic Technologies
and many more
Book your place now
delegates rates are:
ore 23rd June 2014 – Early bird delegate rate of €895
elgian VAT
or after 23rd June 2014 – Normal delegate rate of €1,000
elgian VAT
can book online at:
www.biobased-global-summit.com
Organised by Supported by Media partners

Injection Moulding
The blend
makes
the difference
Selectively optimizing the
material properties of bioplastics
PLA used:
Ingeo 4043 D by Nature Works LLC;
PBS used:
GS Pla FZ 91 PD by Mitsubishi Chemical;
binder used:
Vinnex 2504 and Vinnex 2510 by Wacker Chemie AG
With the exception of niche applications, bioplastics
have so far failed to make a breakthrough on mass
markets – often due to their unsatisfactory material
properties or the lack of cost-effective production processes.
Using sophisticated chemical techniques, the Munich (Germany)
based chemical company WACKER has developed a
solution for eliminating the inherent weaknesses of bioplastics.
The improved physical properties of these materials
mean they can now be processed like standard thermoplastics,
using methods such as injection molding, extrusion or
thermoforming.
New Polymers Must Be Compatible with
Polymer Industry Processes
In order to expand their potential, bioplastics must possess
properties that justify their use over traditional plastics. In
addition to that requirement, however, bioplastics also have to
be compatible with processes commonly used in the polymer
industry, such as injection molding. A material that meets
some of these requirements is polylactic acid (PLA), which
is similar to traditional thermoplastics, and can easily be
processed in existing plants. An inherent disadvantage of pure
PLA, however, is that it is very rigid and its impact strength
is low. Attempts have already been made to compensate this
drawback through the use of suitable blends. One US patent,
for instance, identifies a variety of aliphatic polyesters that
can be blended with PLA to increase the impact strength of
the material or make it more flexible [1].
Vicat A [°C]
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
PLA
PBS
PBS / PLA / VINNEX
PBS / PLA / VINNEX / Talc
Fig. 1:
Thermostability
of PBS/PLA/Vinnex blends
compared to PLA and PBS
Tensile Strength [MPa]
Elongation [%]
Vicat A [°C]
15,84
Fig. 2:
Long-term stability of the thermal
and mechanical properties of a
PBS/PLA/Vinnex blend
3,78
99,6
15,63
3,55
99,3
16,78
3,75
98,3
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
0 4 weeks 8 weeks
14 bioplastics MAGAZINE [02/14] Vol. 9

Injection Moulding
Another disadvantage of PLA is its poor resistance to
heat, as amorphous PLA begins to soften at temperatures
of approximately +60°C, making the material unsuitable for
wide range of applications
Crystallization generally improves PLA‘s thermostability.
However, crystallization results in long processing times,
which reduce the cost-effectiveness of the process. Therefore,
the goal of development was to avoid costly thermal posttreatment.
Eliminating Poor Heat Resistance and
the Miscibility Gap
Wacker developers discovered that the heat resistance
of PLA increases from +58°C to +65°C when blended with
polybutylene succinate (PBS). Further research at Mitsubishi
Chemicals (an important PBS manufacturer) demonstrated
that this effect can be magnified – increasing heat resistance
to +100°C – through the use of a different grade of PBS (see
Fig. 1).
Making use of this effect, however, meant overcoming yet
another hurdle. One study showed that PLA/PBS miscibility
is limited and that a miscibility gap arises when PBS is
blended with PLA at a concentration of 20% [2]. Researchers
also found that the amount of PBS required to produce the
desired properties falls within that miscibility gap.
A solution to this problem is provided by VINNEX ® , a
Wacker binder system based on polyvinyl acetate. Studies
have demonstrated that Vinnex is compatible with both PLA
and PBS, and that the addition of 15 to 20% Vinnex eliminates
the miscibility gap. This results in visibly homogeneous
polymer blends in which both polymers can be combined in
any mixing ratio and essentially adjusted to the application at
hand. The resulting blend combines the advantages of both
components.
Also, a partially crystalline PBS grade was used with a
largely amorphous grade of PLA, which meant that another
issue had to be resolved: long-term stability. Studies showed
that the properties of PLA/PBS blends containing Vinnex had
not changed within eight weeks, and that Vinnex apparently
suppresses effectively post-crystallization of the PBS portion
of the blend (see Fig. 2).
Unlike PLA, PBS is not yet available on the market in large
quantities, consequently making it expensive. That situation
is set to change in the near future, however. The PTT Public
Company Limited of Thailand and Mitsubishi Chemicals are
already planning a joint venture (PTT MCC) involving the
construction of a production facility in southeast Asia for
manufacturing PBS from renewable raw materials.
Improving Cost-Effectiveness with
the Right Fillers
In order to optimize the cost-effectiveness of the process,
studies were performed with the aim of maximizing the
PLA content of blends without affecting the thermostability
achieved with PBS. One other project involved diluting costs
by adding fillers such as calcium carbonate (chalk) or talc
[N/mm 2 ]
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500
0% Filler
10% CaCO3
20% CaCO3
30% CaCO3
10% Talc
20% Talc
30% Talc
Fig. 3a:
Effects of chalk and talc
on the elastic modulus of
PBS / PLA / Vinnex blends
Fig. 3b:
Effects of chalk and talc
on the impact strength of
PBS / PLA / Vinnex blends
0% Filler
10% CaCO3
20% CaCO3
30% CaCO3
10% Talc
20% Talc
30% Talc
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
[kJ/m²]
Tensile E-Modulus
Charpy impact strength
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/14] Vol. 9 15

Injection Moulding
in concentrations of up to 30%. Talc was found to be a particularly good fit, as
it significantly increases both the elastic modulus (a measure of rigidity) and
impact strength at concentrations of up to 20% (see Fig. 3a/b). Thanks to this
effect, manufacturers can now achieve property profiles comparable to those of
a number of standard plastics [3].
The effect on processing was found to be similar: thanks to Vinnex, PLA/PBS
polymer blends can easily be processed using traditional injection molding,
thermoforming or extrusion equipment. And because Vinnex effectively
suppresses recrystallization while improving melt strength, the polymer blend
can be thermoformed to yield stable, three-dimensional structures.
Thermoforming Opens the Door to Mass Markets
With the aid of a series of prototypes, Wacker developers have now been able
to demonstrate that blends of PLA and PBS can be thermoformed to create
containers suitable for hot filling applications (see Fig. 4), opening up mass
markets for products such as coffee cups and soup containers. Future consumer
behavior may provide an additional tailwind as well: a recent study conducted
by consulting firm Frost & Sullivan showed that food products represent the
primary area where consumers demand biodegradable packaging. This requires
food-contact approval for use in foods from the EU and the US Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), which have already approved selected Vinnex grades. For
PBS, food-grade approval in the US is still pending from the FDA, but this is
expected in 2015 at the latest.
Conclusion: Modular System for a Broad Range of Applications
Polymers based on renewable resources may represent a sustainable
alternative to petrochemicals. Until now, however, the properties and processing
characteristics of pure biopolymers have often failed to match those of standard
thermoplastics.
Thanks to the Vinnex binder system, polymers based on renewable raw
materials can now be processed just like conventional thermoplastics. The system
improves the physical properties of the bioplastics and also makes the materials
compatible with each other – the use of Vinnex for optimizing polymer blends is
not limited to just the PLA/PBS system, after all. Quite the contrary: a variety of
Vinnex grades can be combined with one or more biopolyesters and fillers. This
modular concept makes it possible to combine polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs)
with cellulose acetate (CA) or starch to create polymer blends that, depending
on their composition and Vinnex content, exhibit better impact strength, melt
strength and flexibility than conventional biopolymers.
Vinnex thus opens up an expanding range of applications for bioplastics.
For example, the new blends can be processed into food packaging materials,
brochures, office supplies and promotional items, parts for electronic appliances
or self-degradable gardening and agricultural containers.
Fig. 4: Thermoformed parts made
of PBS/PLA blends with Vinnex
(right) and without Vinnex (left)
Karl Weber
Wacker Chemie AG
References:
[1] Li Shen, Juliane Haufe, Martin K. Patel:
Product overview and market projection of
emerging biobased plastics. PRO-BIP 2009,
Final Report, June 2009.
[2] McCarthy et. al, United States Patent
5,883,199 (Mar. 16, 1999).
[3] Bhatia, A, Gupta, R, Bhattacharya, S, and
Choi, H 2007, “Compatibilty of biodegradable
poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(butylene
succinate) (PBS) blends for packaging
applications,” Korea-Australia Rheology
Journal, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 125-131.
[4] Pfaadt, Marcus, Tangelder, Robert, European
Patent EP 2 334 734 B1 of October 14, 2009.
16 bioplastics MAGAZINE [02/14] Vol. 9

Show Review
The booth of NatureWorks (Photo: Adsale)
Chinaplas
2014 -
Review
CHINAPLAS 2014, Asia’s largest plastics and rubber
fair was running its 28th edition in Shanghai on 23-26
April, setting a number of new records. The exhibition
attracted 130,370 visitors during the 4-day show, up 14.26%
as compared with last year in Guangzhou. It also sets a new
record since its debut in 1983. With the exhibition becoming
increasingly international, the number of overseas visitors
soars by 19.73% to 36,841 which accounts for 28.26% of total
visitors. They are coming from 143 countries and regions
mainly from Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Korea,
Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, Russia, etc. The number of domestic
visitors maintains a strong figure of 93,529 with an
increment of 12.24%.
Besides, CHINAPLAS also marks the new records in terms
of exhibition scale and number of exhibitors participated.
This year, over 3,000 exhibitors from 39 countries and
regions participated in the show, of which over 400 are new
to the show. In addition to occupying all 17 exhibition halls
in Shanghai New International Expo Center (SNIEC), 13
additional outdoor halls and 6 exhibition suites were also
set up at the Central Square of SNIEC to cope with the ever
increasing number of exhibitors, resulting in a total exhibition
area over 220,000 sqm for this year.
In a special Bioplastics Zone in hall N3 again more than
30 companies were listed in the show catalogue to present
their products and services in terms of biobased and/or
biodegradable plastics. In contrast to previous years the
number of companies offering traditional PE or PP filled with
starch, straw or bamboo, as well as oxo-degradable additives
and compounds was significantly smaller. On the contrary,
it could be noticed, that the Chinese companies (suppliers
as well as visitors/buyers) do no longer focus just on the
biodegradability, but consider the biobased origin of raw
materials as increasingly important. Suppliers of PBAT for
example are looking for biobased 1,4-BDO …
In addition to the Chinaplas Preview published in the last
issue, you can find a few more highlights here.
As a first time exhibitor at Chinaplas 2014, Reverdia (a JV
between DSM and Roquette) demonstrated the benefits of
Biosuccinium sustainable succinic acid with 100% bio-based
content and lower environmental footprint. The company
highlighted the value of partnership with the Chinese plastics
industry. Biosuccinium enables the production of a biobased
PBS (polybutylene succinate), a biodegradable polymer
that can be used as a single polymer or in compounds for both
durable and biodegradable applications. Other applications
include polyols for polyurethanes, coating and composite
resins and phthalate-free plasticizers. End products include
footwear, packaging, paints and many more.
Hydal Biotech is the first and only industrial technology for
production of biopolymers in the world which uses waste, used
cooking oil, as a source and doesn’t exhaust raw materials
from the food chain. It also exhibits highest productivity and
yield of the polymer thanks to patented know-how and used
resources. Hydal Biotech is a Czech-Chinese Joint Venture
founded by two partners that reached significant synergic
effects. Its founders are Nafigate Corporation and Jiangsu
Clean Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. Czech Company
Nafigate Corporation, specialized in the transfer of high-tech
technologies, has introduced its unique Hydal biotechnology
to the Chinese market. Nafigate has partnered on this project
with China-based Suzhou Cleanet, a company that collects
and processes waste cooking oil at an increasing number of
locations in China.
Shanghai Disoxidation Enterprise Development Co., Ltd.,
introduced a UV-stabilized grade of their PBAT based BSR
09 material. Thus it is now perfectly suited for mulch film
applications. Tests run in northern part of China showed
very positive results. BSR 09 has been successfully produced
since 2010, and acquired certificates of EN13432, ASTM
D6400 and AS4736.MT
www.chinaplasonline.com
bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/13] Vol. 8 17

From Science & Research
New biocomposites
for car interior
The development of novel biocomposites based on new
biopolymers, reinforced with natural fibers, nanofillers
and additives, for applications in automotive interior
parts was the goal of the European Research Project
ECOplast, which is now successfully nearly completed. The
project consortium incorporates 13 partners coming from 5
European countries and is led by the Spanish Galician Automotive
Technological Centre (CTAG, (Porriño Pontevedra,
Spain)
Requirements for interior parts in automotive are manifold:
mechanical stability, odor, fogging and temperature resistance
are only a small sample of what the producers have to take
care for. Bioplastics which are available nowadays do not
meet the requirements of the automotive industry. Pablo Soto
from Grupo Antolin, a Spanish automotive supplier who was a
partner in the Ecoplast consortium, states: “We recognize that
the automotive industry wants to use bio-based plastics and
natural fibers on the condition that they pass the requirements
for materials in interior parts that are really challenging, at
a level of price similar to current materials“. Before Ecoplast
started, the insufficient temperature resistance of PLA, for
example, and the fogging behavior and volatile emissions of
PHB prevented their use in car interiors.
Improvements of PHB and PLA
In the past, the odor and fogging of PHB limited its use
in cars. Within the scope of the Ecoplast project, AIMPLAS
(Paterna, València, Spain) studied the efficiency of
supercritical CO 2
(sc-CO 2
) in the reduction of the volatiles. A
significant reduction of the organic volatile substances by up
to 80 % was achieved. However, the process was too expensive
and instead of it a new formulation of PHB which reduces
volatiles was developed. The components that lead to fogging
or volatiles emissions were successfully identified and
replaced by others. As a result BIOMER (Krailling, Germany)
now offers a new formulation of PHB for car interior parts.
Corbion (Gorinchem, The Netherlands) improved the
temperature resistance of PLA by using PDLA nucleated
PLLA materials, so-called nPLA. A separately developed high
impact blend (n-PLAi) was used to overcome the low impact
strength of PLA.
Compatibilty of wood fibers
The incompatibility of hydrophilic wood fibers and
hydrophobic thermoplastic matrices causes weakness to
composite material strength properties, especially impact
strength. VTT (Espoo, Finland) modified the cellulose fiber
surface to be more compatible with polymer matrix utilizing
a new dry compacting method and reactive plasticizers
or additives capable of forming bridges between fiber and
polymer matrix. The resulted PLA-cellulose fiber composite
material showed increased impact and tensile strength
values. With rising amount of fibers the heat resistance, heat
deflection temperature, HDT (A), of the composite material
increases (see fig. 1).
Fig. 1: Heat deflection temperature in dependence of fiber amount
All in all, great improvements in the proprieties of the PLAcellulose
fibre composites were achieved, just a few of the
requirements for car interiors, as fogging or resistance to
humidity, need further developments.
PHB long natural fiber composites
Compression molding appeared as the best option to
reinforce PHB with fiber mats. The best results were
achieved by Aimplas with impregnated flax mats. Using this
process the PHB penetrates completely through the mats.
The obtained samples show good mechanical properties and
a nice appearance (see fig. 2). Values for unnotched Charpy
impact reached more than 40 kJ/m 2 and the flexural modulus
over 3 GPa.
Fig. 2: PHB with flax mats
18 bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/14] Vol. 9

From Science & Research
Improvements using nanocellulose and nanoclays
First trials with compounds of n-PLAi with nanocellulose
indicated favourable results but the compound has to be
optimized, which needs more research work. Preliminary
tests of using nanocellulose as an additive in silk-elastin-like
polymer matrices were promising, too.
NBM has developed the first organomodified clays for the
use in PLA compounds (see fig. 3). The preparation included
the formulation, optimization and fabrication of the nanofillers
according to proprietary purification and surface modification
technology. A compound based on n-PLAi with 5 wt % of this
new nanoadditive based on natural clays complies with all
requirements defined in the project.
New protein-based copolymer
Basic research for the development of a new protein-based
copolymer using silk-like crystalline and elastin-like flexible
blocks (silk-elastin-like polymers, SELP), performed by the
University of Minho, and for the scale-up of SELP production
revealed good results. More details of this can be found in
Casal et al. (2014). Additionally, the methodology and knowhow
to produce biocomposites based on these novel polymers
was developed within the Ecoplast project in collaboration with
PIEP.
New approaches to the biocomposites
processing technologies
PIEP addressed the possibility of processing the target
biocomposites using a more energy efficient technology – iCIM:
integrated twin screw extruder and in-line injection molding
(see fig. 4) - and hence profit from the inherent advantages
for this type of materials provided by iCIM: shorter residence
times, lower shear stresses and superior maintenance of fiber
morphology. For the studied n-PLA biocomposite it was possible
to obtain, at least, the same level of mechanical performance,
when compared to the results achieved with conventional
technologies, sustaining the potential of this technology.
Conclusion
Ecoplast project results are very promising and may lead to
the production of innovative completely bio-based composites
which are validated for the automotive industry:
Organomodified clays for PLA were developed. A compound
based on n-PLAi with 5 wt % of this new nanoadditive
complies with all requirements defined in the project.
A great improvement of PHB properties was achieved,
especially for PHB reinforced with short fibers which yielded
results far better than expected. Additionally, of special
importance is the development of a new PHB formulation
that meets the automotive fogging requirements.
PHB reinforced with mats shows interesting results.
The materials can be used in different applications.
For both materials under investigation in the Ecoplast
project, n-PLA and PHB, the cycle times have been remarkably
reduced during the project. Material prices are still high but are
expected to be drastically reduced upon large-scale industrial
commercialization of polymer production. Additionally, the
reduction of processing costs has to be one of the principal
lines of investigation in the near future.
Fig. 3: TEM image of nanoclay in PLA matrix
Fig. 4: iCIM: integrated twin screw extruder
and in-line injection molding
Literature:
M. Casal, A. Cunha, R. Machado: „Future Trends for Recombinant
Protein-Based Polymers: The Case Study of Development and
Application of Silk-Elastin-Like Polymers“ in: Kabasci, S. (Ed.): Biobased
Plastics: Materials and applications. (Wiley series in renewable
resources, 11) Chichester: Wiley, 2014, S. 311; ISBN 978-1-119-99400-8.
The partners involved in the project are:
Centro Tecnológico de Automoción de Galicia
(CTAG), Spain (coordinator)
Asociación de Investigación de Materiales Plásticos
y Conexas – AIMPLAS, Spain
PIEP Associação sociação – Polo de Inovação em Engenharía
de Polímeros, Portugal
Biomer, Germany
FKuR Kunststoff GmbH, Germany
Fraunhofer-Institut für Umwelt-, Sicherheits- und
Energietechnik UMSICHT, Germany
Grupo Antolín – Ingeniería S.A., Spain
Megatech ech Industries Amurrio S.L. (MEGATECH),
Spain
NanoBioMatters R&D (NMB), Spain
Pallmann Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co, Germany
Corbion (Purac), Netherlands
University of Minho (UMINHO), Portugal
VTT–T
Technical Research Centre of Finland, Finland
www.ecoplastproject.com
bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/14] Vol. 9 19

From Science & Research
PHA from
sunlight
New route for bioplastics
production in cyanobacteria
via photosynthesis
By:
Minami Matsui
RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science
Yokohama, Japan
Photosynthesis
PhaA
Cupriavidus
necator
PhaB
Cupriavidus
necator
PhaC
Chromobacterium
sp.
Cyano
bacteria
Acetyl-CoA
Acetoacetyl-CoA
(R)-3-Hydroxybutyryl-CoA
Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)
Heterotrophic
bacteria
Carbon source
(sugars)
Malonyl-CoA
NphT7
Streptomyces
sp.
Figure 1:
Metabolic pathways for PHA production.
For the production of PHA in cyanobacteria, the
genes, phaA, phaB and phaC were introduced. The
condensation reaction of two acetyl-CoA compounds to
form acetoacetyl-CoA by PhaA was hypothesized to be
thermodynamically unfavorable in cyanobacteria under
photosynthetic conditions. Therefore, PhaA was replaced
by NphT7 that catalyzes the irreversible condensation of
acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA to give acetoacetyl-CoA.
In the past few decades, among all of the bio-based polymers,
polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) have gained significantly
in interest since they were shown to be completely
biodegradable in appropriate environments. Another attractive
feature of PHAs, apart from their biodegradability, is that
they can be synthesized from renewable resources, allowing
a sustainable production on a large scale. PHA is a type of
storage inclusion that is naturally synthesized by numerous
micro-organisms under unfavorable growth conditions. However,
the commercialization of PHA has been ongoing, but
with limited success due to its high production cost. The use
of heterotrophic bacteria for PHA production calls for culture
requirements and the supply of carbon sources that contribute
significantly to the cost of production.
Cyanobacteria, endowed with a photosynthetic system to
fix carbon dioxide in a reduced form, are an ideal biosynthetic
machine for sustainable production of various industrially
important products, such as PHA. The conversion of
atmospheric carbon dioxide into a biopolymer by cyanobacteria
eliminates the use of costly external carbon sources and helps
to achieve a carbon neutral bioplastic production process.
The current bottleneck for photosynthetic PHA production
using plant and other photosynthetic micro-organisms is to
achieve production at an economically viable level. Minami
Matsui, Nyok Sean Lau and colleagues from the RIKEN
Synthetic Genomics Research Team in collaboration with
Sudesh Kumar at Universiti Sains Malaysia have genetically
engineered a cyanobacterium to address the challenges in
terms of cost and productivity.
The genetically modified variant of the cyanobacterium,
Synechocystis sp. strain 6803, synthesized an encouraging
level of PHA as high as 14% of the dried cellular biomass.
So far, this is the highest level achieved in completely
photoautotrophic PHA production without the provision
of any carbon source. The addition of a carbon source in a
small amount (0.4% acetate) had improved PHA production
to 41% of the dry weight. Although cyanobacteria have
relatively simple nutrient requirements, the provision of
exogenous carbon source was found to boost PHA production
approximately three-fold. Nonetheless, the amount of carbon
source provided was very much lower compared to that
required by heterotrophic bacteria to achieve the same PHA
production level. In this modified strain, the carbon flux to
PHA biosynthetic pathway was enhanced by the introduction
of acetoacetyl-CoA synthase from Streptomyces sp. CL190,
an enzyme that catalyzes the irreversible condensation of
acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA to give acetoacetyl-CoA. In
addition, a highly active PHA polymerizing enzyme, PHA
synthase from Chromobacterium sp., was also introduced to
improve the strain’s production efficiency.
To better understand the mechanism that leads to the
enhanced photoautotrophic PHA production, gene expression
in the PHA overproducer was compared with its unmodified
counterpart. It is surprising to find that the activities of
enzymes directly involved in PHA synthesis are not the
critical factors responsible for the overproduction of PHA in
20 bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/14] Vol. 9

From Science & Research
Figure 2:
Microscope image shows
the likely accumulation of
PHA in genetically modified
cyanobacteria.
Upper left: Image of cells after staining
with nile-red pigment that shows lipid and
polymer inclusions.
Upper right: Image of cyanobacterial cells.
Bottom: Merged image of upper two
images. It shows that PHA is accumulating
in cyanobacterias cells.
the modified strain. On the other hand, genes
encoding proteins involved in several aspects
of photosynthetic activities were significantly
upregulated in the PHA overproducer compared
to the control strain. Results from this study
suggest that cyanobacterial cells may utilize
enhanced photosynthesis capability to drive
the product formation. During PHA formation,
the pool of carbon in cyanobacterial cells
was constantly being used for the synthesis.
In order to cope with the higher production
demand, the cyanobacterial cells may increase
the carbon fixing capacity to replenish the pool
of carbon that was lost to PHA synthesis. At the
same time, the flow of newly fixed carbon into
cellular processes other than PHA (e.g. amino
acids biosynthesis) was limited. Based on the
findings of this study, future work can be done
to engineer cyanobacteria for the production
of various chemicals or biofuels and a similar
approach can likely be extended to higher
plants. It is hope that the development of a new
route for the production of biopolymer only by
solar energy will provide a platform for the shift
of production process from petroleum-based to
bio-based.
Reference
Lau, N.S., Foong, C.P., Kurihara, Y., Sudesh, K. & Matsui,
M. RNA-Seq analysis provides insights for understanding
photoautotrophic polyhydroxyalkanoate production in
recombinant Synechocystis sp. PLoS One. 2014 Jan 22; 9(1):
e86368. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0086368 (2014).
in Raw Materials,
Machinery & Products
Free of Charge
from the Industrial Sector
and the Plastics Markets
for Plastics.
for Plastics & Additives,
Machinery & Equipment,
Subcontractors
and Services.
for Specialists and
Executive Staff in the
Plastics Industry
bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/14] Vol. 9 21

Application News
Biobased cork –
but not from bark
Most bottles of wine savored by consumers today reach
them in a standard format that was first adopted in the
17th century: glass bottles and cork closures. However, in
recent years debate has intensified on the ideal method
for sealing bottles and the problems involving this type
of cork.
Cork is made from oak bark. The tree takes 25 years to
give up its first harvest and then every nine years its cork
bark can be harvested once again. The long production
process and the presence of trichloroanisole (TCA), a
fault of cork closures that imparts the aroma of mold
(wine taint), has intensified the search for alternatives to
ensure the longevity of the beverage, which has given rise
to the use of engineered alternatives for bottle stoppers.
Now wine lovers have a more sustainable option for
their beverage. Nomacorc, the world’s leading producer
of synthetic corks, has found an entirely new way to
use Braskem’s sugarcane based polyethylene (Green
PE) in its products. Called Select Bio, the closures are
recyclable and feature the same oxygen-management
performance as the conventional line, while also
preventing deterioration and waste caused by processes
such as oxidation and reduction.
“The use of Braskem’s green polyethylene made from
sugarcane gave us the materials we needed to offer our
customers carbon-neutral corks, which not only helps
guarantee the consistency and quality of the wines, but
also supports the development of a more sustainable
packaging solution,” explained dr. Olav Aagaard, Principal
Scientist at Nomacorc.
To Braskem, using Green Plastic helps strengthen
environmental awareness around the world. “Choices
such as Nomacorc’s attest to the high viability and
excellent growth potential of this technology, which
can be fully employed as a sustainable
alternative to the use of fossil fuels,” said
Marco Jansen, Renewable Chemicals
Commercial Director at Braskem.
interpack - review
New toys for babies
Bioserie (Hong Kong) is first to market with a line of toys that
will provide health-conscious parents the safety they demand for
their babies by using only plant based, renewable resources in
their production.
Toys and nursing aids is a significant milestone in Bioserie’s
diversification into new consumer product markets and it marks a
significant step in the availability of fully biobased toys and nursing
aids for babies. For these products Bioserie is using Ingeo PLA
by NatureWorks and a proprietary blend of biobased components.
Even the coloring materials used are specially developed for
biopolymers; they are based on sustainable raw materials and
meet several global industry and composting standards, including
EN 13432 (European Union), ASTM D6400 (USA), BPS GREENPLA
(Japan).
Stephanie Triau Samman, co-founder of Bioserie says “Most
available toys are made of oil based plastics. As a parent, it’s
very hard to know for sure that a product won’t have any negative
health effects on your baby now or later. The information on toy
packages are either inadequate, too technical for a normal person
to understand or at times misleading. Bioserie puts an end to this
with products derived from plants that are naturally free of any
harmful substances associated with oil based plastic toys.”
“We believe it is possible to enjoy technology without harming
our children’s health and fragile ecosystems of our Earth,” says
Kaya Kaplancali, Bioserie CEO. “We are exploring the cutting edge
of bioplastics technology to develop products that allow consumers
to enjoy life in a healthier, environmentally-responsible way.”
Bioserie’s launch product line consists of a Rattle toy, a Stacker
toy, a Teether and a Cutlery set.
Since the launch of its first accessories for smartphones,
starting with iPhone covers in 2010, Bioserie has won international
recognition for its technological achievements in the field of
bioplastics. It’s one of the first brands in the world to achieve
100% biobased certification by USDA’s BioPreferred program.
Bioserie was also nominated for bioplastics innovation awards in
2013 in Germany by Nova Institut and in USA by SPI Bioplastics
Council, for developing injection moulded bioplastic products with
high durability and heat resistance. MT
www.bioserie.com
www.braskem.com
www.nomacorc.com
22 bioplastics MAGAZINE [02/14] Vol. 9

Applications
White teeth –
Naturally!
Bio-polymers for high
precision injection moulding
AInterbros toothbrush are made primarily
from renewable plastics. Furthermore,
the packaging consists of a 100 % biobased
plastic blister combined with a FSC certified
carton board. This high value integrated product
is the result of expert knowledge in a broad
range of bioplastic materials and their processing
on existing production equipment. As
a result of its recently extended portfolio, FKuR
Kunststoff GmbH, Germany, can now provide
integrated material solutions fulfilling the requirements
of even the most complex products.
For many years Interbros GmbH from
Schönau/Germany has been pursuing the
strategy of developing an integrated toothbrush
system made completely from bioplastics. The
most important requirements were the use of
the existing high end injection moulding and
assembling lines while maintaining the quality
of the toothbrushes. However, the fitting of the
bristle filaments into the injection moulded
handle would be a tough challenge for any new
material as it has to be within a 10 µm tolerance.
After successfully proving the processability
of several biomaterials from FKuR’s portfolio for
the injection moulding of the handles, Interbros
decided on one of the transparent BIOGRADE ®
materials as it is the best solution to demonstrate
the performance of bioplastics for a
toothbrush. This material offers a very good
existing high performance lines with the bio
based PA filaments produced by Hahl-Pedex,
Germany, and packed into the transparent PLA
blister and carton board. If customers require a
more heat stable blister pack then a bio-based
PET could be used for as a technically proven
alternative.
This toothbrush impressively demonstrates
the success of a combination of several
industrial scale plastics manufacturing
processes to create an integrated solution
from bioplastics. It is another success which
proves that the tolerance and stability of FKuR’s
materials’ is good enough for industrial scale
processing and the injection moulding of very
high precision fittings, even with state- of-theart
hot-runner moulds. Furthermore, this added
value toothbrush has been created without the
need for any further investments in moulds or
other expensive processing equipment.
By:
Christoph Lohr
FKuR, Willich,Germany
Hannes Hauser
Sunstar-Interbros, Schönau, Germany
www.sunstarinterbros.com
www.hahl-pedex.com
www.fkur.com
bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/14] Vol. 9 23

From Science & Research
Talc
filled
PLA
Micronized talc:
a functional filler
for PLA nucleation
The limited service temperature of standard PLA is narrowing the application
opportunities in many disposable items (i.e. hot beverages cups) as well as
in durable applications where service temperature is a relevant property. In
general, for semi-crystalline polymers, by increasing the degree of crystallinity it
is possible to improve the service temperature. Because of the limited crystallization
kinetic of PLA, such polymer is not able to crystallise during standard shaping
processes (such as in injection moulding). The usage of nucleating agent improves
the crystallization speed, allowing PLA to enhance its properties.
Highly micronized talc is a common nucleator for many semi-crystalline polymers
(the most common one is polypropylene) and some properties of micronized talc as
nucleator for PLA were investigated.
Talc is a natural mineral and it can be identified as an hydrated magnesium sheet
silicate. Talc is ranked as the softest mineral (Mohs scale) and it is hydrophobic and
chemically inert. Thanks to its platy structure, talc is able to improve mechanical
performances of polymers, offering quite high specific surface to better interact
with the polymer. Because of its affinity with polymers, talc surface is a perfect
substrate for crystal growth.
Experimental
Concerning PLA, the ability of different talc grades to enhance crystallization in
such polymer was measured. The basic evaluation performed on PLA was related
to differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) experiments. DSC is an easy method
to evaluate crystallization, recording the exothermic peak, typically observed
periment for most of semi-crystalline polymers. But when the
cess is very slow, polymer chain structure re-organization can
urther melting experiment.
to neat PLA, once the polymer is in molten state and the
history completely erased, if cooled under controlled conditions
rystallization doesn’t take place. By melting the sample still
olled conditions, it is possible to record an exothermic peak at
°C, showing the PLA crystallization (Fig. 1).
ntal evaluation, three different talc grades were considered: talc
icronized talc), talc HTPultra5c (ultrafine talc) and talc NTT05
nce talc). By modifying PLA with minor amounts of micronized
sible to improve the crystallization behaviour, allowing modified
hieve crystallization under cooling conditions. Two different talc
rates were evaluated: 1% and 5%, by weight. Modification was
rmed by dispersing talc in PLA via a 25mm twin screw extruder,
ding talc upstream together with resin; also neat PLA was
xtruded, as a reference for the process conditions.
Table 1: half crystallization time for PLA
modified with talc at different isothermal
holding temperatures
t 1/2
@ 90°C [s] t 1/2
@ 100°C [s] t @ 110°C [s]
1/2
Neat PLA 596 222 268
PLA + 1% HTP1c 107 59 63
PLA + 5% HTP1c

From Science & Research
50 — Heat FlowEndo Up (mW)
45 —
Fig. 1:
DSC curves of neat PLA
In Fig. 2 it is possible to see the different DSC
patterns for talc modified PLA at 1% talc HTP1c
loading. In general all the three samples of talc
gave same results in terms of crystallization
temperature. By increasing the talc loading (5%),
a higher crystallization temperature is recorded
with no specific distinctions between the three
talc samples. Talc loading plays a major role in
PLA nucleation rather than the talc fineness.
A relevant experiment, in order to better
understand the crystallization conditions of
talc modified PLA, is related to isothermal
crystallization. Only talc HTP1c was considered
as PLA modifier in this experiment. In DSC, the
samples were heated up to 200°C at 10°C/min,
held 5 min at 200°C and cooled rapidly (at
100°C/min) down to the testing temperature,
holding the specimen at testing temperature
for a certain time, until crystallization takes
place. Time was recorded and it quantifies the
crystallization kinetic. Crystallization occurs
at a temperature higher than glass transition
temperature (Tg) because below Tg, molecular
mobility is virtually zero, with no possibility
of chain folding. PLA Tg is in the range of 60-
70°C and experiments were performed from 90
to 110°C as testing (hold) temperature for the
isothermal crystallization on PLA modified with
talc HTP1c at both 1% and 5% loading.
In this experiment, the presence of talc
significantly reduces the time to crystallization
(generally expressed as time to achieve 50% of
crystallization, t 1/2
) allowing nucleated PLA to
achieve crystallinity in a more reasonable time
for practical process purposes. In Fig. 3, the
behaviour of PLA modification with talc HTP1c at
both 1% and 5% loading is shown. For each type
of modification, three different temperatures
were investigated. In table 1, the t 1/2
values are
summarized. The behaviour of the other two talc
grades is basically similar to HTP1c. Talc loading
plays a relevant role in shortening t 1/2
.
Based on such experiments, it appears that
moulded PLA items must be kept at relatively
high temperature for a certain time to develop
the expected degree of crystallinity. Such
process can be performed either from the melt
of from quenched state, with a visible impact
on production costs. The presence of a talc (as
nucleator) in the resin helps to shorten such
time improving the productivity. The reduction
of crystallization time is also driven by the talc
concentration. The minimum crystallization time
is recorded at 100°C.
40 —
35 —
30 —
25 —
20 —
15 —
10 —
5 —
0 —
Crystallization
Melting
-50 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 °C
Fig. 2:
DSC crystallization curves of talc modified PLA
60 — Heat FlowEndo Up (mW)
55 —
50 —
45 —
40 —
35 —
30 —
25 —
20 —
15 —
10 —
5 —
0 —
140 — Heat FlowEndo Up (mW)
120 —
100 —
80 —
60 —
40 —
20 —
0 —
neat PLA
PLA + 1% HTP1c
PLA + 5% HTP1c
40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 °C
Fig. 3:
Isothermal crystallyzation curves of talc modified
PLA at different crystallization temperatures
100°C
110°C
neat PLA
PLA + 1% HTP1c
PLA + 5% HTP1c
0.2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 min
bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/14] Vol. 9 25

Market
HDT A (@ 1.82 MPa) 1 % 5 %
HDT B [°C]
72 —
71 —
70 —
69 —
68 —
67 —
66 —
Neat PLA HTP1c HTPultra5c NTT05
Fig. 6:
Heat Distortion Temperature (HDT A 1.82 MPa
(according to ISO 75) of PLA modified with different
loadings of micronized talc. Specimens were
annealed 3h@110°C before testing
Stiffness 1 % 5 %
Flexural Modulus [Mpa]
4900 —
4700 —
5400 —
4300 —
4100 —
3900 —
3700 —
Impact notched 1 % 5 %
Charpy notched @ 23 °C [kj/m 2 ]
8 —
7 —
6 —
5 —
4 —
3 —
Neat PLA HTP1c HTPultra5c NTT05
Fig. 5:
Charpy noched (according to ISO 179/1eA) of PLA
modified with different loadings of micronized
talc. Specimens were annealed 3h@110°C before
testing
Neat PLA HTP1c HTPultra5c NTT05
Fig. 4:
Flexural modulus (according to ISO 178) of PLA
modified with different loadings of micronized talc.
Specimens were annealed 3h @110°C before testing
By:
Piergiovanni Ercoli Malacari
Product and application development
IMI Fabi, Milan, Italy
For nucleation process the type of talc plays a minor role, while for both
mechanical and thermal performances the situation is different and the
three considered talc grades gave peculiar set of properties.
In order to have comparable data, all specimens were injected by holding
the mould at 30°C, to quench the molten polymer. In such condition, the
crystallization didn’t take place in the mould. Specimens were annealed in
oven at 110°C per 3 hours to post crystallize PLA.
In terms of stiffness, the flexural modulus behaviour is shown in Fig. 4. The
modification with 1% of talc didn’t affect PLA rigidity, while 5% talc loading
recorded a visible improvement, up to 15% for talc NTT05 modification.
Thanks to its platy structure, talc is able to improve PLA rigidity. Stiffness
enhancement is generally linear with talc loading, but higher loading rates
than 5% have not been investigated in this experimental work.
The presence of a nucleator let the impact resistance improve versus the
neat resin, because of better organized polymer structure. All the samples
containing talc gave higher impact resistance than reference (Fig. 5). 1%
talc loading is enough to record a significant improving in impact resistance.
Ultrafine talc sample (HTPultra5c) shows better results thanks to its very
tight particle size distribution.
Concerning the evaluation of the service temperature, Heat Distortion
Temperature (HDT) has been considered. HDT is the temperature at which
a specimen, under a three point bending experiment at a specific load
conditions, records a deflection of 0.25mm; it gives an easy indication about
the service temperature.
In Figure 6, HDT A (@ 1.82 MPa) data are listed. 1% talc modification doesn’t
improve HDT of PLA, while the 5% talc modification offers a visible variation
in service temperature. The modification with a high performing talc such
as NTT05 allows to record a significant variation in HDT temperature versus
the same loading of a highly micronized talc as HTP1c.
Conclusions
To allow PLA utilization in applications where service temperature
plays the major role, the addition of highly micronized talc represents a
good methodology for improving its thermal and mechanical properties,
making such composites more interesting for technical applications. The
incorporation of talc significantly accelerates the crystallization of PLA.
From the experimental evidences, it appears that a small amount of talc
(1%) is enough to achieve crystallization during molten PLA cooling process.
In order to record a better kinetic in crystallization process, a higher talc
amount has to be considered (5% loading), in combination with a relatively
high mould temperature.
The modification of PLA with talc allows to achieve higher rigidity (without
compromising the impact resistance) and, thanks to the nucleation, better
service temperature.
In order to achieve reliable results in PLA modification, it is necessary to
use micronized talc characterized by high degree in purity, by tight particle
size distribution and by high lamellarity such as the three talc products
examined in this experimental work. In particular, the right selection of talc
becomes very important when relatively high talc loadings are considered
(i.e. 5%) and the other mechanical properties can be significantly affected
by the type of talc.
To summarize, for a cost-effective PLA modification, talc HTP1 offers the
most attractive set of properties, while for outstanding final mechanical
properties, talc NTT05 can record the best-in-class properties still remaining,
in terms of costs, as an extender for PLA.
26 bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/14] Vol. 9

Materials
New high heat resistance grade
After BIOPLAST 500, their first resin for film applications
reaching 51% of biobased carbon according to
ASTM D6866, BIOTEC GmbH & Co. KG (Emmerich,
Germany) is now achieving new performances with the
launch of BIOPLAST 900. Biotec launched the new injection
moulding and thermoforming grade at interpack, Düsseldorf
in early May 2014.
“Products made of BIOPLAST 900 can, unlike some other
bioplastics, withstand boiling temperatures without losing
their shape, functionality and efficiency. Even at high filling
temperatures, the taste of liquids/food is not affected.” says
Harald Schmidt, Director of Innovation & New Technology
of Biotec. This makes Bioplast 900 perfectly suitable for
numerous food applications: coffee capsules, cups for cold
as well as for hot drinks or the hot-filling of yoghurt or
pudding products.
Heat resistance combined with biodegradability - Bioplast
900 shows undisputable environmental advantages, e.g.
organic recyclability. For instance, used coffee capsules or
other products made of Bioplast 900 are perfectly suitable
for industrial composting. The GMO-free product is 69%
biobased (potato starch, PLA and other ingredients)
High definition moulding and short cycle times
“Bioplast 900 processability allows moulding of extremely
precise and complicated shapes. This innovative bioplastic
resin exhibits moulding properties similar to conventional
plastics, such as PP and PS.” adds Harald Schmidt.
For example “With a cycle time of 5 seconds for the coffee
capsule application, Bioplast 900 meets the challenging cycle
time of conventional plastics” states Peter Brunk, Managing
Director of Biotec.
Technical data
Bioplast 900 is designed for the following applications:
injection moulded articles (e.g. cutlery, medical devices,
clips, cups for hot and cold drinks)
semi-finished products
thermoformed products (e.g. food trays)
blend partner in combination with other Bioplast materials
(e.g. BIOPLAST GF 106/02)
Products made of Bioplast 900
are applicable for hot filling (e.g. beverages)
are biodegradable according to EN 13432
are recyclable
are printable by flexographic and offset printing without
pretreatment
can be coloured with masterbatches
are sealable (hot, RF, ultra sonic)
www.biotec.de
interpack - review
bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/14] Vol. 9 27

Materials
Green biocomposites
Green thermoset biocomposites
Green biocomposites are composed of natural fibres and
biobased matrices. Bio-based matrices and industrial natural
fibres composition, including hemp, jute and flax, etc. leads
mostly to product price increases, hence generating green
thermoset biocomposite market limitations. The option
of choosing cheaper available fibres from another natural
fibres resource, as in the case of agro-fibres (i.e. agricultural
plant fibre residues) is here suggested and applied. The main
key that can provide attractive products for architectural
applications using available thermoset biocomposites’
production techniques is the innovative product designs
that can offer different innovative solutions for modern
architectural spaces.
Agro-fibre thermoset biocomposites
Commercially, thermoset biocomposites are still not widely
available. In spite of this, high interest in such composites
is pushing up demand due to the known higher material
performance of the thermoset composites than that of the
thermoplastic ones. Manufacturing techniques as found in
the conventional thermoset composite industry, include both
open mould (e.g. hand lay-up and spray-up) and closed mould
techniques (e.g. resin transfer moulding, vacuum infusion
and compression moulding). Limitations in the case of agrofibres
are their relative short fibre-lengths, while most of the
compounding techniques are directed mainly for the usage of
long fibres, fleece and fabrics. In case of bioresins appliance
(i.e. biobased thermoset resins), a high curing temperature –
one of the most currently available ones in the contemporary
market - is another limitation to the whole process.
In the following product design case-studies, agro-fibres
and bioresins of different types were applied using different
thermoset composite techniques. Product designs concepts
differed according to the desired architectural outcome,
between the form, surface texture, natural fibre’s coloureffect,
pigments, glowing additives and others.
Green biocomposites for architecture -
case studies
The following case studies are products designed and
manufactured by the author and students of the Faculty
of Architecture - University of Stuttgart, Germany within
the framework of educational courses. The products are
composed up to 70% by weight of agro-fibre contents that
were from different origins. The general criteria for designing
the green biocomposites here is the appropriate material
selection including the agro-fibre and the bioresin as well
as the processing techniques. This influenced the designed
product outcome as illustrated in Fig. 1.
By:
Hanaa Dahy
ITKE - (Institute for Building Structures
and Structural Design)
University of Stuttgart, Germany
Fig. 1
Materials and processing interaction with the
product design concept
Composite form:
sandwich panel,
particle board, …etc
Geometry: Freeform,
flat, profiled,…etc
Color
Texture
Transparency
…
Design +
Application
Concept
Inner Cladding
Partitions
False-ceiling tiles
…
Natural fibre from
Agricultural residues
Materials
Processes
Physical Processing:
Fibre chopping
Mold manufacturing
Press molding techniques
with vacuum
assistance
Fibre-spray techniques
Bio-resin
Natural Fibre +
Matrix
Processing
Chemical Processing:
chemical reaction activities
combining resin components
within molding with
the agro-fibres
28 bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/14] Vol. 9

Materials
for architectural applications
Case study – 1: TRAshell
Case study – 2: BiOrnament
Product description
Free-form interior and exterior architectural cladding
screens made from cereal straw short fibres and plantbased
epoxy resin (TRAshell) processed by press-moulding
(cold process).
Materials, design and production description
Cereal straw, coconut of a reddish brown colour and black
coal ash were here applied in their original colours. Agrofibres
were chopped then combined with a linseed-oil based
epoxy resin based on two components that hardened after
mixing at room temperature within ~ 24 to 48 hours. The
free-form panels were designed in two modules (A) and (B),
as illustrated to provide through their combination a desired
3D physical curvature when the patterns are combined as
illustrated. The moulds were carved using a robot machine at
the faculty of architecture-University of Stuttgart, Germany,
and the mixtures were moulded in the forms using different
natural fibres and glowing pigments, as illustrated in Fig. 2
and 3.
Fig. 2. TRAshell product design and application simulation as
architectural cladding panels in an experimental pavilion, Eco-
Pavilion in the foyer of the faculty of Architecture-University of
Stuttgart Pavilion (Photo: B.Milklautsch)
Product description
Coloured laser-cut flat panels (BiOrnament), processed by
hand using the lay-up open moulding technique (hot process),
for interior and exterior architectural cladding screens.
Materials, design and production description
The design sketch illustrates the idea of the pattern
that was applied and repeated depending on using both
the positive and negative cutting models that would result
from the laser cutting procedures after the flat panels were
separately manufactured. The product theme depended on
the rhythm and diversity within unity using a repetitive pattern
with different colourings whether positive or negative cut
modules. Therefore, the mixtures were pigmented according
to the most suitable product design.
Cereal straw fibres were bonded with a biobased epoxy
thermoset polymer, composed of three components. Plant
oil based (e.g. linseed) epoxidized triglycerides are combined
with polycarboxylic acid anhydrides (based on bio-ethanol)
and an initiator. This compound was only activated by heat to
polymerize. Therefore, the mould was composed of flat metal
plates.
Fig. 4. Illustration of the ornamental pattern design according to
which the developed biocomposite panels were laser cut. Right
(Photo: B.Miklautsch)
Fig. 3. TRAshell with glowing glass particles and cereal straw, with
coconut fibres, plus raw straw and black coal ash respectively.
Photo credit: B.Milklautsch
bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/14] Vol. 9 29

Materials
Case Study-3: Light-24
Product description
Pigmented profiled panels (Light-24), processed by hand
lay-up open moulding technique (cold process) for interior
and exterior architectural cladding systems.
Materials, design and production description
Palm-fibres were applied in their long natural form, without
chopping after being combined in a mat-form, with a bioresin
of two components that hardened at room temperature in
24 hours. This bioresin is a vacuum moulding low-viscosity
resin prepared from sunflower esters and caprolactones
with various additives. Black light pigment was mixed in a
ratio of 2% to the total bioresin mixture. Then by hand lay-up
technique, the fibres were impregnated with the resin and
pressed in several layers and finally pressed as one thick
layer.
Conclusions
-The manufactured green biocomposites were tested for
weathering conditions (according to Free Weathering Test-
DIN EN ISO 877) for 24 months as well as mechanically tested.
The results were satisfactory and have shown high stability
of the material against UV rays and weathering conditions.
Mechanical testing showed comparable stiffness values with
existing non-structural materials available in local markets
that are applied in different architectural applications. This
reveals the potential of replacing existing conventional
materials with renewable resourced products based on
cheap natural fibres and bioresins. Further experimentations
and designs should be proceeded by architects, designers
and material engineers to reveal more attractive ecological
biocomposite products for eco-architecture.
- Using agro-fibres and applying them in the form of
biocomposites, utilizing biobased matrices based on
renewable resources, can offer the opportunity to open a
new market for green biocomposite materials with lower
prices and acceptable performances, reducing resources
consumption and providing more sustainability aspects.
Fig. 5. Illustration of the Light-24 product, during manufacturing
and after fabrication. Photo credit: Dahy, H.
www.co2-chemistry.eu
CO 2 as Chemical feedstock –
a challenge for sustainable chemistry
3 rd
1 st Day (2 December 2014, 10 am – 7 pm): Political framework and vision:
2 nd Day (3 December 2014, 9 am – 7 pm): Chemicals and energy from CO 2 :
Entrance Fee
ye
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nue
Undergraduate and PhD students can attend
the conference with a 50 % discount.
Dominik Vogt
Venue
nova-Institute
30 bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/14] Vol. 9

Materials
Bioplastic
from
shrimp shell
(Photo: Harvard‘s Wyss Institute)
Researchers at Harvard‘s Wyss Institute (Boston, Massachussetts,
USA) have developed a bioplastic from
chitosan, a form of chitin, which is a powerful player in
the world of natural polymers and the second most abundant
organic material on Earth. Chitin is a long-chain polysaccharide
that is responsible for the hardy shells of shrimps and
other crustaceans, the exoskeleton of many insects, tough
fungal cell walls — and flexible butterfly wings.
The majority of available chitin in the world comes from
discarded shrimp shells, and is either thrown away or
used in fertilizers, cosmetics, or dietary supplements, for
example. However, engineering successes have been limited
to fabricate complex three-dimensional shapes using chitinbased
materials — until now.
The Wyss Institute team, led by Javier Fernandez and
Founding Director Don Ingber, developed a new way to
process the material so that it can be used to fabricate large
objects with complex shapes using traditional casting or
injection molding manufacturing techniques. What‘s more,
their chitosan bioplastic is biodegradable in appropriate
environments and it releases rich nutrients that efficiently
support plant growth.
“There is an urgent need in many industries for sustainable
materials that can be mass produced,“ Ingber said. Ingber
is also the Judah Folkman Professor of Vascular Biology
at Boston Children‘s Hospital and Harvard Medical School,
and Professor of Bioengineering at the Harvard School
of Engineering and Applied Sciences. “Our scalable
manufacturing method shows that chitosan, which is readily
available and inexpensive, can serve as a viable bioplastic
that could potentially be used instead of conventional plastics
for numerous industrial applications.“
It turns out the small stuff really mattered, Fernandez said.
After subjecting chitosan to a battery of tests, he learned
that the molecular geometry of chitosan is very sensitive to
the method used to formulate it. The goal, therefore, was to
fabricate the chitosan in a way that preserves the integrity of
its natural molecular structure, thus maintaining its strong
mechanical properties.
“Depending on the fabrication method, you either get a
chitosan material that is brittle and opaque, and therefore
not usable, or tough and transparent, which is what we were
after,“ said Fernandez.
After fully characterizing in detail how factors like
temperature and concentration affect the mechanical
properties of chitosan on a molecular level, Fernandez and
Ingber honed in on a method that produced a pliable liquid
crystal material that was just right for use in large-scale
manufacturing methods, such as casting and injection
molding.
Significantly, they also found a way to combat the problem
of shrinkage whereby the chitosan polymer fails to maintain
its original shape after the injection molding process. Adding
wood flour, a waste product from wood processing, solved
this problem.
“You can make virtually any shape with impressive
precision from this type of chitosan,“ said Fernandez, who
molded a series of chess pieces to illustrate the point. The
material can also be modified for use in water and also easily
dyed by changing the acidity of the chitosan solution. And the
dyes can be collected again and reused when the material is
recycled.
The next challenge is for the team to continue to refine
their chitosan fabrication methods so that they can take
them out of the laboratory, and move them into a commercial
manufacturing facility with an industrial partner. MT
bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/14] Vol. 9 31

Materials
PHA Modifiers for
Fig. 4.
Soft PLA monofilaments
modified by Metabolix PHA
Metabolix (Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA) recently introduced
newly developed polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) copolymer technology.
This development has extended the range of Metabolix’s
PHA portfolio with crystallinity ranging from 0% or 60% (Fig.1) to include
fully amorphous products. The glass transition temperature (Tg °C) of
these PHAs now extends from +5°C down to ~-30°C. Like the more
crystalline products in its portfolio, these amorphous PHA products are
100% renewable and widely biodegradable in most environments where
microbial activity is present. Metabolix sees exciting opportunities for
using these new copolymers to modify and improve the performance
of PLA and thereby expand the market potential of PLA fibers and filaments.
At Natureworks’ 2014 ITR conference, Metabolix showed early results
for modifying PLA using these new PHA copolymers. Metabolix is
grateful to Natureworks for their support in this development effort.
This work focused on the ability to improve PLA ductility (Fig.2) without
negatively impacting the PLA Tg (a common problem with using miscible
plasticizers). Metabolix then demonstrated this effectiveness in PLA
films by developing a much softer PLA blown film with flex modulus and
toughness approaching HDPE. By varying modifier loads, flexibility and
toughness in PLA blown and cast film can be adjusted across the range
spanning from paper to HDPE. A series of these film prototypes were
highlighted by Metabolix at Interpack 2014.
PLA
20
More recently, Metabolix is excited by very interesting results in
improving PLA fibers using with these new PHA modifiers. These
developments were also highlighted at the 3 rd PLA World Congress in
Munich.
PHA Modified
8
Benefits of Modifying PLA fibers with PHA
Fig. 3.
Improving PLA Nonwovens
with PHA Modifiers
Ductility; Drape
Improved touch and feel; Hand & Elongation
Reduced Boiling Water Shrinkage
PLA Ductility Improvement
10 —
— 70
3500 —
0 —
— 60
3000 —
PLA, Paper
Tg (C)
-10
—
-20 —
-30
—
-40 —
-50 —
Amorphous
Range
— 50
— 40
— 30
— 20
— 10
Crystallinity [%]
Flexural Modulus (MPa)
2500 —
2000 —
1500 —
1000 —
500 —
Cups, Lids
Blister, Cards
HDPE
LDPE
-60 —
— 0
0 20 40 60 80 100
mole % Comonomer
Fig. 1.
Metabolix extended PHA Copolymer technology range
0 —
0 10 20 30 40
% PHP Copolymer
Fig. 2.
Modifying PLA Flex Modulus with PHA
32 bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/14] Vol. 9

PLA Fiber
The ductility improvement that characterized PHA
modified PLA films is also clearly seen in PHA modified
PLA fibers. Textile and nonwoven applications for skin
contact require a gentle touch and feel. With only a very
low loading (< 5%) of PHA the Hand of the PLA fibers
was reduced by 60% (Fig. 3). A soft, silky feel was
imparted into the PLA fibers by modulus reduction as
well as improved elongation leading to finer filaments
and to improved Drape. Furthermore, after drawing and
heat set, the PHA enabled hot water shrinkage to be
significantly reduced and tenacity improved.
By improving the softness characteristics of PLA
nonwovens, expanded potential is possible in medical,
personal hygiene (where skin contact comfort is
important) and home care applications where single use
is expected. The PHA modifier doesn’t compromise the
100% renewable makeup of these non-woven single-use
materials.
In textiles, touch and feel comparable to PET is also
an important aesthetic factor for success and PHA
copolymer modifiers can enable this softness in PLA
filaments (Fig. 4). Furthermore, being polyesters in their
backbone chemistry, PHA modifiers are compatible with
typical fiber treatments for dying and sizing.
DRIVING A
RESOURCE
EFFICIENT
EUROPE
Distinct Advantages of PHA modifiers in PLA fibers
Efficient improvement of touch and feel
Compatibility with fiber treatments
100% Renewable (bio-based)
Fully Compostable
Metabolix is prototyping these PHA modifiers on a
pilot scale in nonwoven and monofilament applications
and expects to launch several modifier Masterbatches
this year and into 2015 when expanded production of the
new PHA copolymer products is expected to be available.
These products will take advantage of the extended
range of PHA copolymer technology that Metabolix has
developed and a variety of PLA base resins to provide
solutions for expanding the market potential of PLA
fibers.
By:
Bob Engle
VP BioPlastics
Metabolix, Inc., Cambridge, MA USA
interpack - review
Save the date!
2/3 December 2014
The Square Meeting Centre
Brussels
More information at:
www.european-bioplastics.org
www.metabolix.com
www.conference.european-bioplastics.org
bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/14] Vol. 9 33

Thermoset
Co-creation
makes
bio-resins work
Although biobased materials are increasingly used in
composites, they only represent a small portion of the
total market volume. As still biobased tends to be more
expensive than fossil-based, customers are reluctant to pay
a price premium just for having a better environmental conscience.
This situation is now changing with the introduction
of the biobased Beyone 201-A-01 resin in highly demanding
wind energy applications. Composite systems with this
resin provide simultaneously a great end-use performance,
cost savings through easier processing, and on top they bring
improved sustainability.
Composites materials solutions are well established in
today’s society as they bring numerous benefits to consumers.
Cars can have unique shapes and great aerodynamics, while
the low weight of composite parts contributes to lower energy
consumption and reduced CO 2
emissions. The great corrosion
resistance of composites pipes enables continued operation
and minimal maintenance in water treatment plants. When
renovation of sewer networks is required, open roads and
traffic disruption can be avoided by using relining solutions
based on composites.
Meanwhile, consumers want more for less: better quality
of life, more functionality of the products they buy, and
preferably at a lower price. They have become increasingly
conscious about the impact they have on the environment,
and are looking for ways to reduce their ecological footprint.
Consequently, the demand for solutions based on renewable
raw materials has been increasing. Obviously this represents
a great challenge for the companies they buy from, and for
the entire supply chain.
In line with these market demands DSM has been
introducing several synthetic resins based on renewable
resources in the past few years. Objective is to secure future
supply of raw materials, decreasing our dependency on fossilbased
raw material sources. This will help to ensure security
of supply down the value chain. Also, with these renewable
raw materials becoming available in larger quantities, we
expect to reduce the eco-footprint of our resins and we will
be able to pass on that ‘eco advantage’ to our customers.
Biobased materials for food contact
An example of these developments is the introduction of
the Synolite 7524-N-1 FC resin for artificial stone. This
new DSM material is a biobased unsaturated polyester resin,
has a bio-content of 45%, and is produced in line with Good
Manufacturing Practice (GMP), the well accepted standard for
making products used in contact with food. With this resin the
company Compac (Spain) was able to create a new range of
stone products suitable for kitchen work surface applications
with great aesthetics.
Innovation in infrastructure
A completely different example of the use of biobased
material is the application of Synolite 7500-N-1 structural
resin for a bio-bridge, installed by FiberCore (Netherlands).
Composite bridges can be easily installed because of their low
weight. This reduces installation time and potential disruption
to traffic and people. Also the lower weight requires lighter
foundations compared to bridges made in pure steel or
concrete. Because of their very nature, composite materials
resist well water, heat and chemicals. Therefore these bridges
34 bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/14] Vol. 9

Thermoset
only require limited maintenance, while again
the impact on the environment and traffic is
minimized.
The novel Synolite 7500-N-1 resin of DSM
is a high strength structural resin (UP) partly
based on renewable raw materials (~50 %).
The resin can be easily converted through
vacuum infusion manufacturing processes
into composite components.
Peace-of-mind on cost and the
environment
While the usage of biobased raw materials
is increasing and the bio-feature is said to be
highly appreciated by consumers and endcustomers,
it is also clear that the market is
reluctant to pay a significant price premium
for bio-solutions. Yet because of the scale
of production of biobased raw materials
(typically made in lower volumes and still in
sub-optimized manufacturing plants) and the
availability of biobased sources to make the
biobased raw materials, it can be expected
they remain more expensive than the fossilbased
raw materials for the foreseeable
future.
The introduction of DSM’s novel Beyone
201-A-01 resin for making wind turbine blades
may well represent a major change. The
current material systems used for making
wind turbine blades are mainly based on epoxy
resins. While they bring resistance to fatigue,
these resins are more sensitive to process
variations, and require a time-consuming
post-cure for reaching optimum physical
properties. Systems based on polyester
resins are easier to process but lack the high
strength and fatigue resistance required for
this demanding application. Moreover, blade
manufacturers prefer to use resin systems
without styrene, in order to have the best
working environment for their operators.
Compac has used DSM’s Synolite 7524-N-1 FC GMP-compliant
resin, which features a high content of bio raw materials, to create
a new range of artificial stone products called the Bio Technological
Quartz Collection
Easy installation of composite bridges, based DSM’s novel
Synolite 7500-N-1 resin with 50 % biobased raw materials
0 0,3 0,7 1,0 1,3
Beyone 201-A-01 vs. WTB Epoxy reference
WTB Epoxy reference + SE2020
Standard UPR resins + Standard Glass
Beyone 201-A-01 + SE3030
1,E+01 1,E+02 1,E+03 1,E+04 1,E+05 1,E+06 1,E+07
Number of cycles
Excellent resistance
to fatigue for long live
blade performance.
Tensile fatigue performance (S-N
Curve) of Beyone 201-A-01 glass
reinforced composites compared
to standard epoxy systems for wind
turbine blades
bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/14] Vol. 9 35

Thermoset
Reduced Eco-footprint of Beyone 201-A-01
resins vs. epoxy resin reference
ECO-footprint is the sum of all environmental impacts
from an LCA (including e.g. CO2 footprint, toxicity, waste,
resource consumption, land use)
Eco Footprint (points)
Beyone 1
Epoxy system
0,575
DSM has proposed an all-new composite system for
making wind turbine blades, together with its partners
3B-the fibreglass company, Siemens Wind Power and DTU
Wind Energy, featuring easy blade manufacturing, low weight,
high stiffness, and excellent resistance to fatigue. The system
is based on DSM’s Beyone 201-A-01, a resin that is styrenefree,
cobalt-free (based on BluCure Technology, www.
BluCure.com), and 40 % biobased. It has been demonstrated
that this system can be used for making long blades at a
record speed (through faster resin infusion and short postcure),
giving an increased output per mold and an outlook for
excellent process consistency.
The bio-ingredients in the product formulations introduced
in this article are derived from a mix of corn and corn waste
material (the so-called generation 1.5). DSM wants to
demonstrate that high performance levels can be achieved
through using bio-ingredients (hence the introduction of these
three resins). At the same time, DSM has increased its efforts
to investigate routes for making the required raw materials
from secondary organic sources (i.e. not competing with the
food chain). DSM already has a track record of introducing
new biobased products, supported by its strong roots in Life
Sciences and biotechnology.
0,72
Co-creation works
In order to commercialize new technologies that have
the potential to revolutionize the manufacturing of wind
turbine blades, it was necessary to think out of the box and
form a strong channel partnership. DSM, 3B, Siemens Wind
Power and DTU were able to demonstrate that through cocreation,
a complex technology can be evaluated at record
speed and prepared for live application in line with market
requirements. Presently, the material system is under
evaluation by Siemens Wind Power for its next-generation
wind turbine blades.
The development of Beyone 201-A-01 may turn out to
be a game-changer not only for its performance in wind
energy but also for the general application of biobased
composite resins. Through the combination of great end-use
performance, cost savings through easier processing, and
improved sustainability the introduction of this material can
be truly called a green revolution.
Together for a brighter future with composites
Building on its unique position as Life Sciences & Materials
Sciences company, DSM is the leading global innovator of
high performance, sustainable composite solutions. Through
DSM’s Bright Science and market leadership across a
number of industries including transportation, construction,
infrastructure and industrial the company creates value
by enhancing performance, improving health & safety, and
minimizing environmental footprint.
By:
Thomas Wegman
Marketing Manager DSM Composite Resins
Zwolle, The Netherlands
www.dsmcompositeresins.com
www.blucure.com
Great outlook for use of
biobased materials in wind
energy applications
36 bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/14] Vol. 9

Thermoset
Biobased
Epoxy
Epichlorohydrin from glycerin
enables biobased epoxy resins
The possible ways of producing epoxy resins are very different
and complex. The most common and important
class of epoxy resins is derived from epichlorohydrin
(ECH) and bisphenol A (BPA), a bivalent alcohol.
BPA is exclusively produced from fossil feedstock. However,
health and safety concerns about the use of this chemical
in food contact applications have led to the development of
BPA substitutes, some of which being bio-based (e.g. lignin
derivatives).
Epichlorohydrin has been produced from oil-based
propylene for decades, but it can also be obtained from
biobased glycerin, a by-product from biodiesel and
oleochemicals production. Thanks to identical physicochemical
properties, biobased ECH can be used as a drop in
substitute for fossil ECH.
The world market for epichlorohydrin is about 1.5 million
tonnes, 87% of which being used for the production of epoxy
resins (in Asia and especially China, this share exceeds
90%). The main use of epoxy resins is for the production
of protective coatings (corrosion proof) for the marine,
automotive and industrial markets. The second biggest
application area for epoxy resins is the manufacture of
electronic components such as printed circuit boards and
encapsulated semiconductors. In third position is the field
of composites, mainly for public transportation (aerospace,
automotive,…) and wind-power generation.
Belgian multinational Solvay is a major supplier of ECH and
the world’s biggest producer of bio-based epichlorohydrin,
made from glycerin. The diversified chemicals group entered
the ECH market in the early 1960s, growing its annual ECH
production capacity to 210,000 tonnes nowadays. Solvay
produces propylene-based ECH at its plant in Rheinberg/
Germany and a mix of propylene and bio-based ECH in
Tavaux/France. Its plant in MapTa Phut/Thailand is entirely
dedicated to biobased epichlorohydrin (100,000 t/a) which
is marketed under the brand name Epicerol ® . In contrast
to some other ECH producers, Solvay is not downstream
integrated and does not produce epoxy resins.
“Epicerol revolutionized the way of ECH production,”
Thibaud Caulier, Senior Business Development Manager
at Solvay explains to bioplastics MAGAZINE. “Epicerol not
only uses 100% renewable carbon and reduces the carbon
footprint of ECH production,” he says. “It is environmentally
friendly in many other respects.” The whole production
process consumes less energy and chlorine. The chemical
reactions involved are more selective than in the propylenebased
process, which significantly reduces the generation
of chlorinated by-products. Another distinctive feature of
Epicerol is that it does not release liquid effluents in the
environment.
In 2013, AkzoNobel and Solvay signed a three-year
agreement whereby AkzoNobel will progressively increase
the use in their coatings of bio-based epoxy resins produced
with Epicerol, aiming to reach by 2016 20% of their equivalent
ECH demand as bio-based material.
In March 2014, a joint panel was organized at the World
Biomarkets conference in Amsterdam, with Kukdo Chemical
(epoxy supplier of AkzoNobel) and EY besides Solvay and
AkzoNobel. Kukdo is committed to develop bio-based epoxy
resins based on Epicerol. EY is bringing its competencies in
order to implement a chain of custody that keeps track along
the chain of the use of Epicerol in AkzoNobel coatings.
Solvay is actively seeking to establish further supply chain
partnerships in other epichlorohydrin market segments.
Besides thermoset resins, Epicerol can also be used for
rubber products. This shall be covered in a separate issue of
bioplastics MAGAZINE. MT
www.solvay.com
Chemistry of epichlorohydrin
manufacturing (simplified)
Propylene
CI 2
HCI
OH
HO OH
Bio sourced
Glycerine
CI
Allyl Chloride
HCI
HCIO
NaOH
CI OH
CI
Dichloropropanol Brine
O
Epichorohydrin
CI
H 2
O
bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/14] Vol. 9 37

From Science & Research
Supercritical Fluid
assisted injection moulding
A New Paradigm for Process-friendly Fabrication of Bioplastics
Despite increasing interests and outstanding environmental
benefits, the application of certain bioplastics
in areas, which are currently dominated by petroleum
based plastics, such as structural, electrical and other consumer
products are limited. This is due to the fact that those
bioplastics possess inferior material properties and are relatively
expensive. In addition, bioplastics possess narrow processing
windows, which makes them vulnerable for thermal
degradation while also limiting widespread processability including
composites formulation.
The material- and processing- challenges of such
bioplastics can be overcome by using a unique supercritical
fluid (SCF) assisted fabrication technology. SCF is a state
of gas (such as CO 2
or N 2
) above its critical pressure and
temperature (Fig. 1). At an SCF state, the gas will have both
gas-like and liquid-like properties. Both the properties
direct the mixing of SCF with the polymer [1]. SCF effectively
swells and plasticizes glassy polymers thereby leveraging
low-temperature processing of plastics, which is highly
desirable for moisture- and heat-sensitive bioplastics.
The plasticization effect by SCF is triggered by increased
polymer interchain distance that results in enhanced
mobility of polymer segments, a phenomenon similar to
plasticizing effect by conventional solvents or additives. A
desiring feature of SCF plasticization as opposed to liquid
or additive plasticizers is easy removal of the plasticizers
from the processed bioplastics. This will aid in nontransformative
processing of bioplastics. Moreover, SCFs are
environmentally friendly yet being cost-effective. The SCF
processing of bioplastics also results in the development
of microcellular foams, which possess superior material
properties at reduced densities aka material consumption,
a feature highly desired for expensive bioplastics. For these
outstanding benefits, SCF technology is currently employed
for a host of conventional plastics processing technologies
such as extrusion, injection moulding, blow moulding, etc.
This article focuses on SCF injection moulding (IM) process.
SCF Assisted Injection Moulding Technology
The SCF technology was commercialized as MuCell ®
technology in 1995 [2, 3]. A schematic of the microcellular
injection moulding process with microstructure is shown in
Fig. 2. In addition to lower temperature processing, reduced
material consumption, and improved properties such as
toughness, damping ability, etc., the SCF injection moulding
technology aids in enhanced moulding thermodynamics
which results in quicker cycle time which is highly desired for
high-speed production lines. Moreover, the SCF IM process
is run at lower pressures which results in stress-free and
reduced warped parts [1]. Unlike conventional foams, the
SCF IM processed microcellular foams yield reduced cell
sizes and enhanced cell densities, typically on the order of
10μm or less and 109 cells/cm 3 or more, respectively. These
micron-sized cells may serve as crack arrestors by blunting
crack tips, thereby enhancing part toughness [4], impact
strength [5], and fatigue life [6].
The microcellular injection moulding process takes place
in three steps: nucleation, cell growth, and cell stabilization.
First, SCF is dissolved into a polymer melt to form a singlephase
polymer–gas solution, that is, the polymer melt is
super-saturated with the blowing agent. Then, the pressure
is suddenly lowered to a value below the saturation pressure
triggering a thermodynamic instability and inducing cell
nucleation. Cell growth is controlled by the gas diffusion
rate and the stiffness of the polymer–gas solution. In
general, cell growth is affected by the following factors: (a)
time allowed for cells to grow; (b) state of supersaturation;
Fig. 1:
Diagram of material phases (reproduced from [2])
Fig. 2:
Schematic of the SCF injection molding process.
Liquid
SCF
P cr
Solid
Critical point
Pressure >
Gas
Cavity Cross
Section
Supercritical
N 2
or CO 2
Higher Back
Pressure
(80 - 200 bar)
T cr
Rapid Pressure Drop
in Nozzle Triggers
Cell Nucleation
Single-Phase
Polymer-Gas
Solution
Special
Reciprocating
Screw
38 bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/14] Vol. 9

From Science & Research
(c) hydrostatic pressure applied to the
polymer; (d) temperature of the system;
and (e) viscoelastic properties of the
single-phase polymer–gas solution.
Other than processing parameters,
materials formulations such as fillers
and polymer blends also have strong
influence on cell nucleation and
growth. Especially, addition of fillers,
which act as nucleating agents, leads
to heterogeneous cell nucleation. They
provide a large number of nucleation
sites leading to higher cell densities
and smaller cell sizes. Thus, increased
adoption of bioplastics, specifically with
new formulation designs comprising
biobased blends and green composites,
will benefit significantly from the SCF IM
process.
Polylactic Acid-Hyperbranched
Polyester-Nanoclay
Bionanocomposite Foams
This study conducted by the authors
exemplifies structure, morphology and
properties of polylactic acid (PLA)-
hyperbranched polyester (HBP)-
nanoclay composite foams processed
via SCF IM technology [7]. Poly (maleic
anhydride-alt-1-octadecene) (PA) was
used as a cross-linking agent for the
HBP. As shown in Table-1, PLA was
combined with PA, HBP, and nanoclay
into a variety of formulations using a
twin-screw extruder. Table-2 presents
the processing conditions for the SCF
IM process. For comparison, samples
were also fabricated without SCF. Non-
SCF samples are herein after termed
as ‘solid’ and SCF samples are termed
as ‘microcellular’. As can be observed,
using SCF process, a 5ºC reduction in
processing temperature was achieved
which is due to the plasticizing effect
of the SCF. This testifies the enhanced
processability of SCF assisted
technology.
A
C
E
B
D
F
Fig. 3:
Representative SEM images of the fracture
surfaces of solid and microcellular PLA and
PLA-HBP blends:
(a) Pure PLA (Solid),
(b) Pure PLA (Microcellular),
(c) PLA-6%(H2004+PA) (Solid),
(d) PLA-6%(H2004+PA) (Microcellular),
(e) PLA-12%(H2004+PA) (Solid),
(f) PLA-12%(H2004+PA) (Microcellular),
(g) PLA-12%(H2004+PA)-2%Nanoclay (Solid),
(h) PLA-12%(H2004+PA)-2%Nanoclay
(Microcellular),
(i) PLA-12%(H20+PA) (Solid),
(j) PLA-12%(H20+PA) (Microcellular)
G
I
H
J
bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/14] Vol. 9 39

From Science & Research
Fig. 4:
Tensile properties of solid and microcellular PLA and PLA-HBP blends: (a) Specific
toughness, (b) Strain–at–break, (c) Specific modulus, (d) Specific tensile strength.
Solid
Microcellular
Specific Toughness
[MPa/(Kg/m 3 )]
Strain-at-break
[%]
Specific Modulus
[MPa/(Kg/m 3 )]
Specific Tensiles Strenght
[MPa/(Kg/m 3 )]
PLA
PLA - 6% (H2004 + PA)
PLA - 12% (H2004 + PA)
PLA - 12% (H2004 + PA) -2% NC
PLA - 12% (H20 + PA)
PLA - 12% (H2004 + PA)
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02
0 15 30 40 60
0 0.4 0.8 1.2 1.6
0 0.02 0.04 0.06
Fig. 3 shows the morphology of the
solid and microcellular samples. The
cell morphology of the microcellular
foams showed that the addition of HBPs
and nanoclay decreased the average
cell size while increasing the cell
density. Moreover, among all the solid
and microcellular PLA–HBP blends,
PLA–12%(H2004+PA)–2%nanoclay
composites exhibited the highest
specific toughness and strain-at-break
followed by PLA–12%(H2004+PA) and
PLA–6%(H2004+PA) (Fig. 4). On the
other hand, PLA–12%(H20+PA) had a
similar specific toughness and strainat-break
values as the pure PLA for
both solid and microcellular samples.
Furthermore, the addition of HBPs+PA
and HBP–nanoclay caused a slight
reduction in specific modulus and
a considerable reduction in specific
strength compared with pure PLA in
all solid and microcellular PLA–HBP
blends. Overall, using SCF process,
a weight reduction of 10–16% was
achieved which testifies reduced
materials consumption.
Conclusions
The advocacy of certain bioplastics
specifically in areas currently dominated
by conventional plastics will be realized
only after sustained alleviation in the
process and materials properties
limitations of such bioplastics. In
this regard, SCF assisted injection
moulding technology plays a vital role
specifically in lowering the viscosity of
these bioplastics thereby lessening its
processing temperature or widening
the processing window, reducing the
materials consumption through the
development of low density foams without
compromising on the specific materials
properties, promoting the impact
resistance of the materials, inducing
stress-free and thus reduced warped
parts, high throughout production, etc.
Despite these extraordinary benefits,
the science of SCF aided bioplastics
is at a nascent state. Thus, significant
innovations need to be created to pioneer
and establish this technology within the
commercial space.
By:
Srikanth Pilla*
Clemson University, South Carolina, USA
Shaoqin Gong
University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
*: Corresponding author: spilla@clemson.edu
References
1. J. Xu, Microcellular Injection Moulding,
Chapter 1, p. 15, 2010.
2. N. P. Suh, Innovation in Polymer Processing,
Ed. J. F. Stevenson, Chapter 3, p. 93, 1996.
3. J. Xu, and D. Pierick, J. Injection Moulding
Technol., Vol. 5, p. 152, 2001.
4. D.F. Baldwin, N.P. Suh, SPE ANTEC Tech.
Papers, Vol. p. 1503, 1992.
5. J.E. Martini, F.A. Waldman, N.P. Suh, SPE
ANTEC Tech. Papers, Vol. 40, p. 674, 1982.
6. K.A. Seeler, V. Kumar, Cell. Polym., Vol. 38, p.
93, 1992.
7. S. Pilla, A. Kramschuster, J. Lee, S. Gong
and L-S. Turng, J. Materials Sci., Vol. 45, p.
2732, 2010.
Table-2:
Injection-moulding conditions used
to mould the tensile bars
(S-Solid; M-Microcellular)
Table-1:
Percent composition of the materials compounded
Experiment Sample PLA PA HBP Naugard-10
(0.2wt% total
formulation)
Naugard-524
(0.2wt% total
formulation)
Cloisite ®
30B
1 PLA 99.6 0.0 0 0.2 0.2 0
2 PLA-6%(H2004+PA) 93.6 1.5 4.5 0.2 0.2 0
3 PLA-12%(H2004+PA) 87.6 3.0 9.0 0.2 0.2 0
4 PLA-12%(H2004+PA)-2%NC 85.6 3.0 9.0 0.2 0.2 2
5 PLA-12%(H20+PA) 87.6 7.4 4.6 0.2 0.2 0
S M
Mould Temp (ºC) 20 20
Nozzle Temp (ºC) 175 170
Injection Speed (cm 3 /sec) 20 20
Wt% SCF Content n/a 0.56
Pack Pressure (bar) 795 -
Pack Time (sec) 7.5 -
Screw Recovery Speed (RPM) 280 280
Cooling Time (sec) 35 35
Microcellular Process Pressure (bar) n/a 190
40 bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/14] Vol. 9

Materials
he stars of today’s bioplastics industry are polymers
like PLA or PBS. However, in a growth
market like bioplastics, other substances are
coming to market all the time. One such compound
is 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), named by the US
Department of Energy as one of the most versatile
and promising renewable platform chemicals.
Since February 2014, 5-HMF has been produced
commercially by AVA Biochem, a Swiss-based
company who recently developed a technological
breakthrough in the continuous, automated and
highly-scalable production of 5-HMF by means of
modified hydrothermal carbonisation (HTC). Located
in Switzerland, AVA Biochem’s plant produces 20
tonnes of 5-HMF per year, at purities of up to 99.9%.
Currently, 5-HMF is being produced using fructose
sourced in Europe. The modified HTC technology
however, will allow for the use of several different
biomass streams in the future, including waste
biomass.
The scale-up potential of the AVA Biochem process
means bulk 5-HMF prices should be possible in the
near future. If co-located with an efficient feedstock
supply and at a suitable scale, 5-HMF could achieve
cost parity with petro-based chemicals soon and
therefore become cheaper to use in bioplastics
applications.
Capacity at the plant could be increased to 40
tonnes/year through process improvements and
efficiency gains. Scale-up, together with bulk 5-HMF
prices, will have significant consequences, opening
new opportunities and potentially revolutionising the
bioplastics industry.
Renewable 5-HMF can already replace petrobased
5-HMF as a drop-in in many applications,
such as adhesives used as plasticisers. One of the
most promising routes is 2,5 furandicarboxylic acid
(FDCA), produced as an intermediate when 5-HMF
is oxidised. It can substitute terephthalic acid in
polyester, especially polyethylene terephthalate
(PET). Global PET output in 2009 was 49.2 million
tonnes and PET fibre accounted for about two-thirds.
PET for packaging and films accounted for 34%.
Other increasingly significant markets are biopolyamides
and resins, where 5-HMF derivatives
caprolactam and 2,5-Bishydroxymethylfuran (2,5-
BHF) play an important part.
By conducting technical, lifecycle and market
analyses, clearly defining end-product specifications
and potential applications, the bio-based industries
can help strengthen market pull for bioplastics.
Application development done in conjunction with
partners is also key to bringing more bioplastics
technologies to market.
Discussions between AVA Biochem and potential
industry partners have begun and the company is
optimistic that cooperation will help further develop
the downstream chemistry pathways. The industrialscale
production of 5-HMF has the potential to open
the door to more innovative and highly interesting
applications – in bioplastics and beyond. MT
http://www.ava-biochem.com
O
HO
Renewable
5-HMF
Biobased platform chemical
presents opportunities for
bioplastics sector
Figure 1:
Production route for
bio-based 5-HMF
Figure 2:
Potential applications
for 5-HMF
RO
O
O
H
5-Alkoxymethylfurfural
O
O
OH
2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid
O
HO
O
OH
5-Hydroxymethylfuroic acid
HO
O
OH
5-Hydroxymethylfuroic acid
N O
H
Caprolactam
HO
O
5-HMF
O
O O
Caprolactone
O
H
O
O
HO
1,6-Hexanediol
O
HO
O
O
Bis(5-methylfurfurly)ether
OH
O
Adipic acid
O
Levulinic acid
O
H
O
OH
OH
2,5-Dimethylfuran
bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/14] Vol. 9 41

Market
European and Global Markets
2012 and Future Trends
Wood-Plastic
Composites (WPC)
and Natural Fibre
Composites (NFC)
Table 1: Production of biocomposites
(WPC and NFC) in the European Union
in 2012 (in tonnes) (nova 2014)
In the European Union about 352,000
tonnes of Wood- and Natural Fibre
Composites were produced in 2012.
The most important application sectors
are construction (decking, siding
and fencing) and automotive interior
parts. About 15% of the total European
composite market is covered by Wood-
Plastic Composites (WPC) and Natural
Fibre Composites (NFC). A comprehensive
market study was conducted
by the nova-Institute (Germany) in cooperation
with Asta Eder Composites
Consulting (Austria/ Finland) to give a
detailed picture of the use and amount
such biocomposites in the European
biobased economy. The analysis covers
composites in extrusion, injection and
compression moulding in different sectors
and for different applications.
Total production of
biocomposites
Table 1 summarises the results
of the survey, showing all Wood-
Plastic Composites and Natural
Fibre Composites produced in
the European Union, including all
sectors, applications and processing
technologies.
Decking and automotive are the
most important application sectors for
WPC, followed by siding and fencing.
Only the automotive sector is relevant
for Natural Fibre Composites (NFC)
today. The share of WPC and NFC in
the total composite market – including
glass, carbon, wood and Natural Fibre
Composites – is already an impressive
15%. Even higher shares are to be
expected in the future: NFC are
starting to enter other markets than
just the automotive industry. WPC
granulates for injection moulding are
now produced and offered by global
players and are becoming more
attractive for clients that manufacture
consumer goods, automotive and
technical parts.
With increasing polymer prices and
expected incentives for bio-based
products (the bio-based economy is
one of the lead markets in Europe)
this trend will go from strength to
strength, resulting in two-digit growth
and increasing market shares over the
coming decade.
100% 74% 26%
352,000
Total Volume
Biocomposites
15 % Share
2.4 Million
Composite Production
in European Union
total volume (Glass,
Carbon, WPC and NFC)
(Photo: hammerkauf.de)
260,000
Wood-Plastic
Composites
(Photo: nova)
92,000
Natural Fibre
Composites
90,000 Automotive
2,000 Others
42 bioplastics MAGAZINE [02/14] Vol. 9

Market
t
Global Production of WPC in 2010
and 2012
and Forecast for 2015
2010
2012
900,000
2015
10,000
20,000
220,000
260,000
350,000
10,000
1,100,000
50,000
20,000
40,000
5,000
25,000
70,000
900,000
1,350,000
2010
2012
2015
300,000
2010
2012
1,800,000
2015
30,000
40,000
55,000
40,000
65,000
110,000
Fig 1.
Wood-Plastic Composites –
Decking still dominant, but
technical applications and
consumer goods rising
The typical production process in
Europe is extrusion of a decking profile
based on a PVC or PE matrix followed
by PP. Increasing market penetration
by WPC has meant that WPC volumes
have risen strongly and Europe is now
a mature WPC market.
However, WPC is increasingly used
for applications beyond the traditional
ones like decking or automotive parts.
This includes for example, furniture,
technical parts, consumer goods and
household electronics, using injection
moulding and other non-extrusion
processes. Also, new production
methods are being developed for the
extrusion of broad WPC boards.
In the face of rising plastic prices,
WPC granulates are getting more and
more attractive for injection moulding.
Three big paper companies released
cellulose-based PP granulates for
injection moulding between 2012
and 2013. They use a PP matrix with
cellulose and have fibre contents
between 20 and 50% for new and
interesting applications such as
furniture, consumer goods and
automotive parts.
The report also gives an overview
of the latest market developments in
North-America, Asia and Russia, and
provides an overview of, and a forecast
for, the global WPC market. Worldwide
WPC production will rise from 2.43
million tonnes in 2012 to 3.83 million
tonnes in 2015. Although North America
is still the world’s leading production
region with 1.1 million tonnes, ahead of
China (900,000 t) and Europe (260,000 t),
it is expected that China (with 1.8 million
t by then) will have overtaken North
America (1.4 million t) by 2015. European
production will grow by around 10% per
year and reach 350,000 tonnes in 2015.
WPC and NFC in the
automotive industry
Interior parts for the automotive
industry is by far the most dominant
use of Natural Fibre Composites – other
sectors such as consumer goods are still
at a very early stage. In the automotive
sector, Natural Fibre Composites have
a clear focus on interior trims for highvalue
doors and dashboards. Wood-
Plastic Composites are mainly used for
rear shelves and trims for trunks and
spare wheels, as well as in interior trims
for doors.
Figure 2 shows the total volume of
80,000 tonnes of different wood and
Fig. 2:
Use of wood and natural fibres
for composites in the European
automotive industry in 2012,
including cotton and wood.
Others are mainly jute, coir, sisal and
abaca (nova 2014)
kenaf
hemp
8%
19%
flax
others
5%
7%
cotton
25%
80,000
t
38%
wood
TOTAL
VOLUME
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/14] Vol. 9 43

Market
Production in 2012
Biocomposites
Forecast production in 2020
without ...
with strong ...
... incentives for
bio-based products
190,000 t
Construction, extrusion
400,000 t
450,000 t
WPC
60,000 t
Automotive, press moulding
& extrusion/thermoforming
80,000 t
300,000 t
15,000 t
Granulates,
injection moulding
100,000 t
> 200,000 t
NFC
90,000 t
2,000 t
Automotive, press moulding
Granulates,
injection moulding
10,000 t >
20,000 t
120,000 t
350,000 t
Table 2: Production of biocomposites (WPC and NFC) in the European
Union in 2012 and forecast 2020 (in tonnes) (nova 2014)
natural fibres used in the 150,000
tonnes of composites for passenger
cars and lorries that were produced
in Europe in 2012 (90,000 tonnes of
Natural Fibre Composites and 60,000
tonnes of WPC). Recycled cotton fibre
composites are mainly used for the
driver cabins of lorries.
Process-wise, compression
moulding of wood and Natural Fibre
Composites are an established and
proven technique for the production of
extensive, lightweight and high-class
interior parts for mid-range and luxury
cars. The advantages (lightweight
construction, crash behaviour,
deformation resistance, lamination
ability and, depending on the overall
concept, price) and disadvantages
(limited shape and design forming,
scraps, cost disadvantages in case of
high part integration in construction
parts) are well known. Process
optimisations are in progress in order
to reduce certain problems such as
scraps and to recycle wastage.
Since 2009, new improved
compression- moulded parts have
shown impressive weight- reduction
characteristics. This goes some way
to explaining the growing interest in
new car models. Using the newest
technology, it is now possible to
get area weight down to 1,500 g/
m2 (with thermoplastics) or even
1,000 g/m2 (with thermosets), which
are outstanding properties when
compared to pure plastics or glass
fibre composites.
Still small in volume but also strong
in innovation: PP and cellulose-based
granulates for injected- moulded
parts were recently introduced onto
the automotive market by big paper
companies in Europe and the USA.
Outlook for WPC and NFC
production in the EU until 2020
The production and use of 150,000
tonnes biocomposites (using 80,000
tonnes of wood and natural fibres) in
the automotive sector in 2012 could
expand to over 600,000 tonnes of
biocomposites in 2020, using 150,000
tonnes of wood and natural fibres
each along with some recycled cotton.
Yet this fast development will not take
place if there are no major political
incentives to increase the bio-based
share of the materials used in cars.
Without incentives the authors forecast
that production will only increase to
200,000 tonnes.
With improved technical properties,
lower prices and bigger suppliers,
huge percentage increases can also be
expected for WPC and NFC granulates
used in injection moulding for all kind
of technical and consumer goods.
Extruded WPC is now well
established as a material for decking,
fencing and facade elements. Its
market share is still growing and
should reach and surpass the level of
tropical wood in most of the European
countries by 2020.
By:
Michael Carus, Lara Dammer
Lena Scholz, Roland Essel, Elke Breitmayer
nova-Institute,Hürth, Germany
Asta Eder
Asta Eder Composites Consulting,
Austria / Finland
Hans Korte
PHK Polymertechnik GmbH, Wismar, Germany
A more comprehensive summary is available for
free at www.bio-based.eu/markets
The full report can be ordered for 1,000 €
plus VAT at www.bio-based.eu/markets
44 bioplastics MAGAZINE [02/14] Vol. 9

Microplastic
Microplastics in the Environment
Sources, Consequences, Solutions
total mass in million tonnes
350
300
250
200
150
100
1950 1970 1990 2010
Global plastic production
Ingress of plastic waste into
the oceans estimations by:
UNEP 2006
Wright et al. 2013
Plastic waste in
the oceans
Diameter
Typical dimensions
of aquatic creatures
Macroplastic > 25 mm Fish, shellfish,
mussels, etc.
Typical dimensions
of industrial plastics
Mesoplastic 5 – 25 mm production of plastic
granules /pellets
Large microplastic
particle
Small microplastic
particle
1 – 5 mm
< 1mm Plankton Application of microplastic
in cosmetics
Tabelle 1
50
0
Table 1: Classification of marine plastic debris on the basis of size
(Source: own representation based on JRC 2013, STAP 2011)
Figure 1: Global plastics production in the period from 1950 to 2012 und estimated
volume of discharge of plastics into the oceans (Source: own representation based
on PlasticsEurope 2013, UNEP 2006, Wright et al. 2013)
Scientific studies have shown that plastics make a huge
contribution to the littering of the seas. In marine pro-
tection, plastic particles with a diameter of less than
5 mm are referred to as microplastics. These can be fragments
created by the breaking up of larger pieces of plastic
such as packaging, or as fibres are washed out of textiles.
They can also be primary plastic particles, produced in microscopic
sizes. These include granulates used in cosmetics,
washing powders, cleaning agents and in other applications.
The following article describes the source of microplastics,
the effects they have on the ecosystem and on people, and
discusses potential solutions. For the first time, on July 1st
2014, a conference will be dedicated to this topic in Germany.
Waste in the oceans and inland waters is dominated by
plastics (Barnes et al. 2009). The United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) assumes coverage of up to 18,000 pieces
of plastic for every square kilometre of ocean (UNEP 2006). It
can take centuries for plastic to be broken down in the oceans
by physical, chemical, and biological decomposition processes
(UBA 2010). Along with larger waste items such as
plastic bottles or bags, steadily increasing amounts of
plastic microparticles – commonly known as microplastics s –
are being observed in ocean gyres, sediments, and on beaches,
as well as being found in marine organisms.
The term microplastics, however, is not used consistently.
In the cosmetics industry, it is used to describe plastic
granulates that in many cases are much smaller than 1
mm in diameter. In marine protection, in contrast, plastic
particles with a diameter of less than 5 mm are considered
microplastics (Arthur et al. 2009). On the other hand, Browne
et al. (2011) use the term for plastic particles with a diameter
of less than 1mm. Neither source gives a lower value for the
diameter of particles, meaning that the term microplastics
also includes significantly smaller particles (Leslie et al.
2011). Microplasticss
can therefore be considered an umbrella
term for various plastic particles determined solely on the
basis of size (cf. Table 1).
In accordance with this definition, in the text that follows,
all plastic particles with a diameter smaller than 5mm are
termed microplastics.
46 bioplastics MAGAZINE [02/14] Vol. 9

Microplastic
Sources of microplastics
The most commonly used polymers in cosmetics are
polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and polyamide (PA). A
whole series of other polymers are also in use (Leslie et al.
2012).
Manufacturers add synthetic polymers to cosmetics for a
number of reasons: some possess film-forming and viscosityregulating
properties, others act as abrasives. They are
designed to remove impurities from the skin or to clean teeth.
Along with their use in the cosmetics industry, there are
other applications for plastic microparticles. They are used
as abrasive beads in detergents and cleaning fluids, and as
a blasting abrasive in, for example, the surface cleaning of
stainless steel. They are use as lubricants, separating agents,
or as carriers for pigments, or to adjust the viscosity of hot
melt adhesives. Water softeners can also contain plastic
microparticles.
As well as microplastics produced directly in microscopic
sizes to be used in cosmetics and other products, microparticles
in many cases are secondary fragments produced by the
breakdown of larger pieces of plastic. Plastic microparticles
can originate, for example, from plastic packaging dumped
in the environment, such as bags or boxes, or from plastic
fibres from textiles, or particles released by tyre wear. The
production and recycling of plastics also generates particles.
Ryan et al. (2010) also record direct macroplastic pollution
from ship waste.
Although the sources of microplastics are largely
documented, until now no reliable data has been produced
on the amounts of microplastics from cosmetics and other
implementations, and other sources, actually enter the
environment.
The United Nations Environment Programme refers to the
estimate made in 1997 that in the 1990s, around 6.4 million
tonnes of plastic debris entered the oceans annually, of which
just short of 5.6 million tonnes came from shipping (UNEP
2006). Wright et al. 2013 estimate that, in total, around ten
per cent of global plastics production will find its way into
the ocean at some point. It follows that of the 288 million
tonnes of plastic produced worldwide in 2012 (according to
PlasticsEurope estimates), just short of 30 million tonnes will
sooner or later enter the marine environment and serve as a
potential source of microplastics (cf. Figure 1).
Consequences of microplastics
The presence of microplastics in the environment has a
number of negative consequences for humans and the natural
environment. If animals ingest pieces of plastic, large or
small, mistaking them for food, a permanent feeling of satiety
can result – and they starve to death. In experiments feeding
mussels with microplastics, researchers demonstrated that
plastic particles could penetrate the stomach lining and enter
the bloodstream. Many plastic parts contain chemicals like
softeners or flame retardants. Some of these additives are
harmful to fertility or imitate natural hormones. They are only
weakly bound into the plastic matrix, and can easily leach out
and impact plant and animal life. Long-lasting hydrophobic
pollutants can attach to and accumulate on plastic
microparticles. If marine organisms consume these particles,
these contaminants can enter the food chain (Teuten et al.
2007) and ultimately cause harm to humans.
Can bioplastics be a solution?
Primary microparticles from cosmetics make up only a
small part of the plastics in the oceans in absolute terms.
Strategies designed to reduce the ever-increasing littering of
the world’s seas should therefore not focus solely on the use
of these microparticles, but should apply to all kinds of plastic
waste.
Cosmetics manufacturers can, however, eliminate longlasting
plastic microparticles from their products, or replace
them with microparticles produced from other materials.
Many of these companies are currently on the lookout for
alternatives. Chemicals producers and traders already offer a
selection (cellulose, wood chip, minerals).
Whether or not biodegradable polymers can be an option
is an exciting and important question. Their use would be
of interest above all because the existing production chain
could be kept in use largely unaltered, and the functioning of
the microparticles would also be a very close match for the
plastics previously in use.
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), and polybutylene succinate
(PBS), are potential candidates, as are polylactic acid (PLA)
produced from maize starch, chitosan from chitin or casein
from animal protein. Current studies suggest that PLA is
probably not the best solution, whereas PHAs have real future
potential (CalRecycle 2012). PHAs are natural thermoplastics,
which degrade quickly in almost any environment (including
in the sea). The greatest challenges lie in ensuring that
breakdown occurs only after the product has been used, and
in developing mass production.
In contrast, so-called oxo-(bio)degradable e plastics are no
solution – in fact, they’re part of the problem. These plastics
aren’t actually biodegradable. They contain predetermined
breaking points that cause the polymers to fragment i.e.
produce microparticles. Up to 80 % of the content (in terms of
the original weight of the product) remains in the environment
and can produce toxic effects (Narayan 2009).
Conclusions
The availability of precise numbers on the amount of plastic
microparticles used in cosmetics and other products is
unsatisfactory. Due to the lack of data, it is difficult to establish
the volumes in which these particles enter the environment,
and what the predominant transport and release mechanisms
are. Their accumulation in the oceans, on the seafloor, on
beaches worldwide, and in numerous organisms (and the
resulting adverse effects for both humans and nature) is
receiving ever more public attention, and demands solutions.
Fragments from plastic debris that has entered the sea are
a far greater source of damage. This means that if we want
to decrease the amount of microplastics in the environment,
and above all in the world’s oceans, it is not enough to focus
on microplastics in cosmetics. Instead, measures need to
bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/14] Vol. 9 47

e taken to drastically reduce the amount of plastic waste
entering the environment in general – not just in Germany
or the EU, but worldwide. The EU is pointing us in the right
direction with its five-step waste hierarchy: reuse – reduce,
recycle, incinerate (waste to energy) – (avoid) landfill.
By:
Roland Essel
Head of Sustainability Department
nova-Institute
Hürth, Germany
The nova-Institute is organising a conference entitled “Microplastics in the
Environment – Sources, Consequences, Solutions” to take place on July 1st
between 9am and 6pm at the Maternushaus conference centre in Cologne,
Germany. Further information about the conference can be found at:
www.bio-based.eu/mikroplastik
References
Arthur, C.; Baker, J. & H. Bamford (2009): Proceedings of the international
Research Workshop on the Occurrence, Effects and Fate of Microplastic
Marine Debris. Sept 9-11, 2008. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS-
QR&R-30.
Barnes, D.K.A.; Galgani, F.; Thompson, R. C. & M. Barlaz (2009):
Accumulation and fragmentation of plastic debris in global environment. In:
Philosophical Transaction of the Royal Society B (biological sciences) 364:
1985-1998
Browne, M.A.; Crump, P.; Niven, S.J.; Teuten, E.; Tonkin, A.; Galloway, T. & R.
Thompson (2011): Accumulation of Microplastic on Shorelines Worldwide:
Sources and Sinks. In: Environmental Science & Technology 45: 9175-9179
CalRecycle – California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery
(2012): PLA and PHA Biodegradation in the Marine Environment. State of
California, Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, Sacramento,
California
Gouin, T.; Roche, N.; Lohmann, R. & G. Hodges (2011): A thermodynamic
approach for assessing the environmental exposure of chemicals absorbed to
microplastic. In: Environmental Science & Technology 45: 1466-1472
JRC – Joint Research Centre (2013): Guidance on Monitoring of Marine
Litter in European Seas – A guidance document within the Common
Implementation Strategy fort he Marine Strategy Framework Directive. MSFD
Technical Subgroup on Marine Litter. European Union, 2013
Leslie, H.; van der Meulen, M. D.; Kleissen, F. M. & A. D. Vethaak (2011):
Microplastic Litter in the Dutch Marine Environment – Providing facts and
analysis for Dutch policymakers concerned with marine microplastic litter.
Deltares, the Netherlands
Narayan, R. (2009): Biodegradability... In: bioplastics MAGAZINE [01/09] Vol.
4: 28-31
PlasticsEurope – Association of Plastics Manufacturers (2013): Plastics – the
Facts 2013. An analysis of European latest plastics production, demand and
waste data. PlasticsEurope, Brussels
Ryan, P.G.; Moore, C.J.; van Franeker, J.A. & C.L. Moloney (2010): Monitoring
the abundance of plastic depbris in the marine environment. In: Philpsophical
Transactions of the Royal Society B 364, pp: 1999 - 2012
STAP – Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (2011): Marine Debris as a
Global Environmental Problem: Introducing a solutions based framework
focused on plastics. Global Environment Facility, Washington, DC.
Teuten, E.L., Rowland, S.J., Galloway, T.S. & Richard C. Thompson
(2007): Potential for plastics to transport hydrophobic contaminants. In
Environmental Science and Technology 41, 7759-7764
Thompson, Richard C. (2014): The challenge: Plastics in the marine
Environment. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 33: 6-8
UBA - Umweltbundesamt (2010): Abfälle im Meer – ein gravierendes
ökologisches, ökonomisches und ästhetisches Problem. Umweltbundesamt,
Dessau-Roßlau
UNEP – United Nations Environment Programme (2006): Ecosystems and
Biodiversity in Deep Waters and High Seas. UNEP Regional Seas Reports and
Studies No. 178. UNEP /IUCN, Switzerland
Wright, S. L.; Thompson, R. & T. S. Galloway (2013): The physical impacts of
microplastics on marine organisms: A review. In: Environmental Pollution
177: 483-492
48 bioplastics MAGAZINE [02/14] Vol. 9

Basics
Injection Moulding
Injection moulding is a plastics processing technique for the
fully automated production of plastic parts with complex
geometries. Almost all sizes and shapes of plastic parts
can be made by injection moulding. About 60% of all plastics
processing machines are injection moulding machines [1].
Injection moulded parts range from a few milligrams (e.g.
cogwheels in Swatch ® whatches) up to many kilograms (e.g.
dashboards or bumpers for automobiles). The possible applications
for injection moulding are almost endless. Some
examples are ball-point pens, rulers and other office accessories,
disposable cutlery, garden furniture, beverage crates,
knobs and handles, small mechanical parts, and lots more.
The process
In the injection moulding process molten plastic material
is injected into a mould. The granular plastic raw material for
the part is fed by gravity from a hopper into a heated barrel.
In this barrel the plastic material is transported forward by a
turning screw.
During this process the plastic is melted, mixed and
homogenized. At the same time the crew slowly moves
backward during the melting process to enable a shot
of melted plastic to build up in front of the screw tip
(Fig. 1).
Once the quantity needed for one shot is reached the screw
moves forward and presses the melt through a pre-heated
nozzle and under pressure through the feed channel to the
cavity of the cold mould, the so-called tool. The plastic now
cools down in the tool and is ejected as a finished moulded
part [1].
Injection moulding of bioplastics [4]
In contrast to blown film production, which uses existing
machinery that has already proved to be effective, some
reservations still exist in terms of the injection moulding of
bioplastics.
Fig 1: The injection moulding process (picture: according to
www.fenster-wiki.de)
cooling
heating screw granules
plasticizing
The most important requirement for successfully
injection moulding bioplastics is the compatibility of existing
production equipment. Frankly, existing machinery and
production tools that are designed for common plastics such
as PP, PS or ABS are perfectly suitable for the processing
bioplastics (such as FKuR’s BIO-FLEX ® or BIOGRADE ® )
However, a small investment may be necessary concerning
the hot runner system and the clearances within existing
tools.
One key to success is to reduce the residence time of the
material. When compared with PS, for example, there are
some bioplastics that can be processed with a reduction of
30% of the whole cycle time while others, such as PLA need
longer cooling times due to the crystallisation process. While
the mass temperature should not fall outside the defined
temperature profile the processor should be informed,
through recommended processing conditions, that the
injection pressure and speed can be modified to fill the
mould properly. The small processing window of bioplastics
in terms of the temperature profile may result in the need
for a new hot runner system. Commonly hot runner systems
do not have a constant temperature along the whole length.
This, along with the tendency of the materials to either freeze
immediately or to burn if the temperature goes outside the
processing window, can cause problems if improper hot
runner systems are used.
After resolving the issues of the hot runner by applying a
suitable system then the only thing that the machine operator
needs is a bioplastic grade designed for injection moulding
(pre-dried if necessary) as well as a little practice with the
new materials. Some examples of successful products made
from FKuR’s bioplastics in both multi and single cavity tools
with hot and cold runners are consumer electronics, office
equipment and catering articles. MT
References:
[1]: Stitz, S.; Keller, W.: Spritzgießtechnik, Carl Hanser Publishers,
2001
[2]: Thielen,M.: Bioplastics - Basics. Applications. Markets,
Polymedia Publisher, 2012
[3]: Wikipedia
[4]: Lohr, C.: Bioplastics Designed for rigid parts,
bioplastics MAGAZINE (Vol. 5) Issue 03/2010
mould
melt
drive
injection, cooling
with after-pressure
demoulding
Injection moulding machine
(picture: Ferromatik Milacron)
bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/14] Vol. 9 49

Events
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Event Calendar
Biochemicals & Bioplastics 2014
10.06.2014 - 11.06.2014 - Duesseldorf, Germany
Renaissance Hotel
http://ci43.actonsoftware.com/acton/ct/
6204/s-005c-1403/Bct/l-0051/l-0051:587/ct0_0/1
GreenTech
10.06.2014 - 12.06.2014 - Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Amsterdam RAI Convention Centre
www.greentech.nl/e/Pages/default.aspx
4th Biobased Performance Materials Symposium
12.06.2014 - Wageningen, Netherlands
Hotel De Wageningsche Berg
www.wageningenur.nl
fip solution plastique
17.06.2014 - 18.06.2014 - Lyon, France
Lyon Euroexpo, France
www.f-i-p.com
Biobased Materials
24.06.2014 - 25.06.2014 - Stuttgart, Germany
10th Congress for Biobased Materials, Natural Fibres and WPC
www.biobased-materials.com
ISSN 1862-5258
May/June
03 | 2014
Mikroplastik in der Umwelt –
Quellen, Folgen und Lösungen2nd International
01.07.2014 – Cologne, Germany
Maternushaus
http://bio-based.eu/mikroplastik
Highlights
Injection Moulding | 10
Thermoset | 34
Conference Bio-based Polymers and Composites
24.08.2014 - 28.08.2014 - Visegrád, Hungary
www.bipoco2014.hu
Bio-based Global Summit 2014
09.09.2014 - 10.09.2014 - Brussels, Belgien
Thon EU Hotel Brussels
www.biobased-global-summit.com
bioplastics MAGAZINE Vol. 9
... is read in 91 countries
International Symposium on BioPolymers - ISBP2014
29.09.2014 - 01.10.2014 - Santos, Brazil
www.isbp2014.com
BioEnvironmental Polymer Society
14.10.2014 - 17.10.2014 - Kansas City, USA
Kauffman Foundation Conference Center
www.beps.org
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3) Gratis-Buch in Deutschland nicht möglich, no free book in Germany
Forum Kunststoffgeschichte 2014 „Plastics Heritage“
22.10.2014 - 24.10.2014 - Berlin, Germany
Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft HTW in Berlin
www.forum-kunststoffgeschichte.de
Ecochem
The Global Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering Event
11.11.2014 - 13.11.2014 - Switzerland, Germany
Congress Center Basel
http://ecochemex.com
3rd Conference on Carbon Dioxide as Feedstock
for Chemistry and Polymers
02.12.2014 - 03.12.2014 - Essen, Germany
Haus der Technik
www.co2-chemistry.eu/registration
9th European Bioplastics
02.12.2014 - 03.12.2014 - Brussels, Belgien
The Square, Brussels
www.european-bioplastics.org
You can meet us! Please contact us in advance by e-mail.

Suppliers Guide
1. Raw Materials
AGRANA Starch
Thermoplastics
Conrathstrasse 7
A-3950 Gmuend, Austria
Tel: +43 676 8926 19374
lukas.raschbauer@agrana.com
www.agrana.com
Shandong Fuwin New Material Co., Ltd.
Econorm ® Biodegradable &
Compostable Resin
North of Baoshan Road, Zibo City,
Shandong Province P.R. China.
Phone: +86 533 7986016
Fax: +86 533 6201788
Mobile: +86-13953357190
CNMHELEN@GMAIL.COM
www.sdfuwin.com
FKuR Kunststoff GmbH
Siemensring 79
D - 47 877 Willich
Tel. +49 2154 9251-0
Tel.: +49 2154 9251-51
sales@fkur.com
www.fkur.com
39 mm
Simply contact:
Tel.: +49 2161 6884467
suppguide@bioplasticsmagazine.com
Stay permanently listed in the
Suppliers Guide with your company
logo and contact information.
For only 6,– EUR per mm, per issue you
can be present among top suppliers in
the field of bioplastics.
For Example:
Dammer Str. 112
41066 Mönchengladbach
Germany
Tel. +49 2161 664864
Fax +49 2161 631045
info@bioplasticsmagazine.com
www.bioplasticsmagazine.com
Showa Denko Europe GmbH
Konrad-Zuse-Platz 4
81829 Munich, Germany
Tel.: +49 89 93996226
www.showa-denko.com
support@sde.de
DuPont de Nemours International S.A.
2 chemin du Pavillon
1218 - Le Grand Saconnex
Switzerland
Tel.: +41 22 171 51 11
Fax: +41 22 580 22 45
plastics@dupont.com
www.renewable.dupont.com
www.plastics.dupont.com
Tel: +86 351-8689356
Fax: +86 351-8689718
www.ecoworld.jinhuigroup.com
jinhuibio@126.com
Jincheng, Lin‘an, Hangzhou,
Zhejiang 311300, P.R. China
China contact: Grace Jin
mobile: 0086 135 7578 9843
Grace@xinfupharm.com
Europe contact(Belgium): Susan Zhang
mobile: 0032 478 991619
zxh0612@hotmail.com
www.xinfupharm.com
1.1 bio based monomers
Corbion Purac
Arkelsedijk 46, P.O. Box 21
4200 AA Gorinchem -
The Netherlands
Tel.: +31 (0)183 695 695
Fax: +31 (0)183 695 604
www.corbion.com/bioplastics
bioplastics@corbion.com
1.2 compounds
GRAFE-Group
Waldecker Straße 21,
99444 Blankenhain, Germany
Tel. +49 36459 45 0
www.grafe.com
Natur-Tec ® - Northern Technologies
4201 Woodland Road
Circle Pines, MN 55014 USA
Tel. +1 763.225.6600
Fax +1 763.225.6645
info@natur-tec.com
www.natur-tec.com
PolyOne
Avenue Melville Wilson, 2
Zoning de la Fagne
5330 Assesse
Belgium
Tel.: + 32 83 660 211
www.polyone.com
Sample Charge:
39mm x 6,00 €
= 234,00 € per entry/per issue
Sample Charge for one year:
6 issues x 234,00 EUR = 1,404.00 €
The entry in our Suppliers Guide is
bookable for one year (6 issues) and
extends automatically if it’s not canceled
three month before expiry.
Evonik Industries AG
Paul Baumann Straße 1
45772 Marl, Germany
Tel +49 2365 49-4717
evonik-hp@evonik.com
www.vestamid-terra.com
www.evonik.com
API S.p.A.
Via Dante Alighieri, 27
36065 Mussolente (VI), Italy
Telephone +39 0424 579711
www.apiplastic.com
www.apinatbio.com
WinGram Industry CO., LTD
Great River(Qin Xin)
Plastic Manufacturer CO., LTD
Mobile (China): +86-13113833156
Mobile (Hong Kong): +852-63078857
Fax: +852-3184 8934
Email: Benson@wingram.hk
www.facebook.com
www.issuu.com
www.twitter.com
www.youtube.com
Natureplast
11 rue François Arago
14123 Ifs – France
Tel. +33 2 31 83 50 87
www.natureplast.eu
t.lefevre@natureplast.eu
Kingfa Sci. & Tech. Co., Ltd.
No.33 Kefeng Rd, Sc. City, Guangzhou
Hi-Tech Ind. Development Zone,
Guangdong, P.R. China. 510663
Tel: +86 (0)20 6622 1696
info@ecopond.com.cn
www.ecopond.com.cn
FLEX-162 Biodeg. Blown Film Resin!
Bio-873 4-Star Inj. Bio-Based Resin!
1.3 PLA
Shenzhen Esun Ind. Co;Ltd
www.brightcn.net
www.esun.en.alibaba.com
bright@brightcn.net
Tel: +86-755-2603 1978
bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/14] Vol. 9 51

Suppliers Guide
1.4 starch-based bioplastics
6. Equipment
Limagrain Céréales Ingrédients
ZAC „Les Portes de Riom“ - BP 173
63204 Riom Cedex - France
Tel. +33 (0)4 73 67 17 00
Fax +33 (0)4 73 67 17 10
www.biolice.com
Metabolix, Inc.
Bio-based and biodegradable resins
and performance additives
21 Erie Street
Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
US +1-617-583-1700
DE +49 (0) 221 / 88 88 94 00
www.metabolix.com
info@metabolix.com
1.6 masterbatches
www.earthfirstpla.com
www.sidaplax.com
www.plasticsuppliers.com
Sidaplax UK : +44 (1) 604 76 66 99
Sidaplax Belgium: +32 9 210 80 10
Plastic Suppliers: +1 866 378 4178
6.1 Machinery & Molds
Molds, Change Parts and Turnkey
Solutions for the PET/Bioplastic
Container Industry
284 Pinebush Road
Cambridge Ontario
Canada N1T 1Z6
Tel. +1 519 624 9720
Fax +1 519 624 9721
info@hallink.com
www.hallink.com
BIOTEC
Biologische Naturverpackungen
Werner-Heisenberg-Strasse 32
46446 Emmerich/Germany
Tel.: +49 (0) 2822 – 92510
info@biotec.de
www.biotec.de
62 136 LESTREM, FRANCE
00 33 (0) 3 21 63 36 00
www.gaialene.com
www.roquette.com
Grabio Greentech Corporation
Tel: +886-3-598-6496
No. 91, Guangfu N. Rd., Hsinchu
Industrial Park,Hukou Township,
Hsinchu County 30351, Taiwan
sales@grabio.com.tw
www.grabio.com.tw
PSM Bioplastic HK
Room 1901B,19/F, Allied Kajima
Buil- ding 138 Gloucester Road,
Wanchai, Hongkong
Tel: +852-31767566
Fax: +852-31767567
support@psm.com.cn
www.psm.com.cn
1.5 PHA
TianAn Biopolymer
No. 68 Dagang 6th Rd,
Beilun, Ningbo, China, 315800
Tel. +86-57 48 68 62 50 2
Fax +86-57 48 68 77 98 0
enquiry@tianan-enmat.com
www.tianan-enmat.com
GRAFE-Group
Waldecker Straße 21,
99444 Blankenhain, Germany
Tel. +49 36459 45 0
www.grafe.com
PolyOne
Avenue Melville Wilson, 2
Zoning de la Fagne
5330 Assesse
Belgium
Tel.: + 32 83 660 211
www.polyone.com
2. Additives/Secondary raw materials
GRAFE-Group
Waldecker Straße 21,
99444 Blankenhain, Germany
Tel. +49 36459 45 0
www.grafe.com
Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH
Duesseldorfer Strasse 23-27
68219 Mannheim, Germany
Phone: +49 (0)621-8907-233
Fax: +49 (0)621-8907-8233
bioadimide.eu@rheinchemie.com
www.bioadimide.com
3. Semi finished products
3.1 films
Huhtamaki Films
Sonja Haug
Zweibrückenstraße 15-25
91301 Forchheim
Tel. +49-9191 81203
Fax +49-9191 811203
www.huhtamaki-films.com
Taghleef Industries SpA, Italy
Via E. Fermi, 46
33058 San Giorgio di Nogaro (UD)
Contact Frank Ernst
Tel. +49 2402 7096989
Mobile +49 160 4756573
frank.ernst@ti-films.com
www.ti-films.com
4. Bioplastics products
Minima Technology Co., Ltd.
Esmy Huang, Marketing Manager
No.33. Yichang E. Rd., Taipin City,
Taichung County
411, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
Tel. +886(4)2277 6888
Fax +883(4)2277 6989
Mobil +886(0)982-829988
esmy@minima-tech.com
Skype esmy325
www.minima-tech.com
NOVAMONT S.p.A.
Via Fauser , 8
28100 Novara - ITALIA
Fax +39.0321.699.601
Tel. +39.0321.699.611
www.novamont.com
President Packaging Ind., Corp.
PLA Paper Hot Cup manufacture
In Taiwan, www.ppi.com.tw
Tel.: +886-6-570-4066 ext.5531
Fax: +886-6-570-4077
sales@ppi.com.tw
ProTec Polymer Processing GmbH
Stubenwald-Allee 9
64625 Bensheim, Deutschland
Tel. +49 6251 77061 0
Fax +49 6251 77061 500
info@sp-protec.com
www.sp-protec.com
6.2 Laboratory Equipment
MODA: Biodegradability Analyzer
SAIDA FDS INC.
143-10 Isshiki, Yaizu,
Shizuoka,Japan
Tel:+81-54-624-6260
Info2@moda.vg
www.saidagroup.jp
7. Plant engineering
EREMA Engineering Recycling
Maschinen und Anlagen GmbH
Unterfeldstrasse 3
4052 Ansfelden, AUSTRIA
Phone: +43 (0) 732 / 3190-0
Fax: +43 (0) 732 / 3190-23
erema@erema.at
www.erema.at
Uhde Inventa-Fischer GmbH
Holzhauser Strasse 157–159
D-13509 Berlin
Tel. +49 30 43 567 5
Fax +49 30 43 567 699
sales.de@uhde-inventa-fischer.com
Uhde Inventa-Fischer AG
Via Innovativa 31
CH-7013 Domat/Ems
Tel. +41 81 632 63 11
Fax +41 81 632 74 03
sales.ch@uhde-inventa-fischer.com
www.uhde-inventa-fischer.com
52 bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/14] Vol. 9

Suppliers Guide
9. Services
10.2 Universities
11 rue François Arago
14123 Ifs – France
Tel. +33 2 31 83 50 87
www. biopolynov.com
t.lefevre@natureplast.eu
Osterfelder Str. 3
46047 Oberhausen
Tel.: +49 (0)208 8598 1227
Fax: +49 (0)208 8598 1424
thomas.wodke@umsicht.fhg.de
www.umsicht.fraunhofer.de
Institut für Kunststofftechnik
Universität Stuttgart
Böblinger Straße 70
70199 Stuttgart
Tel +49 711/685-62814
Linda.Goebel@ikt.uni-stuttgart.de
www.ikt.uni-stuttgart.de
narocon
Dr. Harald Kaeb
Tel.: +49 30-28096930
kaeb@narocon.de
www.narocon.de
nova-Institut GmbH
Chemiepark Knapsack
Industriestrasse 300
50354 Huerth, Germany
Tel.: +49(0)2233-48-14 40
E-Mail: contact@nova-institut.de
www.biobased.eu
Bioplastics Consulting
Tel. +49 2161 664864
info@polymediaconsult.com
UL International TTC GmbH
Rheinuferstrasse 7-9, Geb. R33
47829 Krefeld-Uerdingen, Germany
Tel.: +49 (0) 2151 5370-370
Fax: +49 (0) 2151 5370-371
ttc@ul.com
www.ulttc.com
10. Institutions
10.1 Associations
BPI - The Biodegradable
Products Institute
331 West 57th Street, Suite 415
New York, NY 10019, USA
Tel. +1-888-274-5646
info@bpiworld.org
European Bioplastics e.V.
Marienstr. 19/20
10117 Berlin, Germany
Tel. +49 30 284 82 350
Fax +49 30 284 84 359
info@european-bioplastics.org
www.european-bioplastics.org
IfBB – Institute for Bioplastics
and Biocomposites
University of Applied Sciences
and Arts Hanover
Faculty II – Mechanical and
Bioprocess Engineering
Heisterbergallee 12
30453 Hannover, Germany
Tel.: +49 5 11 / 92 96 - 22 69
Fax: +49 5 11 / 92 96 - 99 - 22 69
lisa.mundzeck@fh-hannover.de
http://www.ifbb-hannover.de/
Michigan State University
Department of Chemical
Engineering & Materials Science
Professor Ramani Narayan
East Lansing MI 48824, USA
Tel. +1 517 719 7163
narayan@msu.edu
‘Basics‘ book on bioplastics
This book, created and published by Polymedia Publisher, maker of bioplastics MAGA-
ZINE is available in English and German language.
The book is intended to offer a rapid and uncomplicated introduction into the subject
of bioplastics, and is aimed at all interested readers, in particular those who have not yet
had the opportunity to dig deeply into the subject, such as students or those just joining
this industry, and lay readers. It gives an introduction to plastics and bioplastics, explains
which renewable resources can be used to produce bioplastics, what types of bioplastic
exist, and which ones are already on the market. Further aspects, such as market development,
the agricultural land required, and waste disposal, are also examined.
An extensive index allows the reader to find specific aspects quickly, and is complemented
by a comprehensive literature list and a guide to sources of additional information
on the Internet.
The author Michael Thielen is editor and publisher bioplastics MAGAZINE. He is a qualified
machinery design engineer with a degree in plastics technology from the RWTH
University in Aachen. He has written several books on the subject of blow-moulding
technology and disseminated his knowledge of plastics in numerous presentations,
seminars, guest lectures and teaching assignments.
110 pages full color, paperback
ISBN 978-3-9814981-1-0: Bioplastics
ISBN 978-3-9814981-0-3: Biokunststoffe
Order now for € 18.65 or US-$ 25.00 (+ VAT where applicable, plus shipping and handling, ask for details)
order at www.bioplasticsmagazine.de/books, by phone +49 2161 6884463 or by e-mail books@bioplasticsmagazine.com
Or subscribe and get it as a free gift (see page 69 for details, outside German y only)
bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/14] Vol. 9 53

Companies in this issue
Company Editorial Advert Company Editorial Advert Company Editorial Advert
Agrana 50
AIMPLAS 18
API 50
Asta Eder Composites Consulting 42
AVA Biochem 41
BASF 6
Biomer 18
Biopolynov 52
Bioserie 22
Biotec 27 52
BPI 52
Braskem 22
Clemson Univ 38
Compac 34
Corbion 18 51
CTAG 18
DSM 17, 34
DTU Wind Energie 35
DuPont 10 50
Erema 51
European Bioplastics 33
Evonik 51, 55
Ferromatik Milacron 49
FiberCore 35
FKuR Kunststoff 19, 23, 49 2, 51
Fraunhofer UMSICHT 19 52
Godfrey Hirst Carpets 11
Grabio Greentzech 51
Grafe 50, 51
Grupo Antolin 18
Hallinnk 51
HBC Bulckaert 11
Huhtamaki 51
Hydal Biotech 17
IMI Fabi 24
Inst. F.Bioplastics & Biocomposites 52
Institut f.Kunststofftechnik 52
Interbros 23
ITKE (Univ. Stuttgart) 28
Jiangsu Clean Environmental 17
Jinhui Zhaolong 50
Kingfa 50
Limagrain Cereales Ingredients 51
Megatech 19
Metabolix 32 52
Michigan State Univ. 52
Minima Technology 51
Mitsubishi Chemical 14
Mohawk 11
Nanobiomatters 19
narocon 52
Natureplast 50
NatureWorks 14, 17, 22, 32
Naturtec 50
NBM 19
Newlight Technologies 7
Nomacorc 22
nova-Institute 42, 46 30, 52
Novamont 50, 51
Pallmann Maschinenfabrik 19
PHK Polymertechnik 42
PIEP 19
plasticker 21
Plastic Suppliers 51
polymediaconsult 52
PolyOne 50, 51
President Packaging 51
ProTec 51
PTT 15
Reverdia 17
RheinChemie 51
RIKEN 20
Roquette 17 52
Sabic 6
Saida 51
Shandong Fuwin 48, 50
Shanghai Disoxidation 17
Shenzhen Esun Industrial 50
Showa Denko 50
Sidaplax 51
Siemens Wind Power 35
Spolvay 37
Sprint 7
Suzhou Cleanet 17
Tahghleef Industries 51
Tianan Biopolymer 51
Toyota 11
UL Thermoplastics 52
Univ. Madison Wisconsin 38
Univ. Minho 19
Universiti Sains Malaysia 20
UPM 5
VTT Tech. Research Ctr. 18
Wacker Chemie 14
WinGram 50
Wuhan Huali 48, 51
Wyss Institute (Harvard) 31
Xinfu Pharm 50
Editorial Planner 2014
Issue Month Publ.-Date
edit/ad/
Deadline
04/2014 Jul/Aug 04.08.14 04.07.14 Bottles /
Blow Moulding
05/2014 Sept/Oct 06.10.14 06.09.14 Fiber / Textile /
Nonwoven
06/2014 Nov/Dec 01.12.14 01.11.14 Films / Flexibles /
Bags
Editorial Focus (1) Editorial Focus (2) Basics Fair Specials
Fibre Reinforced
Composites
Toys
Consumer
Electronics
PET
Building Blocks
Sustainability
Subject to changes
www.bioplasticsmagazine.com Follow us on twitter! Be our friend on Facebook!
54 bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/14] Vol. 9

VESTAMID® Terra
High Performance Naturally
Technical biobased polyamides which achieve
performance by natural means
VESTAMID® Terra DS (= PA1010) 100% renewable
VESTAMID® Terra HS (= PA610) 62% renewable
VESTAMID® Terra DD (= PA1012) 100% renewable
2
www.vestamid-terra.com

A real sign
of sustainable
development.
There is such a thing as genuinely sustainable
development.
Since 1989, Novamont researchers have been working
on an ambitious project that combines the chemical
industry, agriculture and the environment: “Living Chemistry
for Quality of Life”. Its objective has been to create products
with a low environmental impact. The result of Novamont’s
innovative research is the new bioplastic Mater-Bi ® .
Mater-Bi ® is a family of materials, completely biodegradable and compostable
which contain renewable raw materials such as starch and vegetable oil
derivates. Mater-Bi ® performs like traditional plastics but it saves energy,
contributes to reducing the greenhouse effect and at the end of its life cycle,
it closes the loop by changing into fertile humus. Everyone’s dream has
become a reality.
Living Chemistry for Quality of Life.
www.novamont.com
Within Mater-Bi ® product