bioplasticsMAGAZINE_0904

Review
NPE Review
Even if NPE, ‘The International Plastics Showcase’ in Chicago
from June 22 to 26, 2009 had a decrease in the number of
visitors by 30%, a good portion of the approximately 44,000
visitors were very interested in bioplastics. At least this was our
impression when we attended our booth in the West hall.
After a comprehensive preview of this big plastics show in the
last issue, we just add a few more small notes here.
www.npe.org
API S.p.A. from Mussolente, Italy presented
APINAT biodegradable elastomers. Apinat is
available in softer grades with 60-90 Shore A
and in harder grades with 35-85 Shore A. The
biodegradability meets EN 13432 and ASTM 6400
standards. Apinat can be processed using all
methods for plastics, such as injection moulding.
extrusion blow moulding, calendering and hard/soft
over- or co-moulding onto most of the biodegradable
plastics commercially available.
www.apiplastic.com
Polyvel, Hammonton, New Jersey, USA have
developed in conjunction with NatureWorks a series
of masterbatches based on Ingeo PLA designed for
use in film, foam, injection moulding, blow moulding
and sheet extrusion. Their clarifier S-1378 not only
improves the clarity of PLA but it also raises the heat
deflection temperature, as stated in Polyvel’s NPE
brochure. Another clarifier for PLA (S-1417) can be
used to reduce the cycle time.
www.polyvel.com
Jamplast, Ellisville, Missouri, is the largest
distributor of biopolymers in North America. The
family-owned company is a one-stop source for
biopolymers, engineering polymers and commodity
grade thermoplastics. Jamplast is currently an
authorized distributor of NatureWorks biopolymers,
Cereplast biopolymers, Merquinsa Pearlthane,
PSM North America and others. At NPE Jamplast
hosted a luncheon with presentations from Mark
Verbruggen (NatureWorks), Frédéric Scheer
(Cereplast) and Daniel Tein (PSM North America).
www.jamplast.com
PolyOne launched three new products at NPE: The
Resound platform of biopolymer compounds is formulated
with a 30% minimum bio-derived content and offers a
substantial boost in performance for current and future
bio-based materials. Key improvements include levels of
heat tolerance and impact resistance unobtainable with
neat bioplastics, as stated by PolyOne. Resound compounds
combine compatible engineering thermoplastic resins
with bio-based polymers such as PLA, PHB, PHBV, and
biopolyesters. Future grades may take advantage of biopolymer
resins currently in development but not yet commercially
available. Initial Resound grades feature heat resistance
(HDT) up to 120°C (248°F) and impact resistance up to 53 J/m
(12 ft-lb/in).
Versaflex BIO TPEs (Thermoplastic Elastomers) for injection
molding are formulated with 63 to 70 % renewable resources,
compared to typical compounds that use a maximum of 15 or
20 %. The Versaflex BIO family of TPEs compares favorably
to typical styrenic-based TPEs The translucent grades are
available in a range of 40 to 70 Shore A hardness.
Merquinsa and PolyOne announced the world’s first halogenfree
flame-retardant biobased thermoplastic polyurethane
jointly developed by the two companies. Merquinsa’s Pearlthane ®
ECO technology, a polyether polyurethane based on natural
renewable sources will be marketed globally by PolyOne as
part of the OnFlex TM family of thermoplastic elastomers. The
minimum amount of
natural renewable
sources in the
polyurethane resin 50%
(as certified by ASTM D
6866).
www.polyone.com
OnFlex for wire and
cable applications
12 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/09] Vol. 4