bioplastics MAGAZINE Issue 05/2016

Application News, Issue 05-2016

Covestro has also developed a range of waterborne, bio-based polyurethane dispersions under the Impranil® eco name. With a renewable content up to 65 %, this product class improves the CO2 footprint for manufacturers, OEM´s and brand owners in the textile industry. The products are part of the INSQIN® program for waterborne polyurethanes for textiles. For the first time, manufacturers can produce synthetic materials and coated fabrics with a high content of renewable materials in every layer.

A big step forward in the performance of biobased thermoplastic polyurethanes

As part of its integrated sustainability approach, Covestro (Leverkusen, Germany) is pursuing the use of bio-based materials, as it supports Covestro’s goals for maximum economic, environmental and societal value.

With 96 million tonnes oil-based synthetic fibres generated a world fibre market share of 62 % in 2015, followed by cotton (25 %), and (wood-based) cellulose regenerated fibres (6 %) [1]. Already in 2013 the world production of PET polyester fibres alone amounted to 41 million tonnes [2].

Innovative, high-performance specialty chemicals to meet the increased demand for more natural-based products

Around one million tonnes of fabrics used for clothing applications (including casual and workwear) are produced each year in Europe by yarn spinning (ring and rotor spinning techniques) combining natural fibres (such as cotton or wool) and synthetic fibres (such as polyester). Blends of natural fibres and synthetics are generally prepared to improve comfort and durability aspects of the end products. However, these standard fabrics are complex to recycle after their use since both types of fibres are intermingled and cannot be separated again.

The textile world is biobased; since the stone ages. By mankind natural fibres (hairs, wool, silk, cotton, flax, Jute …) were spun to yarns, twisted to ropes and woven to textiles since more than 7,500 years. Only end of the 19th century the history of manmade fibres started – in the beginning these were also biobased (based on cellulose) [1]. Today these cellulose based fibres have a share of 9 % worldwide, in Germany even 28 % of all manmade fibres [2] with increasing trend.

In response to growing market and consumer demand for sustainable products API Spa (Mussolente, Italy) has adopted a new strategy called Bio & Beyond which is focused on the development of new families of biodegradable materials and a wide range of biobased biomaterials.

Ford Motor Company

At the beginning of this century the production of chemical materials started a revolutionary change by moving from hydrocarbons to carbohydrates as raw material. The reason for this is that economical, ecological and technological developments are coming together.

PLA is a biobased polyester that enjoys already a significant role in the market. Besides PLA, several other polyesters can be generated from biogenic raw materials. In most cases, these polyesters are manufactured from a diol (bivalent alcohol: HO CnHm OH) and a dicarboxylic acid (HOOC-CnHm-HOOC) or from an ester generated from the diacids.

Yes, this is a big issue. And not only because a big event – K 2016 - is coming up soon. From 19-26 October, the World’s No. 1 international trade fair for plastics and rubber will be hosted in Düsseldorf, Germany.

C18 Polyols: A new class of renewable, high-performance polyester building blocks for polyurethanes

Biobased TPE compounds offer plastic product manufacturers new opportunities for sustainability

The International K Show, The world’s premier fair for the plastics and rubber industry, held once every three years will again be presenting everything the sector has to offer. Everything from the latest state of the art and trailblazing innovations to development visions. From 19 to 26 October in Düsseldorf, Germany, more than 200,000 visitors from over 100 countries are expected. At K’2016, more than 3000 companies will showcase their latest developments for all industry segments, including over 130 companies with products and services focused specifically on bioplastics. A selection of what is on display is presented below. Visitors can plan their trade show experience with the help of the floor plan on pages 36-37.

Softer, thinner, skin-friendly, antibacterial and 100 % natural nonwovens Sustainable? Of course. But it’s much more than that. QMILK is a unique natural fibre with thermo-bonding properties and probably the world’s smallest CO2 – footprint that offers exciting opportunities for new nonwoven material combinations.

A new class of plastics has been inspired by nature and is easily degradable

Biobased TPE and PP compounds fulfill the demands of the market

News, Issue 05/2016

3D printing materials Most thermoplastics are suitable for use in the FDM1 process, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. The two most commonly used polymers for FDM processing today are PLA and ABS. Generally, ABS is preferred when strength, flexibility and higher temperature resistance is required in the final part. The smell when printing, however, together with the requirement of a heated bed, are considered to be the main disadvantages of ABS for FDM. With regard to PLA, the excellent aesthetics, colorability, seemingly sweet smell while printing, minimal warpage and biobased origin makes it the most popular choice for hobbyist 3D printers. A disadvantage of PLA can be its glass transition temperature of around 55 °C. Above the glass transition temperature, a polymer softens and loses its rigidity which can cause problems for those end-applications intended for higher temperature circumstances.

an innovative biopolymer for the bioplastics toolbox

Finalists for the 11th Global Bioplastics Award bioplastics MAGAZINE is honoured to present the five finalists for the 11th Global Bioplastics Award. Five judges from the academic world, the press and industry associations from America, Europe and Asia have again reviewed many really interesting proposals. On these two pages we present details of the five most promising submissions.

NEC Corporation (Tokyo, Japan), in collaboration with the Kyoto Institute of Technology and a representative Japanese lacquerware artist, Dr. Yutaro Shimode, recently announced the development of a bioplastic using cellulose based resin [1] from grasses, trees and other non-edible plant resources that features the highly regarded URUSHI BLACK color of Japanese traditional lacquerware.

Melting efficiency performance for various polylactide resins in a co-rotating intermeshing twin screw extruder

Cellulose, the most abundant polymer on this planet, plays a key role in the global fibre market Austria headquartered Lenzing AG developed a process to transform wood based precursor material into a fibre with multiple end-uses. Innovation has always played an important role in its corporate history. The invention of Lenzing Modal® was followed by the development of a producer dyed color pigmented modal fibre with outstanding fastness properties. Many years of intense research resulted in afibre production process only using a physical cellulose dissolving mechanism known by its generic name Lyocell. Lenzing AG is selling Lyocell products under its brandname TENCEL®.