Expansion of the spectrum in the application of biobased polymer composites

Under the Arweco brand, the Lower Saxony-based wood processing company offers the production and development of biobased plastic compounds, including those based on natural fibres from oat husks and other renewable raw materials. These are produced in Visbek and sold globally, where they are used in a wide range of applications. With their collaboration, Polytives and Holzmühle Westerkamp are setting new standards in the manufacturability of environmentally friendly and sustainable plastic products and strengthening their position as pioneers in the industry.

Biopolymers offer a more environmentally friendly alternative to conventional plastics by reducing dependence on non-renewable resources and minimising environmental impact. They are derived from natural resources such as wood or cellulose and are used in a wide range of products, from packaging materials and disposable tableware to medical devices.

However, biomaterials and in particular biobased fibres and fillers are often damaged at high temperatures. With the unique processing aid from Polytives, the flow improver bFI A 3745, even sensitive fillers and biomaterials such as oat husks can now be processed without any problems, while also improving the mechanical properties. The flow improver enables processing temperatures to be reduced by 5 to 10 % even at very low dosages. Thanks to the innovative technology, damage to the sustainable Arweco material, especially the fillers, could be avoided for the first time in hot runner processing.

The result is a reusable packaging for fast food, made from a fully organic product that is now both more environmentally friendly and more efficient to produce. It also opens up a wide range of applications, as other everyday products and consumer goods such as sports equipment or frisbees can also be made from this material.

“Our collaboration with Arweco shows how innovative solutions can overcome the challenges of the industry. With our flow improver bFI A 3745, we offer a way to significantly reduce processing temperatures even at very low addition dosages and thus substantially improve the quality, processability and process capability of bio-based plastic composites”, says Steffen Felzer, Sales Director at Polytives.

Kolja Ostendorf, Head of Research and Development at Holzmühle Westerkamp, adds, “The collaboration with Polytives has enabled us to process our bio-based materials even better and more gently. The results speak for themselves - we are proud of the new sustainable fast food packaging and look forward to further joint projects and product solutions.” AT

www.polytives.com
www.westerkamp-gmbh.de