Biopolymers

see also plant & vegetation

Biopolymers a renewable raw material

"Biopolymer applications are emerging fast and expected to grow rapidly, particularly for one-trip and technical packaging, paper and board coating, adhesives, paints, agricultural and horticultural applications. Standards for safety, biodegradability and compostability are already being prepared.

Starch, the reserve carbohydrate of plants, is a cheap, renewable and readily available raw material for biodegradable products. The physical properties of native starches already make them important in food and industrial applications, but modification of these properties by chemical means is a key factor in the widespread, large-scale use of starch.

For example, the fact that starch is hydrophilic restricts its use in many applications. However, using VTT technology, starch is first derived as a hydrophobic ester and then formulated to bioplastic or a water dispersion."

• from: http://www.eibis.com/eibis/eibiswww/eibisdoc/4017en.htm

more info here: http://www.biopolymer.net/

Biotec

"BIOTEC distributes a new generation of thermoplastic granules with the brand name offering various functional properties. These granules can be processed on extrusion lines for blown film, sheet films, shaped articles, profiles and injection molding to manufacture completely biodegradable products. BIOPLAST materials allow converters to manufacture products with completely new properties and to enter new markets."

• http://www.biotec.de/engl/index_engl.htm

COHPOL™

"COHPOL™ is the trade name for VTT Chemical Technology’s starch-based biopolymers, nine areas of technology protected by patents or patent applications, which cover the preparation methods for new biodegradable and compostable starch derivatives and bioplastic formulations by extrusion, and for water dispersions from starch derivatives.

COHPOL products include starch derivatives and compositions for water-based adhesives and hot melts; environmentally compatible materials for injection moulding; dispersion formulations for paper and board coating; binders for eco-paints and adhesives; coatings and matrix materials for the controlled release of active ingredients; and protective colloids for emulsion polymerisation."

• http://www.eibis.com/eibis/eibiswww/eibisdoc/4017en.htm

Ecoplast

Granules of biopolymers that can be used in injection moulding machinery and consist of of vegetable parts that are harvested each year. Ecoplast is composed of wood dust, starch, a binder and a mean to detach the product from the mould and a limited quantity of water.

It differs from other polymers because of the fact it will be turned into compost within 6 weeks during the process of composting vegetables and garden waste. The granulate however can be stored for more than a year in dry condition.

• http://www.groengranulaat.nl/ecoplast.html

Evercorn resin

Ever Corn, Inc. is a subsidiary of Japan Corn Starch Co., Ltd. founded to develop biodegradable plastics from corn starch. The Characteristics of the New Material

1. Based on natural resource---corn starch
2. Water resistant nevertheless it is based on corn starch
3. No toxic material is contained
4. Biodegradable and compostable
5. Lower combustion calorie compared with that of petroleum base plastics
6. Processable in conventional molding machine
7. Good compatibility with other biodegradable plastics like polyester, PHBV, PLA, PLC etc.

Starch itself has not thermoplasticity and is decomposed by heating at 250 260℃. However, EverCorn Resin (ECR) has thermoplasticity, though it is derived from corn starch. JCS has developed the new modification technology for starch and the new modification technology has given the thermoplasticity to starch. By using this technology, we have expanded the application area of starch to Injection molding, Extruding lamination, Film forming and so on. Also, as the base material of EverCorn Resin is starch, the moldings, laminated paper, film etc. of ECR are decomposed to water and carbon dioxide by the action of micro-organisms in soil or water.

• http://www.japan-cornstarch.com/hh_13.html

VEGEMAT®

VEGEMAT® has the advantages of both wood and cardboard for their natural aspect, their biodegradability and the advantage of plastics for their ease of use.

The thermoplastic VEGEMAT® granules are shaped by injection moulding with or without having to make any particular adjustment to tooling.

VEGEMAT® is available in various grades that meet the technical requirements of industrialists

• http://www.vegeplast.com

-- RachelWingfield - 15 Jun 2006