Application News First
Application News First bio-based plastic smartphone screen New matt cellulosebased film (photo: Sharpusa.com) Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC, headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan) recently announced that its biobased engineering plastic DURABIO has been chosen by Sharp Corporation (Osaka, Japan) for the front panel of its new smartphone, the AQUOS CRYSTAL 2, slated to go on sale in the middle of July 2015). The choice marks a world-first as bio-based engineering plastic has ever been used on the front panel of any smartphone. Most front panels of smart phones are made of glass, and their susceptibility to cracking has been an ongoing problem. This has led manufacturers to consider poly carbonate and other plastics for the front panels because of their light weight and increased durability com pared to glass. Unfortunately, some traditionally available plastics offered excellent optical properties, but were more prone to cracking upon impact, while others that were impact-resistant tended to have poor optical properties. Therefore, as there was a need for considerable improvement in the plastics, the vast majority of smartphone manu facturers relied on glass for the front panels of their phones. MCC-developed Durabio is a bio-based engineering plastic made from p l a n t - d e r i v e d isosorbide, which features excellent performance as it offers higher resistance to impact, heat, and weather than conventional engineering plastics. In addition, it has excellent transparency and low optical distortion. Recently, Durabio has received high evaluations from Sharp as a plastic with superior shock resistance and optical character istics, which led to the company’s selection of Durabio for the front panel of the AQUOS CRYSTAL 2. SB www.sharp-world.com www.m-kagaku.co.jp Innovia Films (Wigton, Cumbria, UK) has added NatureFlex NK Matt to its range of compostable cellulose-based packaging films. The film has a premium natural paper appearance. It has been developed primarily as a lamination grade. NatureFlex NK Matt is ideal as the outer web of duplex and triplex structures. It is also suitable for use in laminations to other bio-polymers (including grades of NatureFlex) and for extrusion coating. Organic and Fairtrade companies are already trialling NatureFlex NK Matt for products in the confectionery, dry foods, snacks and beverage sectors. The natural look and sleek feel of NatureFlex NK Matt in such a packaging enables the products to grab the attention of consumers on a crowded shelf. These new matt films, along with the other NatureFlex NK grades, with 97 % renewable content (ASTM D6866 Carbon Testing) and fully compostable according to EN 13432 / ASTM D6400, provide an excellent barrier to gases, aromas and mineral oils. This high gas barrier film gives products the protection they need. Advantages offered for packing and converting by NatureFlex NK Matt include inherent dead-fold, anti-static properties, printability and resistance to grease. “Compostable and renewable NatureFlex NK Matt offers manufacturers of natural and organic goods a way to align their packaging message with the spirit of their product marketing at point of sale. If you are looking for a tactile quality pack with sustainable credentials, NatureFlex NK Matt is the answer,” stated Clare McKeown, Innovia Films’ Market Manager. www.innoviafilms.com www.natureflex.com 28 bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/15] Vol. 10
Visions become reality. COMPOSITES EUROPE 22.– 24. Sept. 2015 Messe Stuttgart 10. Europäische Fachmesse & Forum für Verbundwerkstoffe, Technologie und Anwendungen www.composites-europe.com | Organised by Partners
