K’2022 Preview LANXESS LANXESS (Cologne, Germany) presents new Tepex thermoplastic composites that are currently being developed starting from recycled or biobased raw materials. In the field of matrix materials for Tepex, recently PLA and PA10.10 have been introduced to the markets. Development is about to be completed, e.g. on a matrix plastic based on PA6 for Tepex dynalite, that is produced starting from green cyclohexane and therefore consists of well over 80 % sustainable raw materials. When the matrix plastic is reinforced with continuous-fibre fabrics, the resulting semi-finished products exhibit the same outstanding properties as equivalent products that are purely fossil-based. Beneath plant-based flax fibre fabrics, another new family of reinforcements comprises variants that yield surfaces with a so-called forged carbon look. The corresponding components feature a grain that is reminiscent of marble. The high proportion of recycled material is based on carbon fibres from postindustrial waste. The fibres are used as non-woven material or as chopped fibre mats. A variety of thermoplastics is suitable as a matrix material, such as PA6, PA66, PP, and PC as well as the above-mentioned PLA and PA10.10. The mechanical performance of the new carbon composites approximates the high level of the continuous-glass-fibre reinforced composites of the Tepex range isotropically. www.lanxess.com 6 C76-C78 Kuraray Among other products, Kuraray (Tokyo, Japan) presents Septon Bio-series, a unique hydrogenated styrene farnesene block copolymer (HSFC) which makes them the first and only manufacturer of biobased HSBC materials on the market. As one of the leading suppliers of TPEs, Kuraray is responding to increasing industry demand for more sustainable materials that can significantly improve the environmental footprint of products. For example, the production of these novel TPE materials has much lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional styrenic block copolymers. With the Septon bio-series, Kuraray gives manufacturers a new solution that enables new compounds and end-uses with a high biobased content to expand existing market areas and open up new ones. So far, Kuraray has achieved a bio content in Septon bio-series of up to 80 %. Further investigations are focused on maximizing the biobased content and finding additional synergies with other biobased raw materials. Kuraray is continuously working on improving the physical properties of these TPE materials to open up new fields of applications for its customers. www.elastomer.kuraray.com 7a D06 United Biopolymers United Biopolymers (Figueira da Foz, Portugal) through BIOPAR ® Technology allows the production of next-generation starch-based bioplastics, with added capabilities & functionalities. Biopar Technology enables the blending of two or more functional polymers to produce CoRez ® new material. Corez is a compound compostable resin which brings several competitive advantages over any other technologies available in the market. Corez new material, under the designation of Biopar currently allows formulation at 30 % and 40 % Green Carbon content which can be extended to a value of 90 %. CoRez under Biopar Technology apart of being certified as both Industrial Compostable and Home Compostable is also able to be recyclable. As extra features can be added the low processing temperatures, as well as the film brightness, transparency and the possibility to be processed at a low thickness in order to suit the toughest requirements. Corez’ aim is to become the industry reference for the new material generation replacing today’s conventional non-compostable and non-biodegradable plastic solutions. www.guiltfreeplastics.com 8a C14 Leistritz Extrusionstechnik Leistritz Extrusionstechnik (Nuremberg, Germany) will focus its presentation on its employees. Extrusion specialists will demonstrate their expertise in solving problems based on successfully concluded customer projects on the stage at the company’s booth. In addition, visitors will be able to learn about modern twin-screw extrusion technology & solutions for the recycling industry with intelligent control systems. This year, Leistritz will show how the team has succeeded in developing customized solutions with its technical know-how, commitment and enthusiasm. In regular stage shows, the extrusion specialists will explain, with the aid of successful application examples, how the individual expertise of Leistritz helps to solve technically challenging tasks. Daniel Nagl, Managing Director of Leistritz Extrusion Technology, explains: “We don’t sell anything simply off the shelf. Every one of our machines is designed individually to fulfil the needs of our customer”. Successfully implemented projects include for example biobased wine corks. The company Vinventions manufacturers closures for wine bottles. Plant-based raw materials based on sugar cane are used in the innovative compounding with direct extrusion process. Leistritz has been cooperating with Vinventions since 1997. Together, the two companies have realized 15 installations. www.leistritz.com 6 F22 32 bioplastics MAGAZINE [05/22] Vol. 17
Sirmax The Italian Sirmax Group based in Cittadella (Padua, Italy) is among the world’s leading producers of polypropylene compounds, engineering polymers, post-consumer compounds, and bio-compounds used in a variety of applications. In 2019 it acquired Microtec, a company that produces bioplastics. Today, with almost double the production, a second plant designated to biopolymers, and substantial R&D investments, Sirmax has developed an innovative family of 100 % biodegradable and compostable bioplastics called Biocomp. This bio-compound is made from raw materials of both renewable and fossil origin and its physical and mechanical properties are equivalent to those of traditional plastics. Biocomp can be used to make products with similar or superior characteristics compared to conventional plastics. Their applications and areas of use are centred around flexible and rigid packaging used in large-scale retail, agriculture, catering, and disposable packaging. The product is, therefore, not limited to the production of carrier bags – it also lends itself to compostable mozzarella, ice cream packaging and packaging for solid and liquid foods in general, refrigerator bags, paper-laminated packaging for the deli meats industry, packaging and accessories for clothing and fashion items, to the production of plates, glasses, trays, and cutlery, as well as freezer and ice cube bags as well as mulch films. www.sirmax.com 8b C69 Cabamix Cabamix (Cabannes, France) will introduce for the first time the new range Carbomax ® Phoenix as a result of the second phase of its strategy for a more sustainable industry. Carbomax Phoenix is made of 100 % recycled calcium carbonate, and rPE sourced from PCR, PIR, or chemical recycling. It allows to substantially enhance the recycled content of a finished products. Carbomax Phoenix is an interesting solution considering the fast-growing demand for recycled polymers. It is already perfect for film extrusion. Convince yourself, test it! For those who still don’t know it, Cabamix will also highlight Carbomax Bio, its premium calcium carbonate additive, up to 80 % biobased and certified compostable by TÜV Austria. There are many applications where compostability makes sense and where Carbomax Bio is commonly used like compostable flexible bags, mulch film for agriculture, coffee capsules… www.cabamix.com 5 D04-14 K’2022 Preview BIO-FED BIO-FED (Cologne, Germany) is an expert in the development and production of biodegradable and/or biobased plastics as well as biomass-balanced PP compounds – all under the brand name M·VERA ® . At K 2022, the company will present its product range together with AKRO-PLASTIC, AF-COLOR and K.D. Feddersen on a joint booth. Aim of the company is to provide solutions for reducing the carbon footprint as well as for waste reduction with biodegradable and biobased products. This also includes bioplastics with sustainable organic fillers, such as cellulose, lignin, or starch. Biomass-balanced M·VERA PP compounds, which are certified according to REDcert2 and ISCC PLUS, as well as the matching masterbatches AF- CirColor ® , AF-CirCarbon ® and AF-CirComplex ® also make an important contribution to this. Most M·VERA bioplastics are biodegradable compounds, a lot of them are also partially to fully biobased. They are suitable for various different processing technologies such as blown film, injection moulding, extrusion, and thermoforming. The range also includes a mulch film type that is certified as soil degradable according to EN 17033. Sustainable AF-Eco ® colour, carbon black and additive masterbatches suitable for all biodegradable compounds are also offered. www.bio-fed.com 6 C52 Evonik Evonik (Essen, Germany) is introducing a new sustainable high-performance plastic to its eCO product line: In the production of the polyamide 12 elastomer (PEBA) VESTAMID ® eCO E40, 50 % of fossil raw materials are saved and replaced by a starting material obtained from chemical recycling of used tires. In addition, only renewable energy is used in production, which reduces the carbon footprint by a total of 42 %. Vestamid eCO E40 is, without any restrictions, an immediate alternative with improved eco-balance for the long-established conventional moulding compound for sports shoe soles with high resilience. The soles exhibit excellent low-temperature impact strength, chemical resistance, and high elasticity, and are easy to colour, process, and overmould. Evonik will present Vestamid eCO, based on the mass balance approach Vestamid eCO and its other sustainable plastic materials under the motto “Next generation plastic solutions”. www.evonik.com 6 B28 bioplastics MAGAZINE [05/22] Vol. 17 33
