GS Pla - PLA - Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation Performance Polymers

Plastics Technology, 2004-03-24, Renewable PLA Polymer Gets "Green Light" For Packaging Uses
... arrived as an alternative to PET, HIPS, PVC, and cellulosics in some high-clarity packaging roles. PLA is being used in candy wrap, optically enhanced films, and shrink labels. It"s also showing...

Plastics Technology, 2005-04-08, Higher-Performing Biopolymers Seek New Market Opportunities
A new generation of biodegradable polymers is going beyond conventional applications like bags and disposable cutlery and packaging. Two German biopolymer suppliers are focused on delivering improved ...

Plastics Technology, 2007-02-02, Injection Blow Molded Bottles from PLA and Natural Fibers
...ries thus achieving "engagement" between industry, government and academia. Natural fiber plants include Cotton, Flax, Kenaf and Hemp. New research shows that natural fibers can be blended p...

Plastics Technology, 2007-02-02, The Impact of Processing Aids on PLA Extrusion Performance
The interest in extruding PLA (Polylactide resin) is growing for several reasons. These include the fact that the polymer comes from a renewable resource and that it is a degradable, environmentally f...

Plastics Technology, 2007-12-06, Foamed PLA Shows Promise In Biodegradable Meat Trays
Foamed food trays made of polylactic acid (PLA) resin, the corn-based biopolymer, have a commercial toehold in Europe and are undergoing market tests here. They are used to package meat or fish at the...

Plastics Technology, 2008-05-15, Material Handling, Crystallizing and Drying PLA
PLA is a moisture sensitive, hygroscopic thermoplastic resin that will readily adsorb moisture from the atmosphere. Therefore, an effort should be made to minimize its exposure to the atmosphere throu...

Plastics Technology, 2009-04-01, Injection Molding Biopolymers: How to Process Renewable Resins
...essing the new crop of renewably sourced biopolymers. These biologically derived polymers made from PLA, PHA and starch-based resins are attracting growing market interest as materials with no ties to...

Plastics Technology, 2009-12-01, On-Site: Green Business Is Good Business for Fabri-Kal
"We tend to jump on things early," says John Kittredge. "F-K has been a pioneer in a number of things. Our earliest example was converting HDPE margarine tubs to ABS. After that we were...

Plastics Technology, 2010-03-08, It"s Time to Get to Know Your Way Around Bioplastics
If you"re thinking about adding bioplastics to your portfolio of processing capabilities, it"s best to first find out what separates them from traditional synthetic polymers and how their di...

Plastics Technology, 2010-03-08, Thermoforming PLA: How to Do It Right
Polylactic acid (PLA) resins are made from 100% renewable resources such as corn, sugar beets, or sugarcane. This clear thermoplastic is fully compostable and biodegradable but has properties very sim...

Plastics Technology, 2010-08-02, Additives & Blends Take PLA Upscale
...atureworksllc.com), this April in Dallas, testified to the burgeoning interest in this new field of plastics. Attendance was up more than 50% from the first conference in 2008. Over 350 attended from ...

Plastics Technology, 2010-08-02, Injection Molding PLA Bioplastics: Validating Moldability for Paper Mate Pens
As part of the commercialization process for Mirel PHA bioplastics, it became necessary to validate the injection molding process for a high-profile consumer products launch. Since Mirel is a new poly...

Kunststoffe international, Green Shape Changers
...n, shape-changing (smart) materials offer a sensible approach to integrating functionalities into a component without giving rise to additional energy and material costs. Even greater sustainability is achieved if the components are produced from bioplastics. Numerous developments are inspired by nature. Few technical components are so well adapted to their specific requirements and so well equipped with additional functionalities as naturally occurring structures. A pine cone, for example, keep...

Kunststoffe international, Printed Tools for High-Volume Production
Ford has selected desktop 3D printers to create various assembly tools, and can now produce jigs and fixtures, and even in highly complex designs, in-house at low cost. Ultimaker’s open filament system enables the automaker to create parts with various filaments from a range of material manufacturers and meet specific material properties exactly. The automotive industry was one of the first sectors to recognize the potential and benefits of 3D printing. Its advanced technology has significantly ...

Kunststoffe international, What Can You Do at Fall Fairtime, When There Aren’t Any?
...tance requirements and rules of hygiene. In addition to selected innovations, visitors could view systems in action that were, in fact, originally intended for display at the Fakuma 2020 in October. These attractions were supplemented by web-meetings with familiar contact persons and videos of the exhibits intended for the Friedrichshafen/Germany trade fair on the company’s own YouTube channels. Cutting Costs by Preventing Waste Wittmann Battenfeld Deutschland strengthen‧ed its application tech...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Back to Nature
...e and hence the fuel consumption while simultaneously yielding good driving properties. If BMs were considered only for their waste management characteristics, they would be restricted to special products, such as collection bags for domestic organic waste, and mulching film. For this reason, the term “biodegradable materials” is increasingly being considered an unfortunate one by manufacturers – and the search is on for a more comprehensive name. Given the dominance of petroleum-based polymers,...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Biodegradable Film: For the Sake of the Environment
...n the packaging segment – which is particularly suitable for biodegradable materials because of its short life – a whole range of interesting applications exists, e.g. packaging film, chips/loose fill, trays for fruit, vegetables, meat and eggs, cups, beakers, bottles, nets, bags, sacks, carrier bags, blister and skin packs, composite film and paper/cardboard coatings and composites. Another large market for biodegradable materials is agriculture with products such as agricultural film (title pi...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Biodegradable Products: Nature-Compounds
...itulate” at temperatures above 75°C in VicatA tests (DIN ISO306), Biograde 300A achieved a temperature rating of 95°C, a figure higher than that for standard polystyrene. The mechanical properties of Biograde300A are shown in Fig.2 alongside those of standard polystyrene. Biograde300A can be injection moulded without problems on standard machines fitted with a general purpose screw (Fig.3). It has a melt flow index 230/5 (ISO1133) of 9.6g/10min. The material is pre-dried for approx. 4h at 60°C. ...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Biologically Degradable Plastics
...tween biopolymers and compounds that consist of a filler and a polymer matrix material. A classification of groups of materials as well as a selection of the firms that presented products at K 2001 are shown in Fig 1. Study of the BDM product offerings at K 2001 indicates that the non-existent ideal case seems to be a material made completely of renewable raw materials that can be processed similarly to a thermoplastic material at a competitive price. Thus for instance the materials EcoFlex (man...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Compostable Material: Thermoformed Packaging Made of PLA
...erent plastics are often compared by way of the modulus of elasticity. A high modulus of elasticity results in high stiffness of the thermoformed article. This allows reductions in wall thicknesses and, as a consequence, weight and cost savings. Fig.3 compares the modulus of elasticity of different packaging materials. PS-GP (general purpose polystyrene) has the highest modulus of elasticity of the styrene materials, however, because of its high brittleness, it is usually only thermoformed by th...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Model Test Systems: Wear Testing on Plastics processing Machines
...stems. Conventional methods are often time consuming and costly. Two innovative, realistic test apparatuses now permit more precise and time-optimised studies. Roy T. Fox Michael Rudschuck Wear testing methods extend from industrial trials on test rigs with original parts to testing on model systems. Field tests are unfeasible for systematic gathering of knowledge about fundamental wear because they are excessively material and time consuming, and expensive. The wear tests are therefore carried ...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Packaging: The Compostable Water Bottle
Injection Moulding The Compostable Water Bottle Packaging. Though not biodegradable, the PLA water bottles that the US company Biota uses to market its products can be composted in municipal/industrial composting facilities. The world’s first compostable water bottle made of a starch-based polylactic acid (PLA) is on the market. Husky worked hand-in-hand with Biota Brands of America Inc., Cargill Dow LLC and SIG Corpoplast to develop a fully compostable bottle for Biota’s new line of premium Co...

Kunststoffe international, 2005-11-21, Trends in Bio-materials: The Signs are Set for Growth
...anic waste collected in the kitchen to the organic bin outside. They are even more appreciative of the concept “Carrier bag first, waste sack second”. Consumers seem to be aware of the dual benefits inherent in organic bags (Fig. 2 left and right). In Germany, only a few retailers – mainly small organic-produce shops – offer compostable carrier bags at the moment. In Italy, the concept has been around for much longer and is fairly widespread. Roughly three years ago came the breakthrough into t...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-01-15, An Enterprise Preparing Itself: "Our Technologies Would Have Deserved More Courageous Renewal Also in Europe"
...ding the Near East and Africa). In Profile Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. is an equipment and service supplier for the injection moulding industry acting world-wide. The broadly varied product and service offerings cover injection moulding machines, injection moulds, hot duct systems and robots as well as customer training courses and factory planning. With more than 40 service and sales addresses, including 19 technical centres, the enterprise supports customers in over 100 countries a...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-03-29, Bioplastics: Converting Risks to Opportunities
...ve insufficient knowledge to give reasonable consideration to detail. This can often be rectified, the best case being that the legislators decide to back the innovation. For this to happen requires that the involved industry points to failings in the legislation and submits proposals to address these. Through the work of the International Biodegradable Polymers Association (IBAW), now known as European Bioplastics, in Berlin/Germany, certified compostable bioplastic packaging in Germany is now...

Kunststoffe international, 2006-11-24, Optimum Ratio: Torque or Volume?
...s hollow glass spheres (Fig. 5) or biopolymers and processes with long residence times, as is the case with reactions and predominantly heat transfer situations. Most products for the chemical and food processing sectors as well as powder coatings are compounded more economically with the high volume ZSK Megavolume, since the energy requirement is less than for plastics and large quantities of fine powders must often be added. With powder coating fines, a 100% increase in throughput has already ...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-01-22, Differentiated Market Working for Customer Proximity
...ngineering led to key changes in the existing products of both companies over the past few years. John G. Fleischer, Head of Marketing at Universal Dynamics Inc. and responsible for Sales as well as Marketing, takes a pragmatic view of things: "Our markets and the access to these markets do display marked differences. This is why there are naturally limits to our cooperation. Through our ongoing technological exchange of opinion, however, we always keep each other up to date." The potent...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-05-14, An Adventure Park for Injection Moulders
...terial can be found in automotive interiors, for example. As at the premiere in 2006, Arburg and its cooperation partners, system supplier Sulzer Chemtech AG, raw materials supplier Dow Corning and mould builder Edegs, once again demonstrated the Optifoam process for foaming liquid silicone. This reduces the weight of the moulded part and hence the material consumption by up to 40 % by comparison to conventional injection moulding with LSR. The material’s temperature resistance means that it cou...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-06-18, Compatibility of Polylactic Acid with MaterBi
...(starch); from left to right: PLA/MaterBi = 100/0; PLA/MaterBi = 80/20; PLA/MaterBi = 60/40; PLA/MaterBi = 40/60; PLA/MaterBi = 20/80; PLA/MaterBi = 0/100 Fig. 2. Shrinkage: Determination of shrinkage in the various (PLA+MaterBi) blends Figs. 3 to 7. Tests: Determination of tensile elastic modulus, tensile strength, elongation at break, impact strength and hardness of the various (PLA+MaterBi) blends

Kunststoffe international, 2007-06-18, Improving Product Properties by Cutting Back on Material
...e importance. Fillers, however, can also be used to modify the properties of materials. Thus, despite being used to save on expensive polymeric material they can help to retain or even improve desired properties in the final product. Financial savings on materials can be made only when improved physical properties specific to the material are achieved. It would also be conceivable to improve the properties of a material by the addition of small quantities of filler. Were this to be done the fill...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-06-18, Packaging Flies off the Line
...tion techniques. A talk about new high performance concepts for the production of PET film from Brückner Formtec rounded off the presentations. Company Profile Kiefel GmbH, Freilassing/Germany is a subsidiary of Brückner Technology Holding, Siegsdorf/Germany. Its business areas include thermoforming machines for the packaging and refrigerator industries as well as forming, jointing and cutting equipment for the automotive and medical industries. Of the 420 employees 20 were taken on in the las...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-07-18, Resorbable Implant Containing Medication
...never the max. capacity is reached. n Acknowledgement The authors would like to acknowledge the support of the Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi), which funded these investigations through the Arbeitsgemeinschaft industrieller Forschungsvereinigung e.V. (AiF) under project number 226 ZN. References 1 Milsom, I.; Abrams, P.; Cardozo, L. et al.: How widespread are the Symptoms of an Overactive Bladder and how are they managed? A population-based prevalence study. BJU Int 87 (2001), pp....

Kunststoffe international, 2007-08-14, Direct Production of Packaging Films
...od self-cleaning action in the twin screw; - Simplified logistics, since pelletized virgin material and various kinds of regrind (grinding stock, agglomerate, flakes) can be compounded jointly, even those with differing iV’s; - Savings in time and energy, since pre-drying and crystallizing are eliminated. In the ZSK process, throughput is limited neither by pre-drying capacity nor by screw size. For example, a ZSK 92 Mc Plus with 92mm screw diameter achieves a throughput of 2,200kg/h. A 200mm si...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-08-14, On the Road to the Market
...ld. Fig.2 shows the reaction scheme. The production of BioPDO requires 40% less energy and generates 20% less greenhouse gases than its petrochemical counterparts. Based on annual production of around 45,000 metric tons, this permits energy savings corresponding to around 38 million liters of gasoline – the annual consumption of around 22,000 cars. The first industrial production plant, erected by DuPont and Tate & Lyle in Loudon, TN, USA, has already come on stream. BioPDO forms the basis for v...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-09-19, Basis of Product Quality
...r developments in existing drying processes are concentrating like no other step in the materials supply process on improving the efficient use of energy. If the manufacturers of drying equipment are to be believed, energy and hence cost savings of up to 75% or tens of thousands of Euros per annum for a medium-sized plastics processor are not out of the question. Numerous studies and examples from the manufacturers of dryers document these potential savings but they can scarcely be evaluated in ...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-09-19, Prior to Film Extrusion
...n would be the case with base materials in powder form. Evidence for this is found in the increased use of batch feeding in extrusion lines. Manufacturers in the materials handling business are required to cover an extensive range of know-how. Amongst others, this includes expertise in their own processes: storage, conveying, and drying, as well as batching and blending technology, plus knowledge about the nature of the materials to be handled, such as the relevant bulk material properties and t...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-10-21, Bioplastics
... European states, mostly in the field of ephemeral high-end or eco-products, including ecologically produced foods such as fruit and vegetables. Biopackaging for foods freshly packaged at the point of sale are also in vogue. Compostable carrier bags have already become a political issue: After France passed a law in 2006 requiring all non-recyclable carrier bags to be biodegradable from 2010, Italy also followed suit a short time later. There were cries from manufacturers of commodity products; ...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-10-21, Process-Induced Degradation of Polylactic Acid
... the melt were provided (title picture). Together with the two pressure sensors the die also functions as an in-line rheometer. The optical probes were connected via quartz glass fibers to the corresponding spectrometers (Fig. 2). The screw couplings of the sensors are of the Dynisco type, the sensors being suitable for direct installation in extruders and other plastics processing machines operating at high pressures and temperatures. In the UV/VIS range the fiber cables give rise to a lower wa...

Kunststoffe international, 2007-12-17, Logistics and Know-how Rule the Market
...es. The strategy is to focus on one’s own strong points and work on them. Past is the time when everyone tried out everything, reaching out for every niche. Companies are starting to focus on core competences and special knowledge. BASF AG in Ludwigshafen, Germany, for instance, has cut down from 1,000 to 10 its range of products. Apart from reducing costs in the commodity business, this is to pave the way to higher benefits. Moreover, offering a specific range of products may help the company s...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-01-15, Complete Solutions Sought
...etically sealed, which permits use of a pneumatically operated discharge plunger without an equalization opening through which material could escape. This ensures compliance with the requirements for a Class 6 clean room. Mann+Hummel GmbH, Ludwigsburg, Germany, presented complete integration of conveying, metering, mixing and dust removal in the form of the new MFG-E multifunction unit (Fig.5). Dust associated with the mixing of regrind is stirred up through use of an adjustable time setting for...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-01-15, More Complexity, Speed, and Intelligence
... Needles... With their new "E-Drive", Mold-Masters Europe GmbH, Baden-Baden, Germany, has focused specially on multi-cavity applications in cleanrooms, i.e. on oil-free and low-particle production surroundings. High force transmission, speed, and precise positioning were the primary criteria during development of this servomotor-operated shut-off needle (Fig. 6). Hereby, a belt drive transmits the servomotor’s force to two recirculating ball spindles, thus obtaining a precise linear mov...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-02-17, Growth in Specialties
... innovation for polyester fiber applications is direct matting. The titanium dioxide (TiO2)-based matting agent is added to the fiber in the spinning process immediately before the spinneret and enables the matting effect to be adjusted. This brings cost advantages through higher flexibility and a lower reject rate. To achieve an optimum service life for cable coatings, Sachtolith combines nanofine synthetic zinc sulfide with organic metal deactivators. Sachtleben is also using a novel concept t...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-06-16, The Versatility of Films
... films also for acoustic insulation – i.e. as a barrier against wavelike energy. By means of precisely designed perforations, said Dr. Bader, it is possible to obtain adequate sound insulators for use in vehicles and in buildings, also with thinner films (Fig. 3). Whilst "normal" barrier properties were mainly discussed during most of the conference, the last two presentations tended more toward the extremes. Dr. Sabine Amberg-Schwab of the Fraunhofer-Institut für Silicatforschung in Wür...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-07-15, Natural Reinforcement
Natural-fiber-reinforced plastics are used in numerous applications, especially in the automotive industry. In the past, these components were almost exclusively compression moldings with restricted application potential due to technical boundary conditions in manufacture. Only recently has it become possible to produce injection moldable pellets based on natural-fiber-reinforced plastics. The much greater design freedom they offer in terms of part geometry opens up a very much wider field of ap...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-08-14, Bio – Sense or Nonsense
...st foodstuffs. However, they are also used to generate electricity and heat. They are used to produce biofuels and serve as raw materials for the chemical industry. BASF has used bio raw material for a long time, e.g. to manufacture paints and coatings from natural resins and oils, vitamin B2 from vegetable oils, amines and acrylates from molasses and cane sugar. Use of renewable resources is actively being researched. However, the company uses these materials in larger amount only where it make...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-08-14, Bio – What Else?
...y will double this year, since growth rates are expected in the three-place percentage range. Although the shortage of Ecoflex is a drag on the market, Mitsubishi Chemicals’ polybutylene-succinate (PBS; brand name: GS Pla) is getting a closer look from several market operators. Its production capacity is currently being expanded. … Compounders and … At the Interpack, Novamont exhibited new applications of its starch-content compound MaterBi against a background of sunflowers and grass. A...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-08-14, Food Packaging: A Green Light for Recyclates?
... Since being published in the Official Journal of the European Union last 28 March, it replaces all previously valid national regulations. What do recycled plastics have to fulfill for them to be approved for food packaging according to the new rulings? Hackl: According to the new regulation, packaging materials and food packaging with recycled plastics content may be put in circulation only if the recycled plastics contained in them have been manufactured by an approved recycling process. The r...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-08-14, Off to New Frontiers
...er branches are increasingly picking up on this know-how and its possibilities. For car and truck components, NFRP compression molding as well as WPC thermoforming are the dominant processing methods, e.g. for inside door panels, hat racks and ceilings. However, injection molding has also been able to win some first market shares ever since the corresponding technologies for NFRP and WPC achieved marketability in recent years. This also appears to hold the brightest future for NFRP, since compre...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-09-23, A Screw Concept for Bone Substance
The clinical use of plastics has reached an exciting phase: following a number of successful short-term applications, polymers are increasingly competing with metals. A principal challenge is long-term implantation of plastic medical products in the human body. The reasons for the widespread use of polymers in medical technology are to be seen in the diverse properties of this group of materials. For example, so-called “drug-release systems” can be implemented much more elegantly i...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-09-23, Set for Special Applications
...s industries occupy pride of place. These meet the requirements of class V-0 in accordance with UL94. Zytel FR7025V0F and Zytel7026V0F are unreinforced PA66 grades having high ductility and high tracking current resistance (CTI), e.g. for plugs in household appliances. Zytel FRG25NHV0 is a corresponding glass fiber-reinforced PA66 whose CTI is almost twice as high as that of comparable standard types. In the case of Zytel HTNFR52G30NH a flame-retardant polyphthalamide has been developed ...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-10-17, COsub>2/sub>– Climate Killer or Plastics Feedstock?
According to media reports and political opinion, CO2 is a poisonous gas which is harmful to our environment. It is currently perceived to be the primary cause of global warming. Alarmed by continuous warnings from climate experts and increasing global warming, politicians are seeking to impose severe restrictions on atmospheric discharge of carbon dioxide, but this will come at a high cost to the economy. It seems to have been forgotten that it was carbon dioxide which made life on Earth possib...

Kunststoffe international, 2008-10-17, PET in Beverage Packaging
...arbon dioxide. Slight clouding of the PET bottles by the foreign polymers, however, repesents a more or less unresolved issue for all technologies. The effects of barrier materials on recycling of PET bottles is still largely unclear. Internal coatings of silicon oxide (SIG Plasmax) or amorphous carbon (Sidel Actis) are also on the market as passive barriers. They represent alternatives to the conventional PET/PA “multi-layer” bottle. Internal coatings do not only i...

Kunststoffe international, 2009-10-14, Continuous Forming
...s the forming air consumption to be reduced by up to 50 % in the RDM-K automatic pressure-forming machines. Moreover, the same conditions prevail in each cavity of a multicavity die, so that the high dimensional accuracy and repeatability allow savings of up to 10 % without compromising the cup stiffness. The pneumatic control of the downholders reduces beading on the top cup rim. This material depot is now drawn into the cup wall during stretching. The extra material makes the product stiffer, ...

Kunststoffe international, 2009-10-14, Formed by Air
...y, compared to conventional hydraulic systems, all-electric machines offer major advantages in terms of energy efficiency, cleanliness and maintenance. For instance, the all-electric blow molding machine exhibited offers an overall energy savings of about 30 %. The mold clamping concept developed for this machine makes the considerable contribution in this respect. No energy is needed to clamp the mold during the actual blow molding and cooling segments of the cycle. Electricity is consumed only...

Kunststoffe international, 2009-10-14, Granules Galore
...oncerns of many potential customers that they may lose flexibility as a result of a new investment. Feeding Gravimetric or volumetric? When investing in a new feeding system ever more users opt for the gravimetric version. The reason for this is amongst other things the trend towards ever more complex material formulations. In the last few years masterbatch and additive manufacturers have launched numerous new products for a very wide range of applications. Legal and customer specific requiremen...

Kunststoffe international, 2009-10-14, On Mixing and Kneading
...l bushing are achieved. The extruder is of modular construction and in this way a series of barrels are coupled to one another and the processing pathway is multiplied. Due to the variable design of the gearing and the use of mixing and shearing rings dispersions are selectively optimized. At Extricom GmbH, Lauffen a.N., Germany, the XP version of the RingExtruder RE XPV has been further developed. By means of an enlarged DO/DI ratio and some details of the structure of the process part it was p...

Kunststoffe international, 2010-07-22, Three-Dimensional Coating of Containers
...least, it is also addressing aspects of sustainability. Many types of packaging are assembled from different components that must act in concert to afford optimum protection for the contents. Examples are tubes with screw caps, tubs with lids, bags, and dispensing systems. Dr. Markus Dippel heads up a project team in the Neuhausen innovation center that is developing a laboratory-scale plant for applying inorganic coatings to containers and parts made from commodity plastics (PS, PP, and even PL...

Kunststoffe international, 2010-09-24, Color Takes on a Functional Role
...edispersed fully, free of dust and provide consistently high quality in the color yield and unproblematic use in thin applications such as fibers and films. “Solar Heat Management” is a concept in which one goes a step further and brings the function of the pigments to the final application, in addition to their color. Energy management for the near infrared region is a key technology for many applications. In this wavelength range pigments are used specifically to reflect light, transmit it and...

Kunststoffe international, 2010-09-24, Coming Out of the Crisis on Many Layers
...m systems are well-suited for multi-layer blown film as well as for shrink film for food packaging with barriers against water, oxygen and flavors. Hall 16, booth A18 Hosokawa Alpine Five-layer Blown Film System Hosokawa Alpine AG, Augsburg, Germany, is exhibiting a high-throughput 5-layer blown film system that can be used to process a variety of materials and film structures. The heart of the system is a highly flexible 5-layer blown film die. Attention to detail in design and production provi...

Kunststoffe international, 2011-04-25, Controlling Pipe Wall Thickness around the Circumference
...n offers the greatest potential for additional reductions in manufacturing costs. Considering that material costs represent considerably more than 50 % of the overall manufacturing costs in the case of extrusion, it is obvious that the greatest savings can be achieved by reducing the amount of material used during production. In film production, it is now commonplace to achieve thickness tolerances of less than 5 %. For pipe, the European standards usually allow wall thickness tolerances in the ...

Kunststoffe international, 2011-04-25, Flame Retardants: Restricted Boom
...) sector, where fire safety requirements are specified for consumer and IT electronics (e.g. audio, video, laptops, printers, cell phones), household appliances (e.g. cookers, refrigerators, irons), technical parts (e.g. baseplates, switches, plugs, fuse boxes), wires and cables. In the transport sector, strict fire safety requirements are a must, since mass transport today increasingly takes place in high-speed trains and wide-bodied aircraft, which demand a high level of safety. Spectacular fi...

Kunststoffe international, 2011-05-12, Biopolymers as a Sustainable Alternative?
...O2 balance when incinerated. For this reason the interest of the packaging industry in biopolymers has grown strongly and there are already special legal provisions for them. For example since the beginning of this year the sale of plastic carrier bags made from petrochemical raw material has been banned in Italy. As a result of the revision of the German packaging directive in May 2005 biopolymer packaging with certified compostability was freed from disposal fees, such as the levy for the “Gre...

Kunststoffe international, 2011-05-12, Modification of Polylactide for Technical Applications
In addition to the already established packaging sector, there is also growing interest in biopolymers for technical applications. Drivers for the plastics industry to replace oil-based with bio-based polymers, particularly in compounds for technical durables, are limiting the dependence on petrochemical raw materials and reduction of the carbon footprint. Against this background, this research work is particularly focused on optimizing the injection molding process for polylactides (PLA), and o...

Kunststoffe international, 2011-05-12, Packagings Doing the Balancing Act
Agood half year ago, the K trade show revealed what will probably become more of a certainty at the interpack in May 2011. With the general challenges of globalized economy, packagings increasingly have to do the balancing act between consuming less material and providing enhanced and better functionalities. To satisfy this trend, especially plastics solutions are well-suited: Not only their great benefit – lightweight – but also their ability to protect goods in the long run, make plastics the ...

Kunststoffe international, 2011-08-24, Back to Nature
...ady available. Avoidance: “Onto the Plate or into the Closet” NatureWorks of Minnetonka, MN, USA, markets a plant-based polymer called Ingeo [7], which can be used to produce containers, films, textiles and equipment housings, through to disposable dishes. Ingeo is made from plant sugar (polylactic acid, PLA), and the end products can be composted or disposed of conventionally. Biowert is a company from Odenwald in Germany that produces AgriPlast [8] – a bioplastic molding compound made of 75 % ...

Kunststoffe international, 2011-08-24, Bio above All?
...Conversion of biological waste into compost can also be considered a form of feedstock recycling: After composting, apple peels and rotten tomatoes end up as organic material that can be used to grow apple trees and tomato plants. The use of bags made from high-grade biodegradable plastics makes it even simpler to return these organic materials to the raw material cycle cleanly and hygienically by means of industrial composting. It is true that this was also possible before without plastic bags:...

Kunststoffe international, 2011-08-24, Good for the Environment
...e-Pro-V line of shampoos and hair rinses. In summer and fall 2011, the new bottles will come on the Western European market. By 2015, Proctor & Gamble intends to produce a quarter of its packagings from plastics with a biomass base. In addition, Braskem plans to market a bio-based polypropylene by 2013. Once again, the initial raw material is bioethanol from which the new bio-based PP will be manufactured using the same plant technology. Planning for production of bio-based polybutylene succ...

Kunststoffe international, 2011-08-24, Making Use of Natural Resources
...ot reach. This makes it possible to use this reinforcing material in thinwalled parts and miniaturized components. A comparison between Tencel FCP and glass fibers can be seen in the two computer tomographs (Figs. 3 and 4). Polylactic Acid: Storage and Processing In the “Efficient processing” section, Stefan Viehweg, CEO of Piovan GmbH, Garching, Germany, discussed drying processes for engineering plastics and new biopolymers. In a comparison between standard bottle materials and PLA (polylactic...

Kunststoffe international, 2011-09-23, Market Opportunities, Land Use Requirement and Future Developments
...polyethylene and bio-based PET. Biopolymer materials are already being widely used. Examples of applications in the packaging sector include bottles, flat film, e.g. for dimensionally stable thermoformed trays, blown film for bags or carrier bags, and nets. Here, too, besides the compostable bioplastics favored by the packaging regulations [3], we also find durable biopolymers such as BioPET for beverage bottles or BioPE for high water vapor barrier effect. Other important and growing fields of ...

Kunststoffe international, 2011-10-17, Bioplastics
...tivize higher purchase prices – a usually low carbon footprint, less energy consumption – cannot be cashed in on yet. Especially for brand-name producers, the value of brands and listings, as well as consumer loyalty, are important motivators for more bioplastics. Materials and Product Development Since the author’s last report, there has been a flood of announcements concerning new products and investments. The following selection thus cannot provide more than a rather subjective and limited im...

Kunststoffe international, 2011-10-17, Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
...ctional barrier, EFSA approval is not required. However, in these cases it must be proved that the functional barrier is able to keep the specific migration of the substances involved below the legal limits. At present, a transitional period is in place for the Active Packaging regulation, but for oxygen absorbers already on the market, a dossier must have been submitted to the EFSA. It is now expected that the EFSA – similar to the procedure for PET recyclates – will publish a list in the Inter...

Kunststoffe international, 2012-02-24, Polymer Stents
...s steel cover, and therefore have a strut thickness of only 29 µm [4]. A change of the configuration of the stent struts could also achieve a considerable reduction of the re-stenosis rate [5]. Furthermore, stents can be provided with passive coatings, which may be no more than a barrier layer, or with active coatings that release drugs [6]. Even though the introduction of drug-coated stents did not solve the problem of re-stenosis, its frequency could be reduced to a fraction of its previous le...

Kunststoffe international, 2012-04-20, Home and Dry?
Compared with the case for conventional plastics, our knowledge of, and experiences with, the relatively recent field of bioplastics are still patchy. The results presented here, along with findings from practical studies jointly conducted by the Kunststoff-Zentrum SKZ, Würzburg, Germany, and Mann+ Hummel ProTec GmbH, Bensheim, Germany, were obtained on a commercial injection molding grade of PLA supplied by Nature Works, Minnetonka, MN, USA. While they are a snapshot in time, they represent a f...

Kunststoffe international, 2012-06-25, Technology and Nature Combined?
As an ecofriendly alternative to fossil raw materials and also for marketing reasons, companies are increasingly using renewable resources to produce plastics and composites based on them. Polymers made from biogenic raw materials have now become established on the market and are available in quite large quantities. In 2011, the quantity of biopolymers produced worldwide totaled 1.4 million tonnes [1]. Similarly, the use of wood and natural fibers in the industrial sector is also growing. In 201...

Kunststoffe international, 2012-07-23, Invisible Barrier Features
...ving the superiority of oriented film. One example: major brand owners are very interested in replacing aluminium foil by metallized ultra-high barrier film. This 5-layer film was developed at Brückner Maschinenbau’s technology center in Siegsdorf, Germany (Fig. 3). A special high surface energy polymer in the outer layer results in a considerably higher density which is important for the downstream metallizing process. The barrier properties are correspondingly increased: Oxygen barrier 0.33 [c...

Kunststoffe international, 2012-08-22, An Ecological Alternative?
... gas emissions and the conservation of fossil resources. Increasingly, however, critical voices are being raised that doubt the ecological benefits of bio-based polymers for various reasons [2]. With a view to determining the latest scientific findings on the environmental assessment of biobased polymers, nova-Institut GmbH, Hürth, Germany, conducted an extensive meta-analysis of life cycle assessments performed on the most common biobased polymers, such as polylactides (polylactic acid, PLA) an...

Kunststoffe international, 2012-09-17, Customized Development
Even though bioplastics’ share in the overall plastics market is still quite small, they have established themselves in some sectors. For instance, the production of flexible plastic film for applications such as compostable waste bags or mulch films is commonplace today. The well-aimed enhancement of these materials, especially with regard to their processability, opened up further manufacturing options including thermoforming and injection molding, to bioplastics. Several products have recentl...

Kunststoffe international, 2012-09-17, Efficiency Meets Process Integration
...minimizes losses, particularly in the partial-load range and during idling. Sumitomo (SHI) Demag is presenting itself for the first time as a complete supplier in the field of IML production. At the booth of its longstanding partner Sepro Robotique, La Roche-sur-Yon, France, a high-speed El-Exis SP 250-1600 produces 1-liter pales with IML labels in less than 5 s (Fig. 5). The side-entry robot used covers machine sizes up to 5,000 kN clamping force and achieves travel distances up to 2,200 mm. Th...

Kunststoffe international, 2012-09-17, Humidity Regulation
...films or microporous films with a high water vapor and oxygen transmission rate [4] or to increase the water vapor absorption velocity of films with dispersed humidity absorbers in it [5]. When salts are applied as humidity absorbers orientation brings the advantage that the particles are detached from the polymer matrix. Well stretchable polymers are polypropylene (PP), polylactid acid (PLA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polystyrene (PS) [6]. During orientation of foamed structures the ...

Kunststoffe international, 2012-09-17, Still Room for Improvement
...cts which can be produced, for example, from plastics made from renewable resources. ► Hall B2, booth 2104 Ettlinger Continuous Filtration of Recycled Melt What makes the filter technology employed by Ettlinger Kunststoffmaschinen GmbH, Königsbrunn, Germany, so special is that the inflowing melt flows through a rotary drum filter. The particles in the melt are lifted by a stripper arranged tangentially across the full drum width and are directed to a high-output discharge screw (Fig. 3). The con...

Kunststoffe international, 2012-11-26, Both Ecological and Economical
... input into and tied up in the packaging is only 10 % [1]. This naturally varies from foodstuff to foodstuff. Nevertheless we can conclude that a product loss resulting from the use of unsuitable packaging materials cannot be compensated by savings in packaging materials [2, 3]. The first priority in the development and application of new, more sustainable packaging concepts must therefore be adequate protection of the product. A reduction in material only contributes to sustainability if the pr...

Kunststoffe international, 2013-02-22, Is the Future of Plastics “Green”?
At the start of the 20th century, all plastics were biobased. Naturally occurring biopolymers, which are generally infusible and un-moldable, have to be chemically modified and treated in order to be processed. The first plastic, galalite, was produced from the milk protein casein by crosslinking with formaldehyde. The name is derived from the Greek words gala (milk) and lithos (stone). Prominent examples of biobased polymers include modified celluloses such as nitrocellulose (celluloid and park...

Kunststoffe international, 2013-04-19, Automatic Corrections and Calculations
Fundamentally there are many factors that directly affect color. Amongst these are parameters such as: The base color of the polymer, Colorants (combinations thereof), Additives and fillers, Degree of colorant dispersion, Illuminant, Measurement and processing temperature (thermochromaticity). In addition, rather than simply acting by themselves these factors are intimately linked with each other. For example metamerism, that is wh...

Kunststoffe international, 2013-04-19, Injection Moldings for the Compost
...molding times.” Korbinian Kiesl doesn’t blush at these words. The Munich-born entrepreneur, who bought Billion out of the former Mannesmann-Demag conglomerate at the end of 2005, puts things into perspective: “To be fair, they don’t need this speed. If you injected rubber as fast as we inject thermoplastics, you would only have vulcanized material in the mold. What we lack in rubber know-how, you lack in thermoplastics know-how. So...

Kunststoffe international, 2013-06-19, Like a Phoenix from the Ashes
It is five year now since things took an upward turn at Kottingbrunn. On April 1, 2008, the Vienna-based ancillary equipment manufacturer Wittmann took over Battenfeld Kunststoffmaschinen Ges.m.b.H., which was on the brink of insolvency. Following 2008 and 2010, this is now the third time that Competence Days has been held at the Austrian headquarters of Wittmann Battenfeld GmbH, giving the public the opportunity to see its latest developments. It is worth remarking up front that the company sur...

Kunststoffe international, 2014-05-07, Quality Assurance: Naturally Cost-Effective
...g temperature, could allow better and more efficient assignment of dryers and therefore of scheduled workers as well. Conclusion Proper handling of biopolymers, especially in terms of storage, drying and processing, can lead to cost savings. Additivization with BioAdimide 500 XT as a function of molecular weight can, in addition to conferring long-term stabilization (as demonstrated in cyclical climate tests), shorten the drying time and lower the drying temperature, which in turn lead to saving...

Kunststoffe international, 2014-05-07, Simulation: Increasing Efficiency by Stretch Blow Molding via CAE
...wed in the table. Parameters that are linked to other parameters by boundary conditions are showed in brown. Besides the variable geometry parameters of the preform, the process parameters are also variable for example the electrical power settings of five emitters of the heating system are separately mutable. Every emitter can be operated with a fraction of his maximum output between 0–100 %. Within this study an adaptive response surface method is used for the optimization algorithm. Figure 5 ...

Kunststoffe international, 2014-08-19, New Ideas and Political Markets
...roversy: Which markets offer the long awaited breakthrough? In which technologies does it pay to invest? Or wait and see what comes of the financial crises, the shale gas boom and the return of cheap coal? Do laws like those for biodegradable tote bags provide the groundwork for investment decisions and market success? TypeBiobased content (abbr. monomer) typical [%]Manufacturers [total number]Production capacity (global, 2013) [t]NotesPolyolefinsPEEthylene [85-100]Braskem [1]200,000HDPE, LDP...

Kunststoffe international, 2014-08-19, Sustainable Solution for Coloration of Bioplastics
...his application. But what about the additives and colorants? A masterbatch producer provides the answer. In our everyday lives, we all encounter plastics applications produced from biobased plastics without really noticing them. Disposable carrier bags, bin liners, and refuse bags are currently the most common applications for bioplastics. In the food packaging sector, colored bioplastics are also used, for example, in the production of meat trays or disposable cutlery. There are many different ...

Kunststoffe international, 2014-10-10, Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
...anufacturers in the world and their production levels (source: Polyester Analysis Ltd., Farnham/UK, report dated: 2012). Again, Asia clearly dominates, with production slightly ahead of consumption. The opposite is true in Europe, where production lags slightly behind consumption; consequently PET pellets are being imported into Europe from Asia. PET bottles, in order to save on materials, are growing lighter and lighter. Threads and bottle bottoms in particular offer scope for optimization. Thu...

Kunststoffe international, 2014-10-10, Polypropylene (PP)
...als that all combine high quality with improved sustainability:Daplen ME225SY consists of 25 % PCR, 20 % mineral content, and 55 % virgin material and is intended for applications in vehicle interiors such as door trim and trunk linings. Daplen MD250SY is composed of 50 % PCR, 20 % mineral content, and 30 % virgin material and is intended primarily for applications under the hood and exterior applications such as bumper components and bodyside moldings. Daplen MD325SY comprises 25 % PCR, 3...

Kunststoffe international, 2015-02-28, Bio-Based and Flame-Retardant?
...d benefits and the feasibility of compounding bio-polymer materials with non-halogenated flame retardants will encourage further manufacturers to become more environmentally-conscious in their product offerings. WFig. 3. Cone Calorimetric data of PHBV with Exolit OP 1240 (AlPi) and iron oxide as flame-retardant additivesThe Authors is Technical Marketing Manager Flame Retardants at Clariant AG, Muttenz, Switzerland; muriel.rakotomalala@clariant.com is Technical Marketing Manager Flame Retardant...

Kunststoffe international, 2015-07-20, Biobased Feedstock in Integrated Chemical Production
... products can be manufactured by using the equivalent amount of renewable instead of fossil raw materials. With the development of the mass balance approach for the use of biobased (renewable) raw materials in the chemical industry, BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany, has broken new ground. This approach allows fossil raw materials to be replaced by renewable feedstock in the production of virtually all BASF products, including plastics, without changing the established product properties. The spec...

Kunststoffe international, 2015-07-20, The Specialist for High-Filled Compounds
...h excellent results. These trials were carried out using two shear-intensive rotors in the mixing chamber and an underwater pelletizer interfacing with the discharge melt extruder.An extensive experimental plan, covering all adjustable settings for the CP125 and carried out on an LLDPE formulation with 70 % parts by weight of chalk, revealed important information regarding the effect of variations in rotor speed, process throughput, position of the mixer orifice and rotor cooling. Thus, it was p...

Kunststoffe international, 2015-08-17, PET Recycling in Europe
...Packaging Waste specifies that 22.5 wt.-% of plastic are to be recycled by 31 December 2008 [2].This EU directive, passed in 1994, is a reaction to the Packaging Regulations which came into force on 12 June 1991 in Germany. Major basic concepts, amongst other things the product responsibility, were adopted. That led to the installation in various EU countries of systems based on the German system "Der grüne Punkt" ("the green dot"), which is intended to implement the collection and utilization o...

Kunststoffe international, 2015-10-12, From the Semi-Finished Product to the Molded Article
...are further optimizing cycle times and opening up new application fields. Thermoforming, whether from sheets or from the roll, is the process of choice for manufacturing thin-walled packaging or large-area parts for technical applications from thermoplastics. The process permits low-weight parts to be produced rapidly and, due to the comparatively low tool costs, economically. Higher Productivity through Shorter Cycle TimesIn the development of the new Speedformer KMD 90 by Kiefel GmbH, Freilass...

Kunststoffe international, 2016-02-17, Airy Standard Material
... h = 2 mm) to CO2 (180 bar) at 157 °C for 30 min. Abrupt opening of the valve of the autoclave induces the pressure jump, which causes the CO2-laden polymer melt to foam. Figure 4 shows the SEM images of the various modified PLA foams alongside that of the unmodified PLA foam. All foams have a closed cell structure of low density and relatively thin cell walls and cell struts. An overview of the densities and cell sizes is presented in Table 2 below.The pronounced strain hardening [11] and conco...

Kunststoffe international, 2016-05-18, Gold Fever
...assigned its own website in the cloud that can be accessed from mobile devices thanks to its unique code.A second exhibit focused on continuous traceability from molded part to pellets. An electric Allrounder 370 E produced housings from one of three possible materials on an alternating basis using a 2 + 2-cavity mold. With each order change, the ALS receives information about the current batch. The molded parts are then packed in batches of 16 into tubular bags, and these are printed with produ...

Kunststoffe international, 2016-07-20, Measuring Where It Counts
...lied to the NIR spectra to calculate an average particle size. Figure 2 shows a sample evaluation of an NIR spectrum for a compound consisting of organically modified layered silicate (nanoclays) in polypropylene. Various process parameter settings (throughput, concentration, screw speed) and the resulting particle size (as a Sauter mean diameter) are shown. As a result, the most effective process window for the desired particle size could quickly be determined in each case. Where dielectric mea...

Kunststoffe international, 2016-10-17, Bioplastics
...ll in the development stage. Made of MEG and furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), it is 100 % bio-based right out of the starting blocks. Avantium Technologies B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, a technology leader in FDCA production, and BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany, announced the construction of a reference plant for FDCA with a capacity of up to 50,000 t/a at the BASF network site in Antwerp, Belgium, in March. A far-reaching supply contract was also concluded with Mitsui & Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan...

Kunststoffe international, 2016-11-30, Hybrid Manufacturing Strategy for Functionally Integrated Single Parts
...r height of 0.1 mm using an FLM system (type: X1000, manufacturer: German RepRap GmbH). The resulting surfaces were topographically analyzed with a confocal laser scanning microscope (type: VK-X200, manufacturer: Keyence Corporation).The recordings serve as reference values for the subsequent post-processing steps. The specimens are ground and polished manually – with a different degree of fineness of the grinding and polishing agents. The analyzed surface structures illustrate a basic problem o...

Kunststoffe international, 2017-10-13, 3D-Print with Affordable Pellets
Is there a quantum leap on the horizon for 3D printing? The prototype of a newly developed 3D printer is able to process commercial pellets – also those of high-performance plastics such as PEEK, PPS, PSU, PA and PC, with or without fibers. The machine applies the usual strand-deposition process, though with a simply designed print head that includes a radial screw. To produce 3D-printed plastic parts by FFF or FDM (fused filament fabrication or fused deposition modeling), wire-shaped filaments ...

Kunststoffe international, 2017-10-13, À la Carte Input
... producing good quality and which can respond rapidly to different requirements. In terms of sheet-surface area, the European market for plastic sheet is set to grow by 2.4 % in the years ahead. This is the view of the GVM Gesellschaft für Verpackungsmarktforschung mbH in Mainz, Germany, in its current study "Flexible Plastic Packaging Market in Germany and Europe" which also discusses other trends and outlooks through to 2021. But it is not only the European sheet market which is growing. Plast...

Kunststoffe international, 2017-11-29, Debunking the Myths about Drying
...n surface, where it is transported away by the air stream (Fig. 1). The heating accelerates this process. The time necessary for drying depends on the properties of the polymer, and on the moisture loading, the ambient conditions and the dryer settings. This creates difficulties in applying generalized datasheet recommendations – such as "4 hours at 80 °C for polyamides" – or tabular values. The times and temperatures listed here usually refer to the delivery condition of the polymer, without ta...

Kunststoffe international, 2018-02-21, Monomers Coursing through the Veins
...er it practicable and amenable to the production of structural components. For the latter application, the fibers must be oriented in the direction of force due to their anisotropic properties. Cavity polymerization strengthens fibers and fiber rovings. Fiber strength can also be increased by producing yarn by means of wrap spinning. In this technique, a filament is wrapped around the rovings to increase their strength (Fig. 2). The reinforcing fibers, located in the core, are aligned parallel w...

Kunststoffe international, 2018-02-21, Naturally Non-Flammable
... can now be shown that this effect can be counteracted by means of regenerated cellulose fibers. Compounds reinforced with natural fibers have been around for a long time, and are used e.g. as hemp-fiber-reinforced polypropylene in vehicle door linings. Apart from the ecological aspect, the lower density of natural fibers distinguishes them from conventional filling media such as glass fibers [1]. Polypropylenes (PP) are mostly used as matrix material for sustainable lightweight materials with n...

Kunststoffe international, 2018-08-14, Polymer Powders in Additive Manufacturing
...pten University of Applied Sciences until 2018, and wrote her final thesis at the "Kompetenzzentrum für angewandte Forschung in der Lebensmittel- und Verpackungstechnologie" (Klevertec). The results presented in this article are an essential part of the final paper;nicole.rapelius@yahoo.com is Professor at the Kempten University of Applied Sciences in the study course "Food and Packaging Technology" since 2011, and is scientific head of the "Kompetenz- zentrum für angewandte Forschung in der Leb...

Kunststoffe international, 2018-11-09, Digital Preview of Bio-Based Parts
It is difficult to use bioplastics in engineering parts due to a lack of processing data. However, these data are very important for making a change from conventional to bio-based plastics. They are essential for simulating process parameters and designing injection molds for economical processing. Injection molded plastic parts are used in all areas of life and command a correspondingly high market volume. This processing method is very important if a manufacturer wants to establish a new plast...

Kunststoffe international, 2018-12-19, Bio-Based Alternatives for Hard-Soft Connections
... the decreased gradients in the stress-strain diagram (Fig. 3). The elongation at break also changes significantly. The mechanical properties determined for the series of measurements shown in the diagram are presented in Table 4. Samplings of Three Different Series PartsGreat potential for the use of 2C plastics parts made from renewable raw materials can be found, for example, in the market for bicycle parts and accessories. The environmental awareness of many people has risen considerably la...

Kunststoffe international, 2018-12-19, Luminous Fibers as Design Elements in Plastics Parts
...rts for rail and road traffic as well as in infrastructure fields, such as bridge and window construction. By integrating light fibers, indirect lighting could be realized for warning signs in the railway sector, or as design elements in buildings. A light wave conductor can be embedded relatively well in one direction by connecting the light fibers to the glass fiber rovings supplied, and thus be fed into the process continuously. Preliminary tests have shown, however, that luminous fibers in a...

Kunststoffe international, 2020-02-12, 3D View of Sustainability
... side effects. In order to avoid irrational decisions, it is important to assess their effects comprehensively. Despite all public criticism of plastics (Fig. 1), they make an important contribution to sustainability, for example through fuel savings in the transport sector. Fuel savings can be attained through reduced vehicle weight and lighter packaging. The problem, however, is that clear recommendations to increase the sustainability of plastic products do not exist at the moment. Higher re...

Kunststoffe international, 2020-02-12, Plastic Waste into Custom-Made Polyols
By means of high-performance processes, chemical recycling converts plastic waste into high-grade material for new plastic products. Moreover, freedom of design results by selecting a suitable process and the matching waste material. Hereby, the right combination permits customized polyols to be created for the desired application area. Old mattresses, insulating material, furniture, and steering wheels – this raw material, which Rampf Eco Solutions GmbH & Co. KG, Pirmasens, Germany, processes, ...

Kunststoffe international, 2020-04-08, Custom Implants from the 3D Printer
In no other field the possibilities and advantages of 3D printing are more pronounced than for medical devices. With the right high-performance materials, complex patient-customized implants can be produced that medical doctors are using to push the boundaries of the possible – for the benefit of patients. It is said that those who know metals choose plastics. The dictum originated in mechanical engineering, where engineers meant that plastics often offer a more convincing alternative to metals....

Kunststoffe international, 2020-05-05, Resisting the Pressure
... quality, or uneven wall-thickness distribution led to rejection and changing of the setting parameters. With the collected empirical values, the best process settings for each material could then be found iteratively, by adjusting first the heating time and then the plug travel. The wall thickness distribution of the thermoformed cups was determined with a thickness gauge (Panametrics Magna Mike 8500; manufacturer: Olympus, Mainz, Germany). To assess the part quality, the compression resistanc...

Kunststoffe international, 2020-05-05, Successful with Wood
...ly when it comes to injection molding technology. The company, which currently employs eight people, purchases its coffee from a roasting plant in its home region. The base material for the 3,5 g weighing capsules, foodgrade wood shavings from sawmills, comes from domestic forests. Since this is scrap in wood processing and the shavings for further processing at rezemo do not have to be chemically treated, the process chain is resource-friendly and the product is suitable for use with food. The...

Kunststoffe international, 2020-08-11, White without Titanium-Dioxide
... kinds of consumer goods, a bright white surface is frequently desired to convey purity and cleanliness. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is the most commonly applied white pigment. It is used in many industrial branches and gives plastic packaging, coatings and paints, as well as food and cosmetics, an opaque and brilliant whiteness [1, 2]. However, rising raw material costs, the labor-intensive extraction and large carbon footprint, as well as the cost-intensive disposal of partly harmful by-products, ...

eMagazine "Journal of Plastics Technology", 2019-09-01, The effect of nanoparticle content and size on the morphology and crystallization behavior of poly(lactic acid)/silica nanocomposites
Poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/silica nanocomposites with different filler loading and two different primary particle size of the filler were prepared by using a twin-screw extruder followed by injection molding. Morphological investigations showed, depending on the filler size and filler content, good dispersion with average agglomerate sizes of 38-60 nm. The spherulite growth and crystallization behavior of the nanocomposites discovers that smaller particles and a low filler loading leads to the fast...