New Player in Enhanced PLA Compounds, Additives
Floreon of the U.K. offers -impact-modified PLA that's more than 90% biobased, as well as additive masterbatches.
Yesterday, I wrote in this space about Innovation Takes Root 2014, the biennial international biopolymers conference and exhibit hosted by , Minnetonka, Minn., the maker of Ingeo poly lactic acid (PLA) and the world’s largest producer of bioplastics. Yesterday’s report focused on the launch of new rubbery PHA impact modifiers and flexibilizers for PLA from , Cambridge, Mass. Here’s another new entrant in this growing field, of Hull, U.K. The company spent four years in R&D but has offered products for sale only in the last few months.
As explained by technical director Andrew Gill, Floreon offers two kinds of products—fully formulated compounds of Ingeo PLA and additives—including combinations of two other biodegradable polyesters—and masterbatches of PLA and additives. These additives are said to make PLA up to four times tougher than the neat polymer and enhance processability while retaining high stiffness, transparency, gloss, and over 90% biobased content. Process temperatures can be lowered with some formulations. The compounds are biodegradable and can be converted back to lactic acid feedstock and repolymerized into virgin PLA. The company uses the services of a toll compounder and aims primarily to develop and license the technology to other producers.
Current Floreon compounds include general-purpose Floreon 100 injection grade, Floreon 200 opaque white pigmented grade for sheet extrusion, Floreon 300 for extrusion blow molding, Floreon 400 for films, Floreon 500 for injection stretch-blow molded bottles, and Floreon 600 for thermoforming.
Related Content
-
Impacts of Auto’s Switch to Sustainability
Of all the trends you can see at NPE2024, this one is BIG. Not only is the auto industry transitioning to electrification but there are concerted efforts to modify the materials used, especially polymers, for interior applications.
-
PHA Compound Molded into “World’s First” Biodegradable Bottle Closures
Beyond Plastic and partners have created a certified biodegradable PHA compound that can be injection molded into 38-mm closures in a sub 6-second cycle from a multicavity hot runner tool.
-
Get Color Changes Right In Extrusion Blow Molding
Follow these best practices to minimize loss of time, material and labor during color changes in molding containers from bottles to jerrycans. The authors explore what this means for each step of the process, from raw-material infeed to handling and reprocessing tails and trim.
