Thermoplastic compounded raw materials manufacturer Chroma (McHenry, Illinois / USA; www.chromacolors.com) has introduced a range of biodegradable masterbatches that allow processors to make standard polyolefins biodegradable.

The new concentrate is designed to lower the molecular weight of the PE or PP compounds to allow quicker oxidative bonding. Exposure to sunlight, heat or oxygen initiates the oxidative degradation of high molecular weight polymer chains into low molecular weight compounds, which can be aerobically degraded, Chroma said.

"The advantage of Chroma's new concentrate is that processors of typical PP and PE resin can now offer biodegradable products,” remarked Stuart Swain, Chroma’s sales and marketing director. The shelf life of the product can be controlled by the amount of concentrate they use, he explained.

Plastics containing the biodegradable additive can be recycled without causing damage to the recycled resin stream and can be used in standard tooling, Swain added.