MATERIALS
New developments and products
BASF launches new biodegradable plastic
BASF (Ludwigshafen / Germany; www.basf.com) aims to capture a larger share of the degradables market with its new speciality PLA compound. “Ecovio”, the group´s first biodegradable plastic to contain renewable raw materials, is based to 45% by weight on polylactic acid (PLA) derived from corn sourced from Natureworks (Minnetonka, Minnesota / USA; www.natureworksllc.com) – formerly Cargill Dow. The larger share, 55%, is based on BASF´s existing petrochemical-based biodegradable “Ecoflex”, an aliphatic aromatic copolyester. The first application will be for flexible films to produce carrier bags.
New film grade and clarified PP from Borealis
The new “Borstar FB4370” polyethylene film grade from Borealis (Lyngby / Denmark; www.borealisgroup.com) is claimed to combine good mechanical properties such as high stiffness, toughness, easy opening and downgauging with outstanding extrusion properties for higher production and packaging speeds. The material is produced using the company´s proprietary multi-modal Borstar PE 2G process technology.
Borealis also has launched a new clarified polypropylene under the trademark “Borpact SG930MO”, to satisfy what it says is “growing demand for transparent packaging that is deep freeze resistant.” The company says the new PP grade combines transparency and low temperature impact in thin wall, injection mouldable material. With wall thicknesses as low as 0.6mm the material is claimed to maintain “good form stability.”
Degussa displays plastics colouring solutions
German speciality chemical group Degussa (Düsseldorf; www.degussa.com) has developed a three-stage solution for the colouring of plastics. The “Polytrend 7” liquid colours and additives shown in combination with the “Colormat” metering unit are designed to ease colour changes in small to medium runs. “Polytrend Color Infusion” combines system colours with volumetric blending and mixing devices to permit creation of customised colours with no lead time. The newly launched “Polytrend Color Infusion Plus” enables in-line delivery of exact colours at the point of production and allows quick colour adjustments.
BASF (Ludwigshafen / Germany; www.basf.com) aims to capture a larger share of the degradables market with its new speciality PLA compound. “Ecovio”, the group´s first biodegradable plastic to contain renewable raw materials, is based to 45% by weight on polylactic acid (PLA) derived from corn sourced from Natureworks (Minnetonka, Minnesota / USA; www.natureworksllc.com) – formerly Cargill Dow. The larger share, 55%, is based on BASF´s existing petrochemical-based biodegradable “Ecoflex”, an aliphatic aromatic copolyester. The first application will be for flexible films to produce carrier bags.
New film grade and clarified PP from Borealis
The new “Borstar FB4370” polyethylene film grade from Borealis (Lyngby / Denmark; www.borealisgroup.com) is claimed to combine good mechanical properties such as high stiffness, toughness, easy opening and downgauging with outstanding extrusion properties for higher production and packaging speeds. The material is produced using the company´s proprietary multi-modal Borstar PE 2G process technology.
Borealis also has launched a new clarified polypropylene under the trademark “Borpact SG930MO”, to satisfy what it says is “growing demand for transparent packaging that is deep freeze resistant.” The company says the new PP grade combines transparency and low temperature impact in thin wall, injection mouldable material. With wall thicknesses as low as 0.6mm the material is claimed to maintain “good form stability.”
Degussa displays plastics colouring solutions
German speciality chemical group Degussa (Düsseldorf; www.degussa.com) has developed a three-stage solution for the colouring of plastics. The “Polytrend 7” liquid colours and additives shown in combination with the “Colormat” metering unit are designed to ease colour changes in small to medium runs. “Polytrend Color Infusion” combines system colours with volumetric blending and mixing devices to permit creation of customised colours with no lead time. The newly launched “Polytrend Color Infusion Plus” enables in-line delivery of exact colours at the point of production and allows quick colour adjustments.
05.01.2006 Plasteurope.com [10027]
Published on 05.01.2006