The Natureworks Ingeo Biopolymer has significant environmental benefits over many other polymers and is suitable for a wide range of applications, which Stephane Cavallo gave a presentation about at the recent Infocast event in Milan.
The carbon credentials of Ingeo are impressive, having been published in the Industrial Biotechnology Journal in 2010. The findings were from “cradle to factory gate”; the kg of CO2 emitted per kg of polymer for the current Ingeo production process is 1.3 kg. This is 60% of what was emitted by the version of the process used in 2005, showing that Natureworks is successfully working to reduce the environmental impact of its production methods, which they are still developing. The study also compared emissions to other plastics. The emissions of the current Ingeo production methods were the lowest of the plastics tested in the paper. The next lowest carbon emissions were from PVC (suspension) and Polypropylene; 1.9kg C02/kg polymer. By comparison, PET (amorphous) emissions are 3.2 kg C02/kg polymer and polystyrene emissions are 3.4 kg C02/kg polymer. Polycarbonate emissions are 7.6kg C02/kg polymer and nylon 6 emissions are 9.1kg C02/kg polymer.
Ingeo is a polylactide produced from dextrose, which Natureworks sources from biological feedstocks, which in turn goes on to be used in a variety of applications. Ingeo is applicable in the packaging sector, disposable items, bottles, fibers and also in durable items. As part of their research and development, Natureworks initially developed Ingeo for single use applications and then expanded it to more durable products, now being able to apply the technology for example in the casings of products such as computers (such as some Fujitsu laptops) and consumer electronics (such as the housings for some Samsung cell phones). Ingeo is also used in a number of semi-durable products such as credit cards. It has even been applied in the automotive industry; Toyota uses Ingeo in a range of applications, including spare wheel covers and floor mats. Ingeo has also been applied in textiles, being used for carpets and bedding.
The carbon credentials of Ingeo are impressive, having been published in the Industrial Biotechnology Journal in 2010. The findings were from “cradle to factory gate”; the kg of CO2 emitted per kg of polymer for the current Ingeo production process is 1.3 kg. This is 60% of what was emitted by the version of the process used in 2005, showing that Natureworks is successfully working to reduce the environmental impact of its production methods, which they are still developing. The study also compared emissions to other plastics. The emissions of the current Ingeo production methods were the lowest of the plastics tested in the paper. The next lowest carbon emissions were from PVC (suspension) and Polypropylene; 1.9kg C02/kg polymer. By comparison, PET (amorphous) emissions are 3.2 kg C02/kg polymer and polystyrene emissions are 3.4 kg C02/kg polymer. Polycarbonate emissions are 7.6kg C02/kg polymer and nylon 6 emissions are 9.1kg C02/kg polymer.
Ingeo is a polylactide produced from dextrose, which Natureworks sources from biological feedstocks, which in turn goes on to be used in a variety of applications. Ingeo is applicable in the packaging sector, disposable items, bottles, fibers and also in durable items. As part of their research and development, Natureworks initially developed Ingeo for single use applications and then expanded it to more durable products, now being able to apply the technology for example in the casings of products such as computers (such as some Fujitsu laptops) and consumer electronics (such as the housings for some Samsung cell phones). Ingeo is also used in a number of semi-durable products such as credit cards. It has even been applied in the automotive industry; Toyota uses Ingeo in a range of applications, including spare wheel covers and floor mats. Ingeo has also been applied in textiles, being used for carpets and bedding.
What makes this flexibility of application possible is the different grades that Ingeo platform is produced in, some being more stable and suited to durable products, others for single use and intermediate grades which was done by tailoring the way the polymer forms to increase its stability and physical performance. Tailoring the polymer to more durable applications often conflicts with biodegradability of the product, but Natureworks has been finding ways to overcome this.
Alongside flexibility, Natureworks claims that biobased feedstock is much less volatile in price than oil which is an attractive prospect. The polymer itself is UV transparent, able to resist a range of chemicals and compatible with a wide range of additives/polymers, which adds to the flexibility of Ingeo. Natureworks is still looking at the next generation from Ingeo however. They are researching the next generation of monomers to use in its next platform of biopolymers.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.