Italy-based Vibatan have released a range of Masterbatches; additives for enhancing the physical properties of the bioplastic PLA, making PLA a better choice for short lifetime disposable products for consumer benefit.
PLA is one of the major bioplastics coming into day to day use. It is biodegradable and is often used in packaging. However, it is relatively weak and has a low melting point; in fact, it usually cant be used in cups as hot drinks over 50°C will quickly melt the polymer. When used in plastic bags, PLA can be more prone to splitting over time than other kinds of plastic, causing headaches for consumers and supply chain managers who have to get the bags to clients before their “Best Before” date. Different production methods can raise the melting point and strength of PLA, but there are still limits on how much this can help. A number of companies have been working on additives to enhance the performance of PLA; Vibatan has just launched a trio of “masterbatches”. Masterbatches are polymers with high concentrations of additives; for example a polymer with high concentrations of pigment.
The three additives create different properties in PLA; PLA modifier 03925 is designed for increasing strength in injection molded PLA products and maintains transparency. PLA strengthener 04075 is specialized for enhancing the performance of PLA products manufactured by extrusion and PLA enhancer 03834 also improves the performance of PLA and makes it easier to process.
The physical performance of bioplastics is an area where they are often lacking and products such as these masterbatches offer means to patch up this weak point. Masterbatch and additive based enhancements could broaden the applications that bioplastics are fit for, from tougher plastic bags, to cups that have better heat resistance or some automotive manufacturers are using enhanced PLA in engine components. This means PLA could be sold to a wider range of customers and adding value to the PLA industry, enabling it to grow.
However, the green credentials of these additives are important if they make up such a high concentration of the finished product; if they are not biodegradable or are polluting to produce there is a risk that the benefits of these additives might be misleading. A 100% renewable, biodegradable bioplastic could have its “greenness” tarnished by high concentrations of a petrochemical based additive that is toxic and with increased toughness, potentially less biodegradable. It might even be the case that an additive is not biodegradable at all being left behind as residue when the PLA degrades.
To turn this on its head, bioplastics that have been strengthened and are still biodegradable might be suitable for high performance applications, but the fact that they are biodegradable would shorten their safe working lifetime as they are likely to fail sooner than a non-biodegradable plastic. These are issues that will affect any performance enhancer for bioplastics and should be considered by PLA manufacturers and additive developers. Biodegradable bioplastics are suitable replacements the majority of plastics sold; those that are used to produce short lifetime, disposable products. While these additives could make short lifetime products perform better, they should not be taken as a way turn PLA into a biodegradable super-plastic.
PLA is one of the major bioplastics coming into day to day use. It is biodegradable and is often used in packaging. However, it is relatively weak and has a low melting point; in fact, it usually cant be used in cups as hot drinks over 50°C will quickly melt the polymer. When used in plastic bags, PLA can be more prone to splitting over time than other kinds of plastic, causing headaches for consumers and supply chain managers who have to get the bags to clients before their “Best Before” date. Different production methods can raise the melting point and strength of PLA, but there are still limits on how much this can help. A number of companies have been working on additives to enhance the performance of PLA; Vibatan has just launched a trio of “masterbatches”. Masterbatches are polymers with high concentrations of additives; for example a polymer with high concentrations of pigment.
The three additives create different properties in PLA; PLA modifier 03925 is designed for increasing strength in injection molded PLA products and maintains transparency. PLA strengthener 04075 is specialized for enhancing the performance of PLA products manufactured by extrusion and PLA enhancer 03834 also improves the performance of PLA and makes it easier to process.
The physical performance of bioplastics is an area where they are often lacking and products such as these masterbatches offer means to patch up this weak point. Masterbatch and additive based enhancements could broaden the applications that bioplastics are fit for, from tougher plastic bags, to cups that have better heat resistance or some automotive manufacturers are using enhanced PLA in engine components. This means PLA could be sold to a wider range of customers and adding value to the PLA industry, enabling it to grow.
However, the green credentials of these additives are important if they make up such a high concentration of the finished product; if they are not biodegradable or are polluting to produce there is a risk that the benefits of these additives might be misleading. A 100% renewable, biodegradable bioplastic could have its “greenness” tarnished by high concentrations of a petrochemical based additive that is toxic and with increased toughness, potentially less biodegradable. It might even be the case that an additive is not biodegradable at all being left behind as residue when the PLA degrades.
To turn this on its head, bioplastics that have been strengthened and are still biodegradable might be suitable for high performance applications, but the fact that they are biodegradable would shorten their safe working lifetime as they are likely to fail sooner than a non-biodegradable plastic. These are issues that will affect any performance enhancer for bioplastics and should be considered by PLA manufacturers and additive developers. Biodegradable bioplastics are suitable replacements the majority of plastics sold; those that are used to produce short lifetime, disposable products. While these additives could make short lifetime products perform better, they should not be taken as a way turn PLA into a biodegradable super-plastic.
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