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The flame-retardant requirements of E&E devices cannot be met with biopolymers. Research shows that this could soon be possible with bio-based flame retardants.

The addition of wood particles improved the flame resistance of the Bio-PA test specimens.

16:9

Biokunststoffe

Kunststoff Werkstoffe

Flammschutzmittel

Additive

Flame Retardants for Biopolymers

PLA’s elongation at break and impact strength stand in the way of its broader use. PLA copolymers look like a promising solution.

A view of the production of the PLA copolymer compounds: the proprietary process combines chemical synthesis of polymers and production of compounds in a single process.

Targeted Improvement in Elongation at Break and Impact Strength of PLA

Polylactid

Copolymer instead of  Plasticizer or Blend

With the processing of increasingly “green” plastics, Bausano, an Italian manufacturer of extrusion lines, is opening itself up to the circular economy.

Bausano tested a wide variety of material mixtures of more sustainable plastics on its extruders. 

Extrusionsanlagen

Kunststoff-Rezyklat

Bausano Processes Plastics from Recycling and Biomaterials

The K 2022 offered an immense range of innovations and application examples for – and with more – sustainable materials. Interestingly hereby was that bio-based versions were extremely popular.

Shoes made from waste gas: genetically modified bacteria produce ethanol from waste gas, which is then used to create plastic, e.g. for the Cloudprime shoes from On.

Thermoplastische Elastomere

Silikone

Messe K-Kunststoffmesse

Masterbatches

Polyethylen

Streifinger, Florian

Polyamide

Effektpigmente

Polypropylen

Faserverbundwerkstoffe

Silikonkautschuk

Is Bio the New Standard?

Bio-Fed and Günther Heisskanaltechnik have performed various trials, which show that even supposedly sensitive bioplastics can be reliably processed in hot runner molds.

Fig. 4. Interchangeable inserts for various test samples can be installed in the two-cavity trial mold.

Bio-Fed and Günther Heisskanaltechnik have performed trials, which show that even supposedly sensitive bioplastics can be reliably processed in hot runner molds.

While Processing Trials Proved Highly Successful, an Intuitive Feeling Is Required

Spritzgießen

Heißkanalsysteme

Processing Bioplastics  in Hot Runners

At K 2022, it was clearly shown that with suitable materials not only can CO2 emissions be reduced, but also advantages in component design achieved.

The Japanese chemical company Asahi Kasei showed its concept vehicle at K 2022. The domed roof in particular could lead to a few changes in future automobiles.

With suitable materials CO2 emissions can be reduced and advantages in component design can be achieved.

Automotive Highlights of K 2022

Kunststoffe, biobasiert

Elektromobilität

Polymethylmethacrylat

Polycarbonat

Suitable Materials for Smart  Vehicle Design

This year, the world’s leading trade show K has succeeded in presenting practical solutions for greater resource efficiency on a broad front. A first foray through the trade show grounds.

K 2022 gave numerous practical examples showing visitors how recyclates can be reliably processed with digital aids.

State-of-the-Art Injection Molding Solutions for Greater Resource Efficiency.

State-of-the-Art Injection Molding Solutions at K 2022

Doriat, Clemens, Dr.

Solar / PV

Schaumspritzgießen

Temperiertechnik

Mehrkomponenten-Spritzgießen

Condition Monitoring / Prozessüberwachung

Spritzgießwerkzeuge

Handling, Handhabungstechnik

Elastomer-Spritzgießen

Oberflächentechnik

Energieeffizienz

Industrie 4.0 für die Kunststoffverarbeitung

Digitalisierung

Spritzgießmaschinen

Kreislaufwirtschaft

Compoundieren

It Can Be Done!

Dupont is adding new, more sustainable grades to the Hytrel TPC-ET product family. Hytrel Eco B is based proportionately on renewable raw materials.

Kautschuk / Elastomere

TPC with up to 72 Percent Biomass Content

Bio-Fed’s booth will be dedicated to the topic of bioplastics in all their facets, and will be run jointly with Akro-Plastic, AF-Color and parent company K. D. Feddersen.

Bio-Fed‘s K trade fair presentation is dedicated to the topic of bioplastics in all its facets.

Compound

Kunststoffe, bioabbaubar

Organic – both Inside and Outside

Under the motto “It‘s all Wittmann”, Wittmann Battenfeld is presenting its machines and systems in the new Wittmann design for the first time.

Automation cell with SmartPlus 90 for manufacturing a spirit level.

Spritzprägen

Naturmaterialien

Green DC Current for the Injection Molding Machine

A trade show highlight of masterbatch manufacturer Lifocolor will be its biodegradable plant-based color concentrates. These are claimed to enable a closed-loop system for biodegradable plastics.

When it comes to long-term closed-loop recycling, it is not only the plastics that matter, but also the colorants employed. Lifocolor has developed masterbatches specifically for coloring recycled materials.

Farbstoffe und Pigmente

Farbkonzentrate (Batches)

Farbstoffe

Biodegradable Plant-Based Colors

PEX Pipe Blue is the world’s first pipe portfolio made from PEX with renewable feedstock accredited by mass balance accounting under the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification Plus (ISCC PLUS) scheme.

The pipes are the world’s first variants to be made with ISCC Plus certified bio-based PE-X.

Kunststoff-Rohre

Rohre, allgemein

Plastic Pipes with 90 Percent Smaller Carbon Footprint

Drawing on various joint projects conducted with customers, BASF will demonstrate how to significantly improve carbon emissions from products.

Vaude’s outdoor pants use a PA6 from BASF made from chemically recycled car tires. 

Recycling

Polyurethan

Calculating and Reducing the Carbon Footprint

Due to the aspect of sustainability, natural fibers are interesting as reinforcements for plastics. To keep their ecological footprint as low as possible, it is advisable to use fibers from regionally grown plants.

The “perennial cup plant” is cultivated in Germany for biogas production. The fibers of the plant can be extracted from the resulting fermentation residues and subsequently used for composites.

Fermentation Residues from Biogas Production Are Turned into Fibers for Composites

Fasern

Lightweight Construction with  Regional Plant Fiber

The raw material used to produce Europlex Film LJ 21123/123 is derived from non-genetically modified sugarcane.

 Europlex Film LJ 21123/123 consists of a renewable raw material and can be shaped flexibly.

Röhm Is Developing Thermoformable PLA Films

The plastics industry has a variety of materials and technologies available for significantly reducing the ecological footprint of products. There are very few applications for which it is not possible to replace at least a portion of the fossil material with recyclates or bioplastics. Various methods, standards and software tools are available to determine what savings this can achieve.

Determining CO<sub>2</sub> Savings from Recycled Materials and Bioplastics

Normen / Standards

Kunststoff-Recycling

Reducing the CO<sub>2</sub> Footprint

With a newly developed process from Entex it was possible to compound an injection grade compound of PLA with a 50 % wood flour content.

The PLA compound with 50 % wood flour content was successfully produced on Entex’s planetary roller extruder

Compounding PLA Formulations with a 50 % Wood Flour Content, without Premixing

Extruder

Kunststoff

Direct to Highly Filled Bioplastics

After oil extraction and drying, Coffee grounds can be incorporated into plastic compounds as a filler and coloring agent.

The coffee grounds compounds can be used for computer accessories such as a housing of a computer mouse

Bioplastics with Coffee Grounds as a Bio-Based Filler

Füllstoffe, mineralisch

Füllstoffe, allgemein

Füllstoffe für Kunststoffe

Coffee Infusion for Plastic Compounds

The right additive can enhance the processing and material properties of biodegradable polyesters. Blending a pair of additives into polyesters leads to much stronger effects.

The additive Vinnex 2525 increases the melt strength of PLA, helping to produce a robust blown film extrusion process and constant film thickness 

Additive Combination Improves Properties and Processability of Biodegradable Polymers

Teamwork for Better Performance

With a glass fiber-filled PA6, Lanxess has presented the first product in a product family specially manufactured from sustainable raw materials. The materials for this come e.g. from the energy group bp.

Polyamide 6 compound made from 92 % sustainable raw materials

PA6 Compound Made from 92 % Sustainable Raw Materials

Over past months, many in-house workflows and development processes have slowed down and also changed. Nevertheless, time has not stood still, also not in injection molding technology. The debate and development have been shaped by two themes: digitalization and the circular economy. Below are some examples of developments and projects that underpin this trend.

Two displays are seamlessly integrated into the continuously 3D-formed instrument panel