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Bamboo reinforces sustainable compounds
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Bamboo reinforces sustainable compounds
Bamboo fibre reinforcement is being used in new polypropylene and PLA compounds from Transmare Compounding. At Fakuma 2008, held recently in Friedrichshafen, Germany, Netherlands-based Transmare Compounding B.V. introduced a range of new products reinforced with fibres from 100 per cent renewable raw materials. The new compounds, which carry the Transmare® brand, are based on polypropylene (PP) and biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) and employ bamboo fibre reinforcement. Bamboo fibre, as a renewable resource, provides moulders and OEMs with a ‘greener’ alternative to traditional reinforcements. Importantly, bamboo fibres can deliver a ‘no compromise’ solution, says the company. While bamboo cane has long been a construction material,
extracting, preparing and using the hard technical fibres at its core is a new technology. The fibre fractions generated range from very coarse to fine micronized powders, which are free flowing and look like wood but offer superior performance across all properties. Strong, lightweight, wear resistant and exhibiting very low water absorption, each fibre grade offers different application reinforcement possibilities. According to Transmare’s sales manager, Robin Beishuizen: “Bamboo fibre reinforced compounds can be processed by injection moulding or extrusion in the same way as those using other reinforcements. Applications areas too are similar ranging from phone
Plastics Additives & Compounding November/December 2008
and notebook housings to furniture and automotive parts. And, they deliver the same high reinforcement properties when combined with bioplastics, such as PLA, for short lifecycle products, designed to degrade naturally at the end of their service life. Moreover, long bamboo fibres can be blended in a thermoplastic matrix to form compression mouldable mats. We have added these to our product basket and their potential is already attracting interest from the automotive industry as a next-step solution for lightweight, non-toxic interior and exterior vehicle panels”. All Transmare bamboo reinforced fibre PP and PLA compounds and mat products
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are now available commercially and are being tested and trialed at many moulders and OEMs throughout Europe. A key consideration for processors interested in pursuing ‘greener’ technologies is that bamboo contributes to sustainability. It is a renewable, very fast growing, high volume crop and the production process to finished fibre has a very low energy requirement. Additionally, even if burnt in energy reclamation recycling at end-of-life, the CO2 generated is balanced by the CO2 takeup by new bamboo growth, making it virtually carbon neutral, says the compounder. Contact: Transmare Compounding Website: www.transmere.nl
News
Bamboo reinforces sustainable compounds
Bamboo fibre reinforcement is being used in new polypropylene and PLA compounds from Transmare Compounding. At Fakuma 2008, held recently in Friedrichshafen, Germany, Netherlands-based Transmare Compounding B.V. introduced a range of new products reinforced with fibres from 100 per cent renewable raw materials. The new compounds, which carry the Transmare® brand, are based on polypropylene (PP) and biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) and employ bamboo fibre reinforcement. Bamboo fibre, as a renewable resource, provides moulders and OEMs with a ‘greener’ alternative to traditional reinforcements. Importantly, bamboo fibres can deliver a ‘no compromise’ solution, says the company. While bamboo cane has long been a construction material,
extracting, preparing and using the hard technical fibres at its core is a new technology. The fibre fractions generated range from very coarse to fine micronized powders, which are free flowing and look like wood but offer superior performance across all properties. Strong, lightweight, wear resistant and exhibiting very low water absorption, each fibre grade offers different application reinforcement possibilities. According to Transmare’s sales manager, Robin Beishuizen: “Bamboo fibre reinforced compounds can be processed by injection moulding or extrusion in the same way as those using other reinforcements. Applications areas too are similar ranging from phone
Plastics Additives & Compounding November/December 2008
and notebook housings to furniture and automotive parts. And, they deliver the same high reinforcement properties when combined with bioplastics, such as PLA, for short lifecycle products, designed to degrade naturally at the end of their service life. Moreover, long bamboo fibres can be blended in a thermoplastic matrix to form compression mouldable mats. We have added these to our product basket and their potential is already attracting interest from the automotive industry as a next-step solution for lightweight, non-toxic interior and exterior vehicle panels”. All Transmare bamboo reinforced fibre PP and PLA compounds and mat products
20
are now available commercially and are being tested and trialed at many moulders and OEMs throughout Europe. A key consideration for processors interested in pursuing ‘greener’ technologies is that bamboo contributes to sustainability. It is a renewable, very fast growing, high volume crop and the production process to finished fibre has a very low energy requirement. Additionally, even if burnt in energy reclamation recycling at end-of-life, the CO2 generated is balanced by the CO2 takeup by new bamboo growth, making it virtually carbon neutral, says the compounder. Contact: Transmare Compounding Website: www.transmere.nl