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Ultrafine mica reduces cost of production
MATERIALS
New:
Biodegradable food wrap rots with organic waste A fully biodegradable plastic material from BASE Ecoflex ®, is claimed to be the first food wrap that also acts as a fertilizer. The company says that films and wrappings made from Ecoflex rot along with the organic waste. In the composting system, microorganisms decompose the plastic refuse and leave only natural residues like water, carbon dioxide and biomass behind. Around 90 percent of annual output is earmarked for applications where renewable raw materials are used in addition to Ecoflex. This often involves food packaging, such as cardboard boxes or starch-based containers. If these materials are used alone, there is a problem with fats and liquids that soon penetrate. BASF says that Ecoflex can provide a remedy by creating a hygienic and completely biodegradable disposable wrapping.
The material has properties such as resistance to water and grease that make it possible for Ecoflex to be used for trash bags, grocery bags and airtight films. After use, it can be disposed of with the organic waste. The company adds that existing waste disposal arrangements
do not require adjusting, because Ecoflex decomposes in normal composting systems almost as fast as vegetable starch. Ecoflex can also find use as a plastic sheet for agricultural applications to protect young plants from frost. When it is finished with, the sheet can be
ploughed under and left to decompose in the soil. BASF says that Ecoflex is manufactured from adipic acid, butanediol and terephthalic acid. The company adds that the length of the molecular chains along with their branchings and interconnections affects the properties of the biodegradable plastic. This allows Ecoflex to be used as a molecular construction kit for making customized products. However, whether the formulation is for flexible films or for sturdy containers, then they are all biodegradable. The synthetic material is fully composted within three months. BASF says that biodegradable plastics offer an entirely new class of materials with a variety of applications, such as filters in extraction hoods. Contact: BASF Teh +49 621 600 Fax: +49 621 60 723 48
Ultrafine mica reduces cost of production Canadian company Quinto Technology has established a pilot plant facility in Lumby, British Columbia to produce mica from a naturally occurring source of four-micron mica. The company says that mica produced in large flake form as a by-product of the production of kaolin, feldspar and silica offers high stift~ness, flexural strength and dimensional stability in plastics, but there is some loss of impact properties. Ultraflne mica flakes can
restore lost impact properties, adds Quinto Technology. Production of ultrafine mica is generally expensive, claims Quinto Technology, due to the high grinding energy, input requirement required by all minerals. The company adds that the mica extracted from the Lumby mine is already fine in the ore, so that the cost of production is less than from other locations and ultrafine grades can be employed in the plastics industry.
According to Quinto Technology, four grades are offered for plastics. Two reinforcing grades include Quintez NP-1, which is an ultrafine micaceous mineral for the reinforcement of polypropylene, HDPE, polyamide and polyurethane, for example. Quintez NPC-1 is an uhrafine dehydrated micaceous mineral for use in the same group of plastics. Pigment grades are also available. Quintez Lumby Black-1 is a high temperature resistant
black micaceous pigment, while Quintez Lumby Red-1 offers the same properties in red. Surface treatments are available for the mica grades. The company adds that it plans to add processing equipment that will be capable of reducing the mica flake diameter to nanometer sizes. A full scale plant has been partially completed and will be complete once the details of the desired product mix are established with the products of the pilot plant.
Plastics Additives & Compounding March 2001
9
New:
Biodegradable food wrap rots with organic waste A fully biodegradable plastic material from BASE Ecoflex ®, is claimed to be the first food wrap that also acts as a fertilizer. The company says that films and wrappings made from Ecoflex rot along with the organic waste. In the composting system, microorganisms decompose the plastic refuse and leave only natural residues like water, carbon dioxide and biomass behind. Around 90 percent of annual output is earmarked for applications where renewable raw materials are used in addition to Ecoflex. This often involves food packaging, such as cardboard boxes or starch-based containers. If these materials are used alone, there is a problem with fats and liquids that soon penetrate. BASF says that Ecoflex can provide a remedy by creating a hygienic and completely biodegradable disposable wrapping.
The material has properties such as resistance to water and grease that make it possible for Ecoflex to be used for trash bags, grocery bags and airtight films. After use, it can be disposed of with the organic waste. The company adds that existing waste disposal arrangements
do not require adjusting, because Ecoflex decomposes in normal composting systems almost as fast as vegetable starch. Ecoflex can also find use as a plastic sheet for agricultural applications to protect young plants from frost. When it is finished with, the sheet can be
ploughed under and left to decompose in the soil. BASF says that Ecoflex is manufactured from adipic acid, butanediol and terephthalic acid. The company adds that the length of the molecular chains along with their branchings and interconnections affects the properties of the biodegradable plastic. This allows Ecoflex to be used as a molecular construction kit for making customized products. However, whether the formulation is for flexible films or for sturdy containers, then they are all biodegradable. The synthetic material is fully composted within three months. BASF says that biodegradable plastics offer an entirely new class of materials with a variety of applications, such as filters in extraction hoods. Contact: BASF Teh +49 621 600 Fax: +49 621 60 723 48
Ultrafine mica reduces cost of production Canadian company Quinto Technology has established a pilot plant facility in Lumby, British Columbia to produce mica from a naturally occurring source of four-micron mica. The company says that mica produced in large flake form as a by-product of the production of kaolin, feldspar and silica offers high stift~ness, flexural strength and dimensional stability in plastics, but there is some loss of impact properties. Ultraflne mica flakes can
restore lost impact properties, adds Quinto Technology. Production of ultrafine mica is generally expensive, claims Quinto Technology, due to the high grinding energy, input requirement required by all minerals. The company adds that the mica extracted from the Lumby mine is already fine in the ore, so that the cost of production is less than from other locations and ultrafine grades can be employed in the plastics industry.
According to Quinto Technology, four grades are offered for plastics. Two reinforcing grades include Quintez NP-1, which is an ultrafine micaceous mineral for the reinforcement of polypropylene, HDPE, polyamide and polyurethane, for example. Quintez NPC-1 is an uhrafine dehydrated micaceous mineral for use in the same group of plastics. Pigment grades are also available. Quintez Lumby Black-1 is a high temperature resistant
black micaceous pigment, while Quintez Lumby Red-1 offers the same properties in red. Surface treatments are available for the mica grades. The company adds that it plans to add processing equipment that will be capable of reducing the mica flake diameter to nanometer sizes. A full scale plant has been partially completed and will be complete once the details of the desired product mix are established with the products of the pilot plant.
Plastics Additives & Compounding March 2001
9