Water-soluble, biodegradable polymers

Technical support is now available in North America for the Depart range of biodegradable and water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol-based pellets from Environmental Polymers Ltd. Depart resins are currently used in a wide range of markets including high strength automotive tapes, hospital laundry bags that dissolve in hot water, compostable waste bags and precise dosage bags. Dosage bags are used for additives in cement, pigments, herbicides and pesticides; the bags dissolve once added to aqueous systems.

Applications under development include hot-water soluble thermoformed packaging, injection-molded products, coextrusions, fibres and foams.

The pelletized polyvinyl alcohol-based materials can be processed using conventional equipment for film or injection molding.

The resins have user-controllable solubility in water. Depending on formulation, materials can be designed to dissolve at temperature ranges between 20C and 80C.

Environmental Polymers Group Plc 44-0-1925 859300

Colorable, biodegradable resin

Seven years of development work between Novamont and Clariant Masterbatches have resulted in new grades of Novamont’s biodegradable and compostable resins and a range of masterbatches for coloration.

The resin grades have enhanced performance properties that extend the use of MATER-BI resin to thin films for end-uses such as agricultural use, trash bags, and food containers.

To formulate a black masterbatch for thin film, typically the compounder would increase the mixing of the carbon black material in the resin, explains Maurizio Torchio, marketing manager for Clariant (Italia) S.p.A. “With MATER-BI this was not an option due to the fact the resin is relatively delicate, and increased dispersion activity would adversely affect its shear strength.”

Clariant Masterbatches Division 905-624-2201