Reverdia, the DSM-Roquette joint venture in biobased succinic acid (bio-SA) has reached an agreement with Covestro, the former Bayer MaterialScience, to jointly develop thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) based on its Biosuccinium brand of bio-SA renewable raw materials.
These will be made at Covestro’s site in Taiwan, and will be developed for a range of applications, including footwear and consumer electronics, where its Desmopan brand of TPU is already used.
Reverdia has been producing Biosuccinium at commercial scale since 2012 using a patented low-pH yeast technology. Biobased Desmopan products are already available in various hardness grades, including 85 Shore A, 95A and 60D, with between 42 and 65 per cent biomass content. They are said to match the physical properties of conventional grades with a roughly 65 per cent reduction in the carbon impact.
Reverdia is a joint venture of the Netherlands’ Royal DSM NV and Roquette Frères, a global starch and starch-derivatives company based in France.
