Consumers biodegradable polymers

Development of biodegradable polymers with flame retardant properties that can be used for consumer electronics product housing. 

Japan is the largest consumer of biodegradable polymers in the Asia Pacific region, followed by Australia and New Zealand, with Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore and China, some way behind in terms of market development. 

Biodegradable materials are created specifically with recyclability or disposal in mind. Recycling techniques for post-consumer biodegradable plastic products have two important features, which distinguish them from conventional polymers their biodegradability or compostability and the use of renewable resources in their manufacture. 

Starch-based materials represent the largest class of biodegradable polymer with 44,800 tonnes (including loose-fill foam packaging) consumed in 2005. Excluding loose-fill, starch-based materials amounted to 21,700 tonnes in 2005. Polylactic acid (PLA) is the second largest material class with 35,800 tonnes in 2005, followed by synthetic aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters with 14,000 tonnes. The embryonic PHA category amounts to around 250 tonnes. 

In 2005, Western Europe consumed 55,700 tonnes of biodegradable polymers compared with 15,500 tonnes in 2000. In 2010, Western European consumption of biodegradable polymers is forecast to reach 129,400 tonnes, which represents a compound annual growth rate of 18.4% during the period 2005-2010. 

DuPont offers a family of biodegradable polymers based on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) technology known commercially as Biomax. Proprietary monomers are incorporated into the polymer, creating sites that are susceptible to hydrolysis. At elevated temperatures, the large polymer molecules are cleaved by moisture into smaller molecules, which are then consumed by naturally occurring microbes and converted to carbon dioxide, water and biomass. Biomax can be recycled, incinerated or landfilled, but is designed specifically for disposal by composting. 

As PLA prices move closer to those of PET there may be a tendency for brand owners to switch from PET in favour of biodegradable polymers such as PLA for injection stretch blow moulded bottles, not only on cost grounds, but also because renewable packaging materials have marketing advantages for the consumer. 

Loose-fill packaging was one of the first successful areas of application for starch-based biodegradable polymers. Loose-fill starch-based foam is used for packaging consumer products as an alternative to polystyrene and polyethylene. While, biodegradable plastics have made some inroads into these markets, the future prospects for their growth in loose-fill are not so exciting as they are in some other areas of packaging. 

There are also opportunities for serviceware made from biodegradable polymers through retail outlets. Coop Italia for example, became the first retailer in Europe to offer consumers serviceware from NatureWorks PLA in April 2005. The company reported that sales had since exceeded their expectations. 

BiodegradabUity of materials such as natural polymers or polylactic acid seems to be a big issue today. The reader should not fail to notice how paradoxical this issue is. Chemists are widely expected to create substances that degrade fast For centuries, the opposite was trae. Materials such as metals, wood, and paper had to be made more durable and more resistant to external influences. Who would want food packaging that degrades before the food is consumed Biodegradability actually... 

Blends of styrenic pol5m ers (PS, high impact poly (styrene)) and biodegradable polymers (PLA) can be extruded and thermo-formed to produce very low density food service and consumer foam articles (29,31). The blends are compatibilized with styrene-based copolymers a styrene-maleic anhydride copol5mier, or a styrene methyl methacrylate copolymer. As blowing agent for foaming the compositions z-pentane is used. 

G. Woodward, G.P. Otter, K.P. Davis, and K. Carmichael, Biodegradable polymers, US Patent 7879964, assigned to Rhodia Consumer Specialties Limited (Hertfordshire, GB), February 1, 2011. 

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