Novon Products Group

Hawaii,University Warner-Lambert Co.,Novon Products Group... 

The two leading producers of starch-based biodegradable polymers are Novamont, with Mater-Bi, and Warner-Lambert s Novon Products Group. 

In November 1993 Warner-Lambert announced its intention to suspend operations of its Novon Products Group and liquidate its hard assets. 

To compensate for the inconvenience of plastics made with pure starch, it can be chemically treated to improve its resistance to humidity. One treatment consists of the acetylation or of the esterification of the free hydroxide groups present in the chain by an anhydrous propionic acid. Another possibility is to add to the formulation of the polymer hydrophobic substances such as natural wax or biodegradable plastics which are not sensitive to humidity, however, all these treatments increase the production costs. Novon (Novon International, USA) was originally developed by Warner Lambert for the fabrication of pharmaceutical capsules, includes up to 80-90% of starch. Some grades are edible others have been developed for thermoforming, sheet and film extrusion or for injection moulding applications. 

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