Biodegradable plastic compounds are used in consumer products on regular bases. Recently the oil and gas industry has started to use degradable metals and plastics to increase efficiency and reduce costs. RTP Co. has developed degradable compounds based on Polylactic Acid (PLA) suitable for O&G completion tools applications. This presentation reviews RTP Co. BioPlastic compounding technology and compounds designed for use in downhole oil and gas components.

1. rtpcompany.com rtp@rtpcompany.com
Duncan Hogg
Energy Market Manager
Energy Polymer Group
2014
BioBased Engineered
Plastic Solutions

2. AGENDA
• RTP Company
• What are Eco Solutions?
• Bioplastic compounds
• Glass reinforcement
• Impact modified
• High purity
• Alloys
• Oil and gas applications
• Next steps

3. RTP Company is an independent,
privately owned thermoplastics compounder with global
manufacturing, engineering support, and sales representation.
• 1,500+ employees
• $500+ million annual sales
ABOUT RTP COMPANY

4. ABOUT RTP COMPANY

5. High-Tech Compounds
to Unfilled Resins
• 60+ resins
• 100s of modifiers
• Broadest range of
competitive compounds
(From talc polypropylene to
nanotube PEEK)
Annual Production
• 6,000+ commercial
products
• 1,750+ new products
per year
CUSTOM SOLUTIONS

6. GLOBAL MANUFACTURING
RTP Company operates 18 production plants and has
sales offices in major commerce centers around the world.

7. ECO SOLUTIONS “GREEN”
COMPOUNDS
Our Eco Solutions portfolio consists of
compounds that utilize
Renewable or
biobased content
Halogen-free
additives
Recycled
content
Natural
fibers
Combinations of bioplastic, recycled, halogen-free,
and natural fiber

8. ECO SOLUTIONS COMPOUNDS
Bioplastic Compounds
• Polylactic Acid: Impact modified, glass reinforced, alloys
• Biobased PE: Mineral filled, glass reinforced
• Biobased Nylon: Glass reinforced, flame retardant
Recycled Content Compounds
• PP, nylon, PC, PET
• Glass reinforced, flame retardant, mineral, wear additives
• Pre- and post- consumer recycled
Natural Fibers
• Cellulose PP: Homopolymer, copolymer, glass,
combinations, recycled content
• Diced wood, recycled fibers

9. • Definitions
• Types
• Strategy
• Product portfolio
• Applications
• Information
• Limits of use
BIOPLASTIC COMPOUNDS

10. Bioplastics are a form of plastics
derived from renewable (annually)
biomass sources such as corn, wheat,
sugar cane, and sugar beets rather
than traditional plastics derived from
petroleum
• Some, but not all, bioplastics are
designed to biodegrade
BIOPLASTICS DEFINED

11. BIO-BASED VERSUS
BIODEGRADABLE
Biobased
• PLA
• Nylon (11, 6/10)
• PTT
• PHA
• PE
• PBS
• Thermoplastic starch
Biodegradable
• PLA
(via industrial compositing*)
• PBS
• PHA
(via “backyard” compositing)
• Thermoplastic starch
* Not biodegradable in household
waste sanitary landfill

12. BIO TECHNOLOGIES
Base Resins PLA, Nylon 11, Nylon 6/10, PTT, PE
Semi-durable and
durable applications
Office furniture, appliance, consumer
electronics, niche “green” electronics in
controlled environments
Custom Compounds Structural, impact modified, mineral, flame
retardant, conductive, wear, recycled
content
Current Focus PLA Good economics, good supply, easy to
modify, advancements in compounding and
polymerization

13. Polylactic Acid is inherently brittle with
low elongation. Low crystallinity yields
long cycle times and low HDT.
How can we modify these attributes?
• Nucleation
• Glass reinforcement
• Impact modification
• Alloying
• Increased monomer purity
PLA MODIFICATION

14. GLASS REINFORCED PLA
0.55
0.38
0.40
0.70
1.60
1.20
0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
1.20
1.40
1.60
1.80
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
16000
18000
20000
PLA(Un-
modified)
PP20%Talc
PC-ABS
PP30%Glass
PLA-30%Glass
PBT30%Glass
FlexuralModulus(psi)
TensileStrength(psi)
Glass Reinforced PLA Delivers Excellent Strength
and Stiffness
Flexural Modulus x10^6 psi Tensile (Yield) psi

15. IMPACT MODIFIED PLA
Impact Modified PLA can be compounded to achieve
a broad range of performance
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Impact Modified PLA Compounds
RTP
RTP
RTP

16. NUCLEATED PLA
Nucleated PLA helps to increase crystallinity and increase HDT
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
Nucleated PLA Compounds for Maximum
Heat Deflection Temp.
HDT@66psi(F)
RTP

17. HIGH PURITY PLA
PLA is a family of polymers
IncreasingTmandcrystallinity
Stereo
complex
PLA
Stereo
block
PLA
PLLA
PDLA
Based on
PLA
homo-
polymers
230˚C
200˚C
180˚C
160˚C
PLA
Copolymer
Impure =
PLA co-
polymers
>10% D in PLA
=Amorphous
TG 55˚C, No Tm
D-Lactic L-Lactic Stereocomplex PLA
High purity lactide allow production of PLLA and PDLA
• Low purity yields
low HDT (125˚F)
and long cycle time
• Nucleation can
improve but at high
cost, and with
limitations
• Glass
reinforcement and
alloying offers
additional, limited
options
• Initial work
produced 250˚F
HDT with
unnotched izod of
15 ft-lbs/in.
• Increased hydrolytic
stability

18. HIGH PERFORMANCE PLA
124
258
288
255
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
High Performance PLA
HDT (F@66psi)
Increased rate and
degree of
crystallization yields:
• Reduced cycle time
• Higher HDT with lower
cost nucleators
• Improved hydrolysis
resistance?
* 2099X132557A:
standard impact, mineral
reinforced

19. HIGH PERFORMANCE PLA
HDT (F@66psi)
Increased rate and
degree of
crystallization yields:
• Reduced cycle time
• Higher HDT with lower
cost nucleators
• Improved hydrolysis
resistance?
* 30% Glass HP grade
(2099X128738C)
produced under ideal lab
conditions
124
320
361
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
Unmodified PLA 30% Glass
Standard
30% Glass HP
HDT (66PSI)

20. • PLA/PC
• PLA/PC (recycled PC)
• PLA/PC FR (non-hal V-0)
• PLA/PC FR (non-hal V-0, recycled PC)
• PLA/PMMA (clear and impact opaque)
• PLA/PE
PLA ALLOYS

21. PLA/PC ALLOYS
PLA-PC Alloys balance renewable content with high impact
strength and heat deflection temperature
Renewable Resource
Content
Renewable Resource
Content
HDT at 66 psi (F)

22. BIOPLASTICS FOR OIL & GAS
Requirements:
• High HDT
• High strength
• Variable rates of degradability
• Ability to thick wall stock shapes
Areas of focus to date:
• HP grades to increase strength and HDT
• Additives to increase degradability
• Carbon fiber and max glass
• Alloying…
• Additives to improve processing

23. BIOPLASTICS FOR OIL & GAS
30% CF/PLA 40% GF/PLA 30% CF/PLA
Max Strength Max Strength Max Degradation
Tensile Strength psi 18027 16500 15230
Tensile Strength @ 130C psi 2852 2227 760
Tensile Modulus 106 psi 3.70 2.23 3.90
Tensile Modulus @ 130C 106 psi 1.30 0.79 0.54
Tensile Elongation % 0.59 1.00 0.40
Tensile Elongation @ 130C % 1.54 2.36 1.09
Flexural Strength psi 25325 27000 22000
Flexural Modulus 106 psi 3.06 2.10 3.30
Izod Notched Ft-lbs/in 0.75 1.50 0.70
Izod Unnotched Ft-lbs/in 4.47 7.00 4.00
HDT @ 66 psi ˚F 333.86 291.20 310.52
Specific Gravity - 1.37 1.58 1.36
Status:
• Proven means to increase degradability
• Successful combination of glass and carbon fiber with rapid degrade technology
• Established high performance (HP) base
resins to maximize HDT and cycle time

24. EVALUATION OF PLA POLYMERS
• ASTM samples of three PLA compounds were soaked in 200˚F
water
• Samples inspected after 12hr soak for level of degradation
• Compounds included in evaluation:
• 30% CF/PLA, max degradation
• 40% GF/PLA, low cost nucleator
• 30% CF/PLA, max strength

25. EVALUATION OF PLA POLYMERS
30% CF/PLA – max degradation:
• Visual degradation and softening within 12hrs
• Broke apart with light pressure at 22hrs
• Crumbled into small pieces in 72hrs
40% GF/PLA – max strength – low cost:
• Broke apart with light pressure at 30hrs
• Crumbled into small pieces in 96hrs
30% CF/PLA – max strength:
• Broke apart with light pressure at 40hrs
• Crumbled into small pieces in 96hrs
All of the sample stayed intact through out the soak

26. EVALUATION OF PLA POLYMERS
30% CF/PLA – max degradation
22hrs
40% GF/PLA – max strength
30hrs
30% CF/PLA – max strength
40hrs

27. EVALUATION OF PLA POLYMERS
30% CF/PLA – max degradation
22hrs
30% CF/PLA –
max strength
96hrs
40% GF/PLA –
Max strength
96hrs

28. FUTURE WORK
• Define requirements
• Degradability
• Tensile
• Flex modulus
• HDT
• Functional testing
• Process method
• Economic constraints
• Review available technologies and latest test results
• Evaluation plan
• Plaques, bars
• Molding or extrusion
• Degradability testing
• Functional testing

29. rtpcompany.com rtp@rtpcompany.com
Thank You!
Jason Becker
Application Development Engineer
jbecker@rtpcompany.com
(817) 293-5880