2. What is a Bioplastic?
To be classified as biobased, the material must be
organic and contain some percentage of recently
fixed (new) carbon found in biological resources or
crops. This definition is the basis of ASTM D6866
3. Definitional Clarification
Renewable does not mean compostable
Nylon 11, Brazchem PE
Non renewable does not mean non compostable
ECOFLEX , polybutylene succinate (PBS)
Compostability is a disposal option-not compositionally defined
4. Why the Drive to Use Renewable Feedstocks?
Oil Independence
Environmental Pollution
Global Warming
Human Health Concerns.
Legislation
6. Facts or Wishful Thinking?
Global demand for bioplastics will increase more than
fourfold to 900,000 metric tons in 2013. (Freedonia)
Global production of bioplastics will increase
six-fold to 1.5 million tonnes by 2011, up from 262,000
tonnes in 2007. (European Bioplastics )
Production capacity of bio-based plastics is
projected to increase from 360,000 tons in 2007
to about 2.3 million tons by 2013. (European Bioplastics )
7. Facts or Wishful Thinking?
Increasing demand for biobased, durable products in electronics
and automotive applications.
By 2011 durables are expected to account for almost 40% of
bioplastics -compared with 12% today. ( European Bioplastics)
Can Today’s Compostable Bioplastics Meet the Durables Needs?
8. Key Compostable Bioplastics -The First
Generation
Starch/PLA/ECOFLEX Polylactic Acid -PLA
O O
HO HO
OH OH
H H3C
CH3 H
L-Lactic Acid D-Lactic Acid
(0.5%)
Compounded Biobased
Compostable 100% Renewable and compostable
10. Biobased Polymer Capacities for Major Players
Product Company Location Capacity/mt Price/#
PLA Natureworks USA 150,000 0.85-1.20
PLA Hisun China 5,000 1.25
PHA’s Metabolix/Telles USA 300/50,000 2.50-2.75
(2010)
PHBH Meredian/Kaneka USA 150,000? n/a
PHBV Tianan China 2,000 2.40-2.50
Materbi Novamont Eu 80,000 2.0-3.0
Cereplast Cereplast USA 25,000 1.50-2.50
HDPE/LDPE/PP Brazchem SA 200,000 0.80-1.00
. (2010)
11. Major Markets for Compostable Bioplastics
Starch Blends
Starch Blends PLA SCL-PHA’s
12. Compostable Bioplastics Do Not Meet the
Needs for Durables
Areas of Concern
Starch Blends PLA SCL PHA’S
Hydrolytic stability Hydrolytic Stability Hydrolytic Stability
Distortion Temp. Distortion Temp.(amorph.)
Vapor transmission Vapor Transmission
Shelf Life Shelf Life Shelf Life
Impact Resistance
Melt Strength Melt Strength
Processability
Economics
“Ageing”
13. Traditional Path to Maturity For Plastics
Copolymers
Blends Chemical Resit.
Modifiers High Heat
Additives Rigid/Flexible Ductile
Impact modifiers Low/High Temp
Fillers/fibers Rheology
Base Polymer Pigments
Biobased/Petro
Modifiers
Lubricants Plasticizers
Mold release agents Nucleating agents
14. Will Biopolymers Follow the Traditional Path to Maturity?-
Yes
Copolymers
Blends
Modifiers Isosorbide
Additives PLA/Ecoflex 2,5 FDCA
Acrylics PLA/PHBV
Base Polymer Talc Joncryls
Kenaf PLA/PC
PLA Citroflex
EBS
15. Blends of PHBV/ PLA Already Occurring -
Why?
Improved Temperature Performance over PLA
Improved processing window over PHBV
Wider mechanical property spectrum
Almost completely renewable resource based
Still Compostable
16. Heat Distortion Properties of PHBV/PLA Blends
100%PLA
90%PLA/10%PHBV
2Minutes 80%PLA/20%PHBV
Deformed
70%PLA/30%PHBV
12Minutes 60%PLA/40%PHBV
Not
Deformed 50%PLA/50%PHBV
Samples Held up to 12minutes at 100 C
COURTESY OF PETER HOLLAND BV
17. Heat Distortion Temperatures of PHBV/PLA Blends
Sample Load MPa HDT oC
100% PLA 0.45 52.0
90/10 0.45 53.4
80/20 0.45 54.5
70/30 0.45 54.6
60/40 0.45 63.0
50/50 0.45 66.3
COURTESY OF PETER HOLLAND BV
19. Will this Path Serve Durable Markets ?
Not Likely with Only 100% Renewable Products.
Renewable/Petro based Blends are Developing
Low Biobased content Durable Copolymers are Appearing
To Cross the Frontier to High Biobased Durables:
A New Approach is needed
20. Bioplastics – Present and The Future?
Biobased Durables
Biobased Durables High New “C” Content
Low New “C” Content
PET, NYLON 6
Compostables PET PBT, PMMA,PC
Nylon 4.10,
Starch 6.10, 10.10,
Blends 10. Nylon 11
PLA/PHA PE, PP
NYLON 6
PTT
PLA
TPU’s
PHA’s
(PBS)
Bioplastics Frontier
1994-2009 2010-2015?
22. The Future For Bioplastics Will Depend On…
Moving from Single Use Compostable to Durables
Performance and Price improvements for Existing Bioplastics
Renewable Building Block Developments
Recycling Infrastructure Developments
