3rd prize BIOPOLYMER Award 2023
SoBiCo GmbH
Bad Sobernheim (Germany)
Innovation:
Plactid® PLA-Copolymer
Plactid® represents a new, pioneering approach to opening up numerous new fields of application for polylactic acid (PLA). Behind the still young brand is a growing family of copolymers that can give the globally popular bioplastic a wealth of new, desirable properties. In many cases, the decisive advantage of PLA from an environmental point of view remains the same: its biodegradability.
Jury statement
In particular, the relatively low elongation at break, limited impact strength and milky appearance have limited the range of applications for PLA to date. Traditional modification attempts often fail due to the complex migration and crystallization behaviour of plasticizers and other additives in PLA. The team led by SoBiCo Managing Director Johannes Fuchs therefore looked for fundamentally different solutions. Together with the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research (IAP) in Potsdam, the concept for Plactid® was developed: a PLA copolymer family that is produced using a novel process - reactive compounding. In addition to bio-based lactide, various polyols are used, which can come from biological or fossil sources depending on the application. The PLA copolymers can be specifically adjusted from hard/brittle to soft/ductile, in many cases while maintaining biodegradability. For example, soft films with high crystallinity are possible. Injection moulding grades with a significantly higher crystallization speed and impact strength than standard PLA can also be produced. In addition, the PLA copolymers are also suitable as additives for modifying standard PLA. In addition to these pioneering results, the jury also recognized the perseverance of the SoBiCo team, which invested seven years of research and development work before the product was ready.
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Phone: +49 (3461) 7940320
E-Mail: biopolymer@polykum.de
Fördergemeinschaft für Polymerentwicklung und Kunststofftechnik
Peter Putsch
Brandisstraße 4
06217 Merseburg
Germany
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