Plastics News Show Daily - April 3, 2012 - (Page 57)

PLASTICS NEWS, April 3, 2012 • 57 NatureWorks displays Plexiglas Rnew By Mike Verespej PLASTICS NEWS STAFF ORLANDO, FLA. — Altuglas International Resin has developed a bio-based acrylic compound made partially from polylactic acid that has lower processing temperatures, greater melt flow properties and better impact resistance than its traditional transparent thermoplastic polymethyl methacrylate. Sample products made from the new Plexiglas Rnew bio-based compounds that use Ingeo PLA from NatureWorks LLC are on display at NatureWorks’ booth (57048) at NPE2012 and at an Altuglas special event on April 3 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in room 210 D&E of the North Hall. “There is a step change in impact performance, there is a significant increase in chemical resistance, and there is a dramatic improvement in melt flow for easier processing in both extrusion and in injection molding,” said Bob Barsotti, research scientist for Arkema Group, the parent company of Altuglas. “You can process it faster and at lower temperatures. “We can move Plexiglas Rnew into applications that we couldn’t get into with traditional acrylic/plexiglas and we can also compete with engineered resins with this material,” Barsotti said in a pre-show interview. “I can see applications in consumer, medical, optical products, building and construction and automotive.” Carmen Rodriguez, business manager of resin products for Bristol, Pa.-based Altuglas, added that the compatibility of Ingeo PLA and PMMA opens up additional doors. “There will be a wide range of formulation latitudes and a wide range of applications because the formulation will be easier to tweak because of the compatibility of the two materials,” Rodriguez said. In particular, she sees a host of application possibilities in both small and large appliances, retail applications such as clear transparent racks used to display shoes or wine bottles, a variety of display signs and clear candy bowls. “It can be a clear material for anything from small to large appliances. It can be an alternate material for signs, and it can have some automotive applications,” depending on what properties are needed, Rodriguez said. What’s more, it is not restricted to clear, transparent applications, as color can be added to the compound. How much Ingeo will be each type of Plexiglas Rnew compound will depend on the application. “Right now, we’re looking at incorporating a range of 25-60 percent bio-based Ingeo renewable content” depending on the formulation, said Barsotti. In terms of applications, “we are actively pushing point-of-display, retail signage and outdoor signage among injection molders,” said Rodriguez. “Just recently, we extruded sheet materials into display items,” she said. “We also fabricated items to demonstrate that we can make clear cuts without burning or melting the sheet materials.” In addition, she said Altuglas has also thermoformed Plexiglas Rnew into products like an acrylic truck to show injection molders how well the resin fills molds, how all the details are captured in the product and how it releases from the mold without any problem. “Right now, we are working to understand which products will be most robust in terms of applications,” Rodriguez said. “But our hope is that we will be offering a portion of these products by the end of the year.” Frank Diodato, the Harvard, Mass.-based business manager of durables for NatureWorks, said its customers seem “most interested in applications for disposables and packaging.” “There has been a lot of attention on what’s in the packaging, but our cusSee Plexiglas, Page 58 Above: The compatibility of Ingeo PLA and PMMA allows large and small applications, such as the wine rack above. Left: A sample product from NatureWorks that uses 25 percent Ingeo PLA renewable content is on display in booth 57048. Now we’ve grown to be one of the world’s leading producers of PET Resins. From the beginning, PET Resins have been Seeds of Growth at DAK Americas. Since 2001, we have increased our PET Resins manufacturing capability thirteen-fold (to over 4.3 billion lbs/yr), and created innovative new products with our state-of-the-art IntegRex® and Melt-Tek® PET technologies. We’ve also led the way in sustainability, establishing Clear Path Recycling, a joint venture company that recycles over 160 million lbs/yr of waste PET bottles. In ﬁve years, DAK has reduced its energy use by nearly 29%. We are on target to achieve our Zero Landﬁll goal by 2016 and have already accomplished an 85% reduction in landﬁll waste since 2009. DAK’s commitment to the PET industry and sustainability are setting new standards for healthy growth. Just as our dedication to innovation, technology and service have set new standards in product performance with the Laser+® PET family of products. Contact DAK today and let our PET Resins be the Seeds of Growth for your business. NPE 2012 I Booth 24030 I South Hall dakamericas.com I 1.888.738.2002 © 2012 DAK Americas. All Rights Reserved. Photos courtesy Altuglas International http://www.dakamericas.com http://www.dakamericas.com

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Plastics News Show Daily - April 3, 2012

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