The 2011 Frost & Sullivan Global New Product Innovation Award in the Bioplastic Additives Market is presented to Rhein Chemie for BioAdimideTM. This innovative additive product has been specifically formulated for bioplastics and is poised to widen the applications of poly lactic acid (PLA) plastic.
“The inherent deficiencies of bioplastics, such as poor processing characteristics and insufficient physical and mechanical properties, have limited the opportunities for their expansion into advanced application arenas,” notes Frost & Sullivan Industry Analyst Deepan Kannan. “However, with the incorporation of BioAdimideTM as an additive in the bioplastic formulation, these challenges can be avoided, facilitating their use in high end applications.”
PLA is a biopolymer that typically lacks hydrolytic stability and has low melt stability. BioAdimideTM, when added to the polymer formulation, imparts hydrolytic and melt stability to PLA, thereby enhancing the processability and durability of the end product.
“Upon addition of BioAdimideTM, the melt stability of PLA is projected to increase by 20 to 30 per cent,” explains Kannan. “The improvement in hydrolytic stability is also expected to improve the durability of the product, almost three to seven times.”
Another significant advantage of using BioAdimideTM is that it enables the blending of PLA with high temperature plastics. This opens up a new array of applications for the polymer. Moreover, the addition of BioAdimideTM offers scope for the incorporation of higher levels of regrind materials in its formulation. The amount of regrind material added to the virgin resin can be increased to as much as 40 per cent.
“In case of PLA blends with synthetic plastics, this innovative product also offers an opportunity to increase the biorenewable content of the final plastic as it eliminates some of the inherent deficiencies of the bioplastic,” says Kannan. “The increase in renewable content in the final plastic leads to significant reduction in the carbon footprint, boosting overall sustainability.”
Apart from enhancing processability, BioAdimideTM also enables efficient processing of bioplastics at lower temperatures, thereby reducing the need for high temperature processing. Despite its premium price, it holds tremendous customer appeal as it renders superior performance benefits to the bioplastic.
The entire value chain of bioplastic producers, including resin manufacturers, compounders and plastic processors/converters, will be a target base for BioAdimideTM. Through this product, Rhein Chemie is aiming to expand the horizons of bioplastics to third generation applications, including automotive, consumer electronics and other technical fields that demand durability and high performance characteristics.
The New Product Innovation Award is presented to the company that has excelled in the following criteria: for innovative element of the product, for leveraging leading edge technologies in product, for value added features/benefits, for increased customer ROI (small change) and for customer acquisition/penetration potential.
Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognise companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research in order to identify best practices in the industry.
“We are very pleased that Frost & Sullivan elected us as from many competitors. They realized the innovation of the new product line BioAdimideTM which enables the production of renewable, bio-based polymers for durable applications with a lower environmental impact”. That’s a real innovation for the third generation of bioplastics, emphasized Fei Tan, Head of Global Business Development Engineering Plastics Division.
About Engineering Plastics Division
Additives from the Engineering Plastics Division are used to protect polymers from hydrolysis and the premature aging associated with this process. The company’s product portfolio also includes catalysts and activators for the manufacture of cast nylon and modifiers that improve the impact resistance of polyamides. In addition, highly developed catalysts, crosslinking agents and stabilizers from Rhein Chemie are used in the manufacture of flexible and rigid polyurethane foams.
About Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH
Rhein Chemie develops, produces and sells additives, specialty chemicals and service products for the rubber, lubricant and plastics industries. Rhein Chemie has approximately 1,000 employees worldwide. The company is headquartered in Mannheim, Germany and has production facilities in Europe, Asia and North and South America. Rhein Chemie is a wholly owned subsidiary of the specialty chemicals group LANXESS, Leverkusen, Germany.
About Frost & Sullivan
Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, enables clients to accelerate growth and achieve best-in-class positions in growth, innovation and leadership. The company’s Growth Partnership Service provides the CEO and the CEO’s Growth Team with disciplined research and best-practice models to drive the generation, evaluation, and implementation of powerful growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan leverages 50 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from more than 40 offices on six continents.
Contacts
Emily Bailey (Promotions Coordinator – Best Practices / Frost & Sullivan)
E-Mail: emily.bailey@frost.com
Phone: +44 (0)20 7915 7869
Fax: +44 (0)20 7730 3343
Manuela Schroeder (Corporate / Market Communications Rhein Chemie)
E-Mail: manuela.schroeder@rheinchemie.com
Phone: +49 (0) 621-8907-429
Source
Frost & Sullivan, press release, 2011-10-11.
Supplier
Frost & Sullivan
Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH
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