The Terratek® SC line of starch biocomposites provides effective solutions to meet growing demand for eco-friendly, biobased goods.
The Terratek® WC line of wood-plastic composites combines the pleasing look of wood with the functionality and manufacturing ease of plastics.
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Biocomposites are made from a matrix of plastic and renewable fillers.
Biocomposite plastics represent an attractive alternative, both in their physical properties and their chemical makeup, to traditional petroleum based plastic feedstock. By replacing some of the petroleum-based content with organic fillers—up to 70 percent in some applications—biocomposites reduce the amount of non-renewable feedstock that makes up these materials. Organic fillers can include but are not limited to reclaimed wood, starch, corn cob, jute, hemp or flax. Biocomposites can be compounded with a variety of plastics such as polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, and polystyrene. Recycled plastic, as well as biobased plastics such as Braskem’s I’m GreenPE can be used to further reduce the environmental footprint of the material.
For an alternative to petroleum-based plastics to gain widespread use, it will need to be easy to implement without sacrificing performance, cost or quality. Biocomposite plastics meet all of those criteria. They are highly customizable in both appearance and performance characteristics. A wide variety of aesthetics can be achieved by using the different natural fillers already mentioned, in addition to being able to select different particle sizes and blend ratios.
With more than 70 percent of consumers now saying they value sustainability from the products they buy, these materials add value for even the best products. Plus you can SEE the difference, the products are visually different than their all petroleum based versions.
Because biocomposites behave very similarly to traditional plastics, no expensive equipment overhauls or disruptive modification to manufacturing processes are necessary. These materials are viable alternatives for use in traditional manufacturing methods such as injection molding and extrusion. They are even suited to lower processing temperatures, and faster processing times, resulting in reduced production costs. As with processing any plastic it’s important to consider the processing conditions required for biocomposites. General considerations when processing a biocomposite include pre-drying, melt temperature and shrink behavior.
Just as early installations of wind turbines and rooftop solar panels haven’t eliminated the need for fossil fuels completely, biocomposites won’t be the silver bullet that eliminates the planet’s need for fossil fuels. But they are a more sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics, and they are ready to be substituted into plastics manufacturing operations right now. Some biocomposites materials are already certified as biobased by the USDA’s Biopreferred program. This means that products made with these materials may qualify under the program and receive preferential treatment in federal government purchasing contracts. Manufacturers can feel pride at the prospect of making a product with a reduced carbon footprint, while at the same time capitalizing on consumer preferences. And because biocomposite plastics are cost-competitive, they won’t need to pit their customer’s ideals against their wallets. Biocomposite plastics are a step in the right direction for reducing carbon emissions and for moving towards independence from materials that rely on the extraction and processing of fossil fuels.
The Terratek® SC line of starch biocomposites provides effective solutions to meet growing demand for eco-friendly, biobased goods.
The Terratek® WC line of wood-plastic composites combines the pleasing look of wood with the functionality and manufacturing ease of plastics.
