Polyplastics, a specialist in the development and production of engineering thermoplastics, will launch a new high-performance engineering thermoplastic and a sustainability initiative at Fakuma (Hall B5-Stand B5-5219) in Friedrichshafen, Germany.
During Fakuma, the company will present its latest product portfolio and discuss how it meets the requirements of the medical industry, as well as expectations for environmental sustainability.
Polyplastics Group will introduce to its lineup SARPEK polyetherketone (PEK), a material solution for metal replacement and applications requiring the highest heat resistance of any injection mouldable resin without requiring post-curing.
SARPEK PEK is an engineering plastic in the upper end of the crystalline super engineering plastic hierarchy, an advancement upon polyetheretherketone (PEEK) that delivers a high crystallisation rate and high moulding efficiency. It also features higher heat resistance and superior strength to replace metals in harsh environments where other crystalline super-engineering plastics fail and metals are heavy and noisy.
Meanwhile, Polyplastics’ parent company, Daicel Corp., has undertaken a new sustainability initiative which is trade named CAFBLO. The new bioplastic is a non-edible biomass cellulose acetate resin for injection moulding and extrusion applications. This new brand of cellulose acetate is a marine biodegradable and transparent clear resin. Compared to typical bioplastics such as polylactic acid (PLA), CAFBLO has well-balanced mechanical and thermal performance which is comparable to acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS). CAFBLO absorbs moisture so pre-drying is necessary before moulding.
CAFBLO is made from cellulose acetate, acetic acid, and biodegradable plasticisers. In seawater, these materials are biodegraded by microorganisms and eventually converted into water and carbon dioxide. CAFBLO resins also hold high antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.
CAFBLO is targeted for a range of uses including 3D printing applications using the melt stacking method (FDM) which can print large-scale parts. This bioplastic can be recycled multiple times with little physical property deterioration during repeated moulding compared to other biodegradable resins.
CAFBLO EC 210 is commercially available while CAFBLO XDN grades are under development. Commercial grades are optimised for injection moulding and a new grade optimised for 3D printing is also under development.