Vibatan Masterbatches for PLA Bioplastics are a new generation of biodegradable plastics, the components of which are derived entirely from renewable raw materials. They help to preserve non-renewable resources (oil, natural gas and coal) and can effectively contribute to the serious problem of waste handling.
The interest of consumers, end users and producers in these bioplastics is increasing steadily in the market. This is surely due to the alarming decline in petrochemical resources and to the subsequent rise in oil prices, but also to the growing awareness of ecological issues and of the preservation of our planet.
The growing importance of living in harmony with nature and of leaving to future generations a healthy planet, along with the need to face the problem of environmental pollution, have encouraged the development of a new generation of biocompatible materials and innovative products. Such materials are recyclable, eco-friendly and often biodegradable and, in addition, their final performances are comparable to those of polymers of petrochemical origin.
However, the physical and mechanical properties of such bioplastics sometimes do not allow the replacement of conventional polymers in all their applications. Polylactic acid, for example, is a material with some remarkable problems, such as a low heat resistance and a low impact resistance. Therefore it may need to be changed when high thermal or mechanical performances are required.
On the matter VIBA Laboratories have developed some innovative masterbatches which can grant the most performing features of biopolymers, while at the same time can bypass the typical disadvantages of such materials.
The new Vibatan masterbatches have been formulated to improve mechanical properties in PLA, both in extrusion and in injection or blow moulding.
Vibatan PLA Modifier 03925 is a preparation containing an active substance which can improve resilience on a polylactic acid support. It has been expressly formulated for polylactic acid injection moulding, in order to improve the mechanical features of end products, in particular impact resistance. Furthermore the contained special additive helps to keep a high level of transparency of end-products, especially if compared with the traditional and most commonly used impact modifiers.
Vibatan PLA Strengthener 04075 is a high concentration preparation of a special additive which can improve spindle resistance, on a polylactic acid carrier. It has been expressly studied both for the production of bottles and for the extrusion of polylactic acid sheets. Therefore processing is improved and “melt necking” reduced during sheet extrusion; furthermore such product balances viscosity loss in case of PLA lack of drying or in the presence of recycled PLA.
Vibatan PLA Enhancer 03834 is an innovative masterbatch containing a very high concentration of a special additive which can increase some mechanical properties, in a polylactic acid carrier. Such innovative product improves PLA productivity during transformation processes (extrusion, thermoforming and injection moulding), processability also when recycled PLA is used and considerably improves some mechanical features of PLA end-products, such as impact resistance, stability of the melted mass, attitude to cut.
