Teijin Develops Heat-Resistant Bioplastic

Teijin Ltd., a major Japanese polyester manufacturer, and Musashino Chemical Laboratory, Ltd. have jointly developed a new heat-resistant bioplastic with a melting point of 210 degrees Celsius, it was announced on March 28, 2006.

The thermal resistance of the newly developed bioplastic is equivalent to that of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), one of the major heat-resistant plastics used in electronic parts and other applications. Due to their high temperature resistance, fibers made from the new bioplastic can be ironed, which is impossible with existing bioplastic fibers. Films and resins made from this material can also withstand high-temperature molding. In addition, the transparency of the new bioplastic is greater than that of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

Because existing bioplastics do not offer the same level of performance as petroleum-based plastics in terms of heat and shock resistance, they are used only as alternatives to a limited number of materials, such as polypropylene. This has been a major obstacle to the widespread use of bioplastics in the market. The development of this new bioplastic, however, is expected to raise the possibility that bioplastics will replace PBT and PET, which are now used widely.

Aiming for mass production in the near future, the two companies are currently focusing on such applications as protective films, fabrics, and components for vehicles and consumer electronics, and hope to enter the market with an annual production of several hundred tons by the end of 2008.


http://www.teijin.co.jp/english/news/news2006.html

Posted: 2006/06/18 05:50:36 AM
Japanese version