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(PlasticsToday) -- The first
nanomaterial from an entirely renewable resource—that advance, nanocrystalline
cellulose (NCC), was among many material developments announced during the
recent 2011 Biopolymers Symposium, showcasing how R&D dollars are chasing
the bioplastic/renewable polymer space, which may be small in size relative to
traditional plastics but is growing rapidly in applications.
Joining NCC, which is described as a highly ordered crystalline cellulose
that can be used to fortify bioplastics for a 100% biobased nanocomposite, was
biobased aliphatic thermoplastic urethanes (TPU), compostable adhesives, stereo
polylactic acid (PLA) blends, 100% biobased polyesters, food-contact film grades
of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), and more.
Wadood Hamad introduced NCC to the symposium on behalf of CelluForce,
noting that while cellulose is abundant in nature, it doesn't exist on its own,
and isolating has heretofore been a major hurdle. Research into the nanocrystals
goes at least back to 1951, according to Hamad, when the first colloidal
suspensions were made, but leaps in technology and production have been made
over the last five years.
In 2006, a company called FPInnovations set up a pilot plant, with a
daily output of 2 kg. In 2010, CelluForce and Domtar set up a joint venture with
FPInnovations, and are working on a facility in Windsor, ON that is planned to
have 1 ton/day of production when it starts up in January 2012.
mrcplast.com
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