PLASTICS

Two main reasons why they are so

widespread.
An enormous range of possible structures,
giving a huge variety of properties.

Easy to process and shape, leading to simple

manufacture.
Snag
 Bioplastics

Recycled
plastics

Biodegradable
plastics
 BIOPLASTICS
Bioplastics are a form of plastics derived from
renewable biomass sources, such as vegetable oil,
corn starch, pea starch, or micro biota, rather than
fossil-fuel plastics (which are derived from
petroleum).
Bio-plastics are based on the principle of the natural
cycle i.e. organic material is generated by photo-
synthesis and is broken down by microbial
degradation into the initial products of CO2 and
water.
 Types of Bioplastics

Starch and Starch Blends

PLA/ Poly Lactic acid

PHB Poly-3-hydroxybutyrates
Starch based plastics
- from plants
Amylopectin

Non branched Amylose

 Cont
Partially crystalline
Higher density
low resistance to oil and solvents
Easy to process but vulnerable to
degradation
Sensitive to moisture and high water
vapour permeability
Thermoplastic starch

The raw materials are mixed,

heated and converted into a
homogenous substance

Diagram of the inlet zone of an extruder

Thermoplastic starch

Diagram of the inlet zone of an extruder

A cooling water system
ensures stable temperature conditions.
 Thermoplastic starch

At the end of the extruder, the

molten
thermoplastic starch discharges as
a strand through a nozzle plate

Diagram of the inlet zone of an extruder

 POLY LACTIC ACID
Monomer

Depending on the links between these

isomers, 3 different lactides can be
produced:

mesolactide, D-lactide and L lactide.

PLA production
 Properties
PLA from L and D degrades within
weeks
High stability
Transparency
Softening point around 60 degree
Normal processing
Poly-3-hydroxybutyrates
Poly-3-hydroxybutyrates
 Properties
Good thermoplastic material
Wide temperature range
Lower crystallinity
Tendency to creep and shrinkage 1.3%
Higher melt viscosity
UV resistance
 Applications
Packaging
Food packaging --
- PLA foil and paper has turned out to be a great
match for the packaging of cheese.

- Carrots in starch based packaging.

- Biodegradable trays for milk tray chocolates.

 Cont
- Water vapour transmission of the crystal clear
PLA film can provide fresh products with a
longer shelf life (9 days).

- Polylacticacid can replace PET in certain applications.

- Single use cold drink cups, plates, containers

and cutlery, which are all based on renewable
raw materials and are compostable after use.
 Cont
Electrical packaging -
- An optical media made from cornstarch, bio-disk
is 1.2mm thick, has a capacity of maximum 25 gb
and is biodegradable.

- Sticky tape made from cellulose

- The cover comes with an embedded sunflower seed,

which grows a sunflower once it is composted.
According to experts 10% of the plastic in electricals
will be able to be replaced by bioplastics.
 Cont
Pharmaceuticals packaging -
- Thermoplastic starch in the form of capsule material,
for instance, can substitute conventional gelatin
capsules.

Sanitary Products -

- These materials are breathable and allow water

vapor to permeate, but at the same time they are
waterproof.
Advantages
Lower fossil fuel consumption
 Lower fossil fuel consumption

If all plastics in the world were replaced by

bioplastics and the energy used in the process
came from renewable sources the fossil fuel
savings would be approx 3.49 million barrels a day.
That is 4% of the worlds fossil fuel usage
 CO2 emission with
Typical Plastic

Polymer LDPE PP HDPE PHB PLA TPS

CO2 3.0 3.4 2.5 2.6 2.16 1.14
emission
s
(Kg CO2/
Kg
polymer)
CO2 emission with Bioplastic

Carbon foot print

 Energy Requirements

LDPE PP HDPE PHB PLA TPS

Energy 81.8 85.9 73.7 44.7 54.1 25.4
require
ments
(MJ/Kg-
polymer
Green House Gas Emission
 How to Reduce Exposure

Need to look at all stages of production

Low fossil CO2
More efficient / smarter technologies
Capture / re use / sequestration
Total water consumption
 DISADVANTAGE
Bioplastics don't always readily decompose. Some need relatively high
temperatures and can still take many years to break down. Even then, they
may leave behind toxic residues.

Bioplastics are made from plants such as corn and maize, so land that could
be used to grow food for the world is being used to "grow plastic" instead.

Some bioplastics, such as PLA, are made from genetically modified corn.

Bioplastics cannot be easily recycled. To most people, PLA looks very

similar to PET but, if the two are mixed up in a recycling bin, the whole
collection becomes impossible to recycle.
 Market growth
Bioplastics fast market growth of
more than 8-10% per year
Bioplastics cover approximately
10-15% of the total plastics
market and will increase its market
share to 25-30% by 2015
Market summary
PRODUCTION
CAPACITY
The current
global production
capacity for
bioplastics in
2009 amounts to
over 400,000
tones.
 By 2020
Over 500 bioplastics processing
companies are already
available, more than 5000 is
expected by 2020
 CONCLUSION
Bioplastics is a reality and is a practical truth. Our
willingness and improvement in technologies will
give it a wider success.
 Special thanks to..

CIPET-Central Institute of Plastics Engineering

and Technology Chennai.
Dr.B.Naazar Sulthan
Department of Polymer Science,
AC Tech, Anna University, Chennai

Dr. SSM. Abdul Majeed

Department of Polymer Science
Crescent College Chennai.
 References
http://www.hkc22.com/bioplastics.html
http://www.bccresearch.com/index.htm
www.fnr.de
www.natureworksllc.com
www.bioplastics24.com
www.bpf.co.uk
www.nnfcc.com
Thank you