Innovative material and sustainability initiatives at Fakuma 2023

Polyplastics Group will launch a new high-performance engineering thermoplastic and an innovative sustainability initiative at the upcoming Fakuma International Trade Fair (Hall B5-Stand B5-5219) which runs Oct. 17-21 in Friedrichshafen, Germany. During FAKUMA, the company will present its latest product portfolio and discuss how it meets the requirements of the medical, automotive, and electronics industries, as well as expectations for environmental sustainability.  

Polyplastics Group will introduce to its lineup SARPEK® polyetherketone (PEK), a highly advanced material solution for metal replacement and applications requiring the highest heat resistance of any injection moldable 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 crystallization rate and high molding 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 molding 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 molding.  

CAFBLO is made from cellulose acetate, acetic acid, and biodegradable plasticizers. 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 molding compared to other biodegradable resins.

CAFBLO® EC 210 is commercially available while CAFBLO® XDN grades are under development. Commercial grades are optimized for injection molding and a new grade optimized for 3D printing is also under development.