Polyplastics Group, a global leader in the development and production of engineering thermoplastics, is launching a new high-performance engineering thermoplastic and an innovative sustainability initiative at the upcoming Fakuma. In addition, the company is presenting its latest product portfolio targeted at balancing the requirements of the medical, automotive, and electronics industries and the need for environmental sustainability.
Sarpek polyetherketone (PEK) is the newest highly advanced material solution for metal replacement and applications requiring the highest heat resistance from the Polyplastics Group. An engineering plastic in the upper end of the crystalline super engineering plastic hierarchy, Sarpek delivers a high crystallisation rate and high moulding efficiency. Meanwhile, Polyplastics’ parent company, Daicel Corp., is presenting a new bioplastic solution, which the company is marketing under the Cafblo - Cellulose Acetate for Blue Ocean - name. The new material is a non-edible biomass-based cellulose acetate resin for injection moulding 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 offers a mechanical and thermal performance comparable to ABS. As Cafblo absorbs moisture, it must be pre-dried before moulding. Made from cellulose acetate, acetic acid, and biodegradable plasticizers, the material is biodegraded by microorganisms and eventually converted into water and carbon dioxide. Cafblo resins also demonstrate high antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The material is suitable for 3D printing applications using the melt stacking method (FDM) and can undergo multiple recycling cycles with little physical property deterioration compared to other biodegradable resins.