New Family of Color Concentrates for PLA Biopolymer Includes Three Series Covering Wide Range of Application Requirements
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ROSEMONT, IL, U.S.A., May 13, 2008: New color concentrates for use with polylactic acid (PLA) resins and blends help manufacturers of packaging, bags, liners, and other extruded or molded products to meet consumer demand for goods that are biodegradable and based on renewable resources, it was announced today at The Packaging Summit by Teknor Color Company (Booth 1416).
The company has developed three series of colorants for use in clear or opaque bottles, film, sheet, profiles, and injection molded items. The series differ in terms of their carrier resins, which are either PLA or polyesters compatible with PLA and thus readily blended with it.
o PLA-carrier concentrates are for use in all biodegradable applications.
o Biodegradable co-polyester-carrier concentrates have a petrochemical carrier resin and are recommended for biodegradable blown film and other applications requiring greater flexibility than is provided by 100%-PLA formulations.
o PETek® PET-carrier concentrates are for non-degradable applications where use of a biopolymer base resin such as PLA is desired, such as toys or housewares.
Concentrates in all three series are available as customer formulations in a wide range of colors, according to John Politis, Director of Marketing. Besides packaging applications such as bottles, bags, wraps, trays, and containers, the concentrates are recommended for use in shopping bags, trash bags, cutlery, and other uses where complete or partial bioplastic content is desirable.
"Teknor Color Company will continue to develop new concentrates for bioplastics to support manufacturers in programs that foster sustainability," said Politis.
Based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, U.S.A., TEKNOR COLOR COMPANY is a leading producer of color concentrates for use in all thermoplastic processes. It operates four plants in the U.S.A. In addition to Teknor Color Company, other Teknor Apex plastics business units include the Chemical, Engineering Thermoplastics, Specialty Compounding, Thermoplastic Elastomer, and Vinyl Divisions. There are three international subsidiaries: Singapore Polymer Corp., Teknor Apex Suzhou, and Teknor Apex UK. Visit www.teknorapex.com.
