Bio-based, biocompatible, biodegradable: PHAs as a sustainable alternative

Bio-based, biocompatible, biodegradable: PHAs as a sustainable alternative

Helfende Hände für alle Unternehmensbereiche: Studentische Unterstützung für Polytives.

To open more and more polymer systems based on Polytives' platform technology, development, trials and sometimes adaptations at molecular level are required. Polytives would like to take these steps, especially for sustainable polymers, to offer an answer to the constantly growing demand. Polymer additives are also a game changer when it comes to processing (previously) unusual materials.

 

So-called PHAs and what they are all about

The group of polyhydroxyalkanoates, known as PHAs for short, are not yet particularly widespread and are therefore not necessarily the best-known group of polymers. They are sustainable biopolyesters that can be obtained naturally - for example from bacteria. The fact that they can be processed thermoplastically makes them highly interesting for plastics processors who are looking for sustainable alternatives to meet customer needs.

 

What is the advantage for processors?

To be able to offer a sustainable alternative for certain applications that is also permanently available in good quality, it is worth taking a look at the area of so-called biopolymers. As already described, PHAs are a group of materials that are attracting more and more interest. Because they are biobased, biodegradable and biocompatible, they combine a whole range of added values in terms of sustainable alternatives.

 

Why are PHAs not yet in widespread use?

Although polyhydroxyalkanoates have thermoplastic properties, the processing windows for users have so far been so narrow that it is unfortunately difficult to talk about simple implementation in existing processes. This is now set to change.

There is only a temperature difference of around 25°C between the melting point and the first signs of decomposition. This, coupled with the brittleness that occurs in the process even before decomposition, is currently usually a knock-out criterion when selecting materials. The shearing during processing and its additional negative effect on the material do the rest. But what could a solution look like to make sustainable materials more usable for plastics processors?

With the help of the Thüringer Institut für Textil- und Kunststoff-Forschung e.V., several PHA types are to be optimized with the available and possibly adapted bFI additives from Polytives. Their effect in the polymer matrix will be closely monitored and documented so that important conclusions can be drawn for the best possible process control. Important factors here include the processing conditions in injection molding, especially the temperatures and injection pressures, but also the subsequent mechanical properties of the resulting products. And, for example, how biodegradability can be classified.

If you would like to find out more about this topic, please contact us!

2nd company birthday

2nd company birthday

The 2nd company birthday is used by the startup from Jena to look back on what has been achieved

Polytives GmbH - a startup from Jena - celebrates its 2nd company birthday. We look with joy and pride on our two years of company existence! Surprisingly fast the last two years have passed since the company was founded. And who doesn't know that: Not even "of age" yet, but full of energy and more than ready to go on. A lot has happened in the last few years, a lot has moved our team, which has only recently grown to nine people, and a lot will still change in the coming months and years: Funding, upcoming sample quantities, trade fairs and also the media are permanently interested in the startup from Jena. Most recently, Minister Tiefensee was a guest. The list of thoughts that come to our team while remembering could be continued. All the milestones that our young company has reached so far can be found under ABOUT US.

The fact that the ideas around our managing director duo, CEO Viktoria Rothleitner and CTO Oliver Eckardt, mature and bear fruit is also due to the strong partners, supporters and companions, to whom Polytives GmbH would like to say thank you! All the prizes and awards we have received so far (ThEX Award, Innovation Award, etc.) also give us public motivation to continue our work. Of course, these achievements are due to the entire great team, which has jointly contributed to these successes - thanks also to each and every one of you! Together, we want to continue our success and turn our visions into reality.

As children, many of us wished for various plastic toys for our birthdays. Our wishes are now somewhat different; we would like to see Polytives additives IN the toys with which the next generation can build their dream world and thus also a piece of the future. We are not just waiting in anticipation to see whether our birthday wish for the new company year will come true - we are working together every day to revolutionize the plastics market in the long term!
If you want to know how we continue to work on this vision, stay on our heels, subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on social media.