Cardia and University of Sydney explore PPC applications

Research agreement for the development of biodegradable PPC and starch blending-TPS for packaging

Cardia.jpgThe Board of Cardia Bioplastics Limited is pleased to announce that the University of Sydney has collaborated with CO2 Starch Pty Ltd (100% owned subsidiary of Cardia) on a presentation at the recent Society of Plastic Engineers, Australian-New Zealand Technical Seminar in Sydney for Additives and Packaging sponsored by IMCD Australia.

Attached is a summary presentation prepared by Associate Professor Fariba Dehghani from the University of Sydney on Cardia’s biodegradable poly (propylene carbonate) + starch blend for packaging.

Cardia launched the world’s first CO2+Starch biodegradable carrier bag in 2010. This patented breakthrough opened up the potential for Biodegradable polymers and polymeric blends for packaging applications to mitigate environmental problems caused by non-degradable polymeric and plastic materials.

Cardia advanced its patented CO2+Starch development one step further and produced a biodegradable CO2 + Starch bag with good mechanical properties. CO2 Starch Pty Ltd Chairman Pat Volpe said: “In collaboration with the University of Sydney, CO2Starch Pty Ltd is looking to expand its patented PPC +starch blending technology into application with in the packaging industry before addressing potential applications in other industries including but not limited to the medical industry.”We are working with the University Of Sydney to develop and adopt their new unique technique that aims to produce PPC in a one step manufacturing process (rather than two) that also lower the levels of residual zinc catalyst and potentially lowers the costs of PPC.”The aim is to apply the technology to many applications and produce alternative renewable biodegradable plastics at an economical price point whilst maintaining good mechanical properties that meet international compostability standards.

What is PPC
Poly (propylene carbonate) (PPC) is a biodegradable aliphatic polyester which is synthesized from copolymerization of carbon dioxide (CO2) and propylene oxide (PO).It’s features include:

  • An environmentally friendly polymer due to capturing CO2 as feedstock
  • Good mechanical properties for packaging applications
  • Safe degradation product (water & CO2 )
  • Biocompatible
  • Compatible with fillers and other polymers
  • Suitable thermal property for processing
  • High transparency

Starch Blending-Thermoplastic Starch (TPS)
Starch is a natural biodegradable carbohydrate which is composed of two main macromolecular components, namely amylose and amylopectin. Advantages include:

  • Readily available
  • Renewable resources
  • Inexpensive
  • Suitable thermal properties for processing

About Agreement between University of Sydney and Cardia
Cardia Bioplastics’ wholly-owned subsidiary CO2Starch Pty Ltd has entered into an agreement with both the ARC (Australian Research Council) and the University of Sydney to develop a PPC (polypropylene carbonate) resin made from the capture of CO2 emissions with an acceptable low level of toxic and heavy metals to achieve international accreditation as a compostable polymers. If successful this development will expand the application and use of PPC resin for Cardia across a wide range of products. CO2Strach Pty Ltd’s ground breaking work allows PPC resins to be blended with starch with the potential to be cost-effectively transformed into a wide variety of industrial products that includes packaging, medical and coatings and engineering polymers. The research agreement also allows for the PPC resin to be used for bio-medical applications such as tissue scaffolds and drug delivery agents. Subject to the research achieving milestones, CO2Startch Pty Ltd can earn exclusive marketing and distribution rights to the commercial application of the research after funding any IP patent costs resulting for the research. These costs are not part of the research funding and detailed above.The terms of the funding agreement remain confidential.

About CO2Starch Pty Ltd
CO2Starch Pty Ltd is a new materials business aiming to pioneer a family of competitively priced high-performance green plastics, polymers and other chemicals using CO2 as an alternative to petroleum used for the manufacture of conventional plastic polymer resins. CO2Starch Pty Ltd has patented technology that can blend thermoplastic starch with PPC. In 2010, the company produced the world first plastic bag manufactured using PPC resin that contained CO2 captured from emissions, then blended with starch. The existing issue with PPC resin manufactured from CO2 emissions is the high level of toxic heavy metals mainly Zn that prevents this PPC resin from achieving international accreditation for composting. Cardia’s already has PPC and patented starch blending technology that will be used with this new PPC resin technology to potentially produce the world first compostable plastics that meet international accreditation. The potential of a new pure PPC resin will have a wide range of market application.

Source

Cardia Bioplastics, press release, 2013-04-23.

Supplier

Australian Research Council (ARC)
Cardia Bioplastics
CO2 Starch Pty Ltd.
IMCD Group
University of Sydney

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