PlastiCert

Injection molding solutions

Untitled MadeInMinnesotaLogoBlueFade www-award-logo-16-win
(507) 523-2300
ISO 9001:2015 Certified
UL Registered
Do you have a problem part/design? Send us what you have, we will take a look and offer up some advice.
(507) 523-2300
ISO 9001:2015 Certified
UL Registered
Do you have a problem part/design? Send us what you have, we will take a look and offer up some advice.

Follow us on LinkedIn!Follow us on Twitter!

  • Who WE ARE
    • About PlastiCert
    • PlastiCert Mission Statement
    • Key Company Individuals
    • News
    • Community Involvement
  • What WE DO
    • Overview of Capabilities
    • Small and Short Run Production
    • FAQ
    • Begin a Discussion
  • Who WE WORK with
    • Testimonials
  • BLOG
  • CAREERS
  • CONTACT US

January 8, 2014 By craig

Biopolymers continue to come of age

Biopolymers have been evolving consistently for quite a few years now. From initial uses as a film in food packaging, they are gaining exposure in injection molding applications in additional consumer markets. Places where they experience controlled environments like additional food contact items e.g. eating utensils and plates/trays have emerged. In office and home where there are desktop and countertop items like trays and holders. Medical disposables, single use items have seen a rise in their use, as have implantables where the device fulfills its purpose and as the body heals, the item dissolves or combines with the body. In addition, agricultural products where the same function, support and dissolve, are becoming commonplace.

The market is primarily customer driven where firms recognize a need for carbon footprint reduction, or see a marketing advantage in offering the option.

Injection molding with these biopolymers and composites has been a learning process. While processed identically, they can be more “sensitive” than traditional resins and composites. Early on, processing windows were quite narrow, the biopolymers were very hygroscopic, molders needed to learn how to handle shooting these materials. Drying, temperature control, equipment and processing parameters were all more exacting than traditional injection molding grade polymers. In time, material manufacturers and made developments that have opened up some of these processing parameters and equipment demands.

As with all markets, maturation will continue and if your application looks like it could benefit from a biopolymer, certainly investigate it with your molder.

 

More articles you might like:

Planes, Trains and Automobiles – Check it out!

Taking high tech to the playing field, stage, water, and beyond.

High Temperature Thermoplastics

PT 2015 WCP Logo

Click to Start Discussion

Join Our Email List

For Email Newsletters you can trust.
 

Company News

PlastiCert: The Ins and Outs of Injection Molding

PlastiCert is a Lewiston-based small business with approximately 30 employees. It was also recently named one of the top … [Read More...]

PlastiCert announces promotions and reorganization

Lewiston, MN March 30, 2022 - PlastiCert, a veteran of innovative and quality composite injection molding celebrating 41 … [Read More...]

[MORE NEWS]

Blog

Everyone loves a parade!

Another Lewiston Heartland Days has passed and PlastiCert did it up bigger than usual. This year we celebrated our doing … [Read More...]

Open the Doors

The one thing manufacturing needs to do is raise their profile. Inviting the public into our facilities is the best … [Read More...]

[MORE POSTS]

  • What we do
  • Who we are
  • Who we work with
  • Begin a Discussion
  • Careers at PlastiCert
  • Privacy Policy

(507) 523-2300

PlastiCert Inc.
300 Wilson Street N.
P.O. Box 670
Lewiston, MN 55952

© 2022 PlastiCert Inc. All rights reserved. | Employees

Website design & hosting by Vision Design Group, Inc.