MUNDOMATERIAL

I’ve been using Twitter (@luciacd) lately and I’ve found a few interesting people there providing info about many of the topics covered here, like bioplastics and other materials.  I’ve collected a small list of twitter users, provided below with links and bios. Many are publising information about materials in a journal or in a blog, so you may want to check their sites too. Others are professionals related to the industry, like consultants, students or associations. 09-11-2009: Just a couple of days after I published this post, Twitter launched its lists, a new feature that allows users to create groups of twitterers with something in common. I’ve created one with contacts related with materials, which I’ve been updating.  You can find my materials list here. @IslemYezza: Packaging innovation and biomaterials @LucAverous: Expert in Bioplastics, Biomaterials and Biobased Materials @EuropaBio: The European Association for Bioindustries @ArgosBiotech: gateway... 
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Note from Lucía: Today’s post is written by guest author Nuno Helder, material specialist currently working as design engineer of flexible composites in the Aerospace Industry. Today I’d like to present the upcoming conference “Biopackaging: From Feedstock to Waste Stream”. This conference, held in London 8-10th September 2009, will be of special interest for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME). The event will gather representatives of the whole supply chain of bioplastics, as well as investors, researchers and regulator bodies. On the 8th of September there will be a workshop on the “Principles and Concepts of Biobased and Biodegradable Materials/Plastics”, which should be a splendid opportunity for those new to the subject. The diagram below identifies the type of attendees that will attend this venue or have done so in previous editions. I have gone through the list of previous attendees and all areas are well represented, with the exception of investment institutions.... 
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In my last post, I discussed why it is important for bioplastics to penetrate the market of durable applications. I suggested that this was a new step for the industry and I’ve been politely corrected by Todd Rogers, Market Manager- Polyamides at Arkema Inc, who pointed out that Arkema has been commercialising durable bioplastics for nearly 50 years. To amend my mistake and provide me with more info, Mr Rogers and I spend some time discussing Arkema’s Renewable range, the recently created Bioplastics Council and some of the environmental challenges faced by the plastics industry. Arkema Renewables Arkema has been producing at commercial scale for more than 40 years a high performance polyamide, PA11, under the tradename of Rilsan®. The fact that Rilsan® is derived from castor oil, a renewable source, has not been a top marketing priority until recently —I don’t think the market place was requesting bioplastics until recently. Most of our customers were and still are... 
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DuPont and Denso corporation have collaborated to launch an automotive part made with a renewably sourced polymer. The novelty here is that the part is a radiator end tank that is going to be exposed to harsh underhood conditions. Correct me if I’m wrong, but it seems to me a very important breakthrough for bioplastics, going from disposable products to pure high performance. Of course, DuPont is not an ordinary plastic producer and Denso is not just a client. DuPont/Denso bioplastic radiator The part: automotive radiator end-tank The material: nylon The grade that made it: DuPont™ Zytel® 610 DuPont Renewably Sourced Materials The launch of a bioplastic underhood car part is well framed within DuPont’s strategy towards better environmental practices, it is certainly not an isolated movement. Through an alliance with Tate & Lyle, of which I have already written here, DuPont can now commercialised several plastics with renewable content, as well as polyols. DuPont... 
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I found this video trough Bioplastic News, but it was originally posted in Green Plastics. They are actually looking for more instructive videos, so maybe we should keep an eye on them, see what else they can get. In their own words: Would you like to make a bioplastic instructional video? Can you create a fun and informative instructional video about bioplastic? We are looking for videos of all different types. You can demonstrate how to make a specific bioplastic product in your own home. You can test the biodegradability of various bioplastic products. You can compare and constrast the properties (strength, flexibility, etc) of bioplastic compared to regular plastic. Regardless of what you want to show, make it fun and informative and we will feature your video here! Enjoy the lesson! AKPC_IDS += "1686,"; 
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