Polytives Germany (Rudolstadt, Germany), a specialist in the production of polymer additives, and Holzmühle Westerkamp Germany (Visbek, Germany), a wood processing company offering the production and development of biobased plastic compounds under the brand name Arweco, including those based on oat hulls and natural fibers.
Products from Westerkamp
Recently, the two companies have collaborated to produce bio-based polymers using bio-based fibers, which in turn produce reusable fast-food containers, made from completely organic products, which are now more environmentally friendly and more efficient to produce. It also opens up a wide range of applications, such as e.g. sports equipment and Frisbees.
Bio-based polymers, which reduce dependence on non-renewable resources and minimize environmental impact, are a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional plastics. They come from natural resources such as wood or cellulose and are used in products ranging from packaging materials and disposable tableware to medical devices.
However, bio-based fibers and fillers are often damaged at high temperatures. In this collaboration, they used Polytives' unique processing aid, the flow improver bFI A 3745, and even sensitive fillers and bio-based materials such as oat hulls can now be processed without problems, while also improving mechanical properties.
Flow Improver bFI A 3745
This flow improver, even in very low doses, reduces the processing temperature by 5-10%. Thanks to this innovative technology, damage to Arweco materials, especially fillers, is avoided during hot runner processing.
Steffen Felzer, Director of Sales at Polytives, said, "With our flow improver bFI A 3745, we were able to significantly reduce processing temperatures even at very low additive levels, resulting in a substantial increase in the quality, processability, and machinability of biobased plastic composites."
Kolja Ostendorf, Head of Research and Development at Holzmühle Westerkamp, added: "The cooperation with Polytives has enabled us to handle our biomaterials better and more gently. The results speak for themselves - we are proud of our new sustainable fast food boxes and look forward to further collaborative projects and product solutions."
