Circular performance polymers for enhanced food packaging
Discover renewable core-shell polymers (CSPs) that improve the mechanical and barrier properties of biobased resins, ideal for circular food packaging. CSPs derived from upcycled glycerol enhance PLA, PHA, and PBS resins, offering superior impact and tear resistance.
Overview
Saber Chemical, Inc. introduces an innovative solution for sustainable food packaging with its circular performance polymers (CSPs). These renewable core-shell polymers are engineered to enhance the mechanical and barrier properties of biobased resins like polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), and polybutylene succinate (PBS). By transforming waste glycerol into solketal acrylate through a cost-efficient process, CSPs serve as effective additives that significantly improve impact resistance, tear resistance, and tensile elongation. Additionally, these polymers can be used in water emulsions as coatings, enhancing metal adhesion for superior barrier performance in multilayer packaging.
Technical specifications
- Biodegradable Materials: CSPs are derived from renewable sources, aligning with sustainability and circular economy goals.
- Mechanical Enhancement: Demonstrated to triple the impact resistance of PLA, achieving properties comparable to ABS plastics.
- Barrier Performance: CSP emulsions improve adhesion between layers in packaging, particularly enhancing metal layer adhesion for better barrier properties.
- Customizable Functionality: Utilizing a seeded-emulsion process, CSPs can incorporate functional groups like acrylic acid to tailor their properties for specific applications.
Technology readiness level
This technology is currently at Technology Readiness Level 4. It has been validated at the laboratory level, and Saber Chemical, Inc. is seeking collaboration for further development and testing at a larger scale. The next steps include small-scale film line evaluations and performance testing to refine and optimize the CSP properties further.
About Saber Chemical, Inc.
Saber Chemical, Inc. specializes in the development and commercialization of compostable core-shell particles (CCSPs) designed to enhance the performance of bioplastics. By integrating these CCSPs into materials such as PLA, PHA, PBS, PBT, PBAT, TPS, and PCL, the company produces performance-grade pellets that offer increased toughness, often achieving greater than 200 J/m Izod impact strength, while maintaining ASTM D6400 compostability. This technology, which originated from NSF-funded research, utilizes glycerol-ketal acrylates to create nanoscale particles that improve material properties without sacrificing environmental sustainability. The company's innovations are designed to be compatible with standard industrial manufacturing processes, including twin-screw compounding, extrusion, and injection molding.
These solutions are targeted at converters and manufacturers in sectors such as packaging, consumer goods, agricultural films, and medical devices who require high-performance, sustainable material alternatives. By providing a scalable approach to material modification, Saber Chemical assists partners in developing durable, compostable products that meet demanding mechanical and thermal requirements. The company engages with customers through technical data support, sample requests, and collaborative research and development efforts, leveraging expertise in polymer chemistry and sustainable monomer synthesis to facilitate the adoption of its additives in commercial applications.
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