Jan 24 2008
Cereplast, Inc., manufacturer of proprietary, bio-based, sustainable plastics, extended the range of applications for biodegradable, compostable plastic with the introduction of the first-ever freeze-tolerant resin, CP-INJ-13. The newest addition to the Cereplast CompostablesTM resin family retains structural rigidity in freezing temperatures, ideal for frozen food applications, such as ice cream containers, and all applications requiring resistance to low temperature and/or high flexibility.
The new polylactic acid (PLA)-based resin exhibits superior flexibility compared to other PLA-based products, allowing it to withstand sub-zero environments. CP-INJ-13 provides structural integrity in temperatures as low as -35oC, compared to about 20oC for standard PLA-based plastic. In addition, tensile elongation is approximately 10x greater (284% for CP-INJ-13 and typically 25% or less for neat PLA as measured by ASTM D638) and the notched IZOD impact measures 2.5 lb-ft/in. at 23oC compared with 0.5 lb-ft/in. with traditional PLA-based plastic.
“The new addition to our product lineup is a direct result of customer demand for freeze-capable bioplastic products,” said William Kelly, Cereplast senior vice president, Technology. “We are constantly working with our customers to find solutions to their needs, and therefore expanding the applications of biodegradable, compostable plastic.”
Cereplast Compostables™ resins are renewable, ecologically sound substitutes for petroleum-based plastic products, replacing nearly 100% of the petroleum-based additives used in traditional plastics. Cereplast Compostables resins are starch-based, made from corn, wheat, tapioca and potato starches.
All Cereplast Compostables™ resins are certified as biodegradable and compostable in the United States and Europe, meeting BPI (Biodegradable Products Institute) standards for compostability (ASTM 6400 D99 and ASTM 6868), and European Bioplastics standards (EN 13432).