Eco polymers

PEP's intention to make plastics engineering an eco-responsible industry has given rise to the eco-polymers research programme.

The first line of research on the eco-polymers programme is integrating natural fibres into thermoplastic matrices to improve their intrinsic properties (mechanical, thermal, etc.).

Several R&D projects have been carried out to study the behaviour of thermoplastics strengthened with natural fibres or fillers.  As an example, the most recent projects, which are still in progress, have enabled us to develop techniques for formulating and compounding materials strengthened with flax fibres (the AppliLin project, jointly financed by the Rhône-Alpes region and DIRRECTE, a regional government economic management structure) or cornflour. 

The second line of this research is substituting petrochemically-produced thermoplastics with materials from plant resources.  To this end, we are collaborating with a car manufacturer and their main subcontractors to develop biosourced materials, which may or may not be strengthened with natural fibres (flax shives, flax fibres or Miscanthus). 

PEP considers it essential to cover the whole of the production chain, from raw materials right up to the end product. For this reason, PEP has also undertaken projects to optimize injection parameters and develop specific tools.  As a result, we are now able to transform these new materials in semi-industrial conditions.

All of the data generated by these research projects (formulations, compounding and injection parameters, material characterisations) is consolidated in a database. This data is of direct use for designing new products. This is enabling PEP be proactive in terms of using new materials from renewable resources.  PEP has fulfilled its brief to transfer innovation to industry in order to produce new ecodesigned products. 

Current projects:

• EMABIO (Rhône-Alpes region, 2007-2011): developing rigid cornflour-matrix materials to create active packaging with a salting-out effect.
• MATORIA (Ministry of Industry, 2008-2011): developing new injectable plastics from renewable resources that meet the technical requirements of cars.

From 2011 onwards, the main thrust of research on the eco-polymers programme will be recycling.   PEP is committed to an ambitious programme for valorizing industrial waste produced in the Plastics Valley. Within 3-5 years, PEP should be able to offer an economically viable way to reprocess waste generated here.

Issues concerning the sorting and traceability of materials, their regeneration (especially by reactive extrusion), characterization and description, as well as ecodesigning new products from recycled materials will all be taken into account.

PEP is also strengthening its links with the paper and textile industries, which produce recycled fibres that can be used to reinforce thermoplastics. The expertise acquired during research on incorporating natural fibres will also be used to integrate recycled fibres. This will enable us to bring recycling and biobased fillers full circle.