Toyobo and Avantium have jointly developed thin films made from polyethylene furanoate (PEF), a 100% bio-based plastics based on Avantium’s proprietary YXY technology for the production of FDCA (2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid).
These PEF films are about 10 micrometer in thickness and can be applied for food, industrial and medical packaging, as well as electronics applications such as displays or solar panels.
According to the companies, the fully transparent PEF films have a 10x higher oxygen barrier, 2-3x higher water vapor barrier and improved mechanical strength compared with standard polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films.
Market development of the PEF films in Asia will be performed in collaboration with Mitsui & Co. Ltd, with which Avantium announced a partnership in December 2015. The parties expect to offer samples for packaging tests from 2017 onwards.
“I have been impressed by the innovative capability and drive of the Japanese industry,” said Tom van Aken, CEO of Avantium. “Toyobo has state-of-the-art know-how and manufacturing capability in polymerization and thin films. The outstanding performance of PEF offers the potential of replacing complex and petroleum based multilayer packaging solutions, with a bio-based and recyclable PEF film, without compromising the high quality standards required by Japanese packaging market.”
Toyobo and Avantium are also jointly optimizing polymerization processes in Toyobo’s existing polymerization assets to produce PEF resin at commercial scale from MEG (ethylene glycol) and Avantium’s bio-based chemical building block FDCA. The parties intend to scale up PEF resin production to Toyobo’s commercial polymerization lines in Iwakuni, Japan.
“Using our flexible assets and the know-how of our employees, it is the strategy of Toyobo to stay ahead of the curve in bringing innovative products to the market,” stated Chikao Morishige, Senior General Manager Plastics Production Technology Operating Department at Toyobo. “100% bio-based PEF fits very well with our track record of introducing innovative materials and products to the market. Toyobo is therefore pleased to be working with Avantium and Mitsui to bring high performance PEF based packaging to customers.”
Source : China Plastic & Rubber Journal
