Issue 02/2017
bioplasticsMAGAZINE_1702
bioplasticsMAGAZINE_1702
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From Science and Research<br />
Thermochromic bio-pigments<br />
Chromogenic materials change colour or transparency<br />
depending on temperature, electrical voltage, pressure<br />
or exposure to light. In thermochromic materials,<br />
a pre-determined temperature change triggers this<br />
change in colour. For example, in the food industry, thermochromic<br />
packaging can reveal whether the refrigeration<br />
chain has been interrupted. The temperature-sensitive additives<br />
used in this application are currently only available<br />
on the market as oil-based pigments.<br />
“In particular bioplastics – which will play a major role<br />
in day-to-day life in the future – lose their biobased status<br />
when commercially available thermochromic dyes are<br />
added. Our department has already demonstrated that the<br />
idea of thermochromic bioplastics can work. This is why we<br />
would like to use renewable raw materials when developing<br />
these materials for various applications,” explains<br />
Department head Christian Rabe. The move to Potsdam-<br />
Golm (Germany) enables the eight-person team to profit<br />
from the 25 years of expertise at the Fraunhofer Institute for<br />
Applied Polymer Research (IAP) in the area of biopolymer<br />
research, and to take advantage of synergies. These relate<br />
to the access to technologies and characterization methods,<br />
as well as a more intensive exchange of knowledge with<br />
members of the Biopolymers research division.<br />
In addition to integrating thermochromic effects into<br />
biopolymers, the department Chromogenic Polymers, at<br />
its new location in the Science Park in Golm, is currently<br />
focusing on the development of particularly stable<br />
electrochromic windows for architectural applications or<br />
boat-building, and irreversible thermochromic packaging<br />
films. MT<br />
www.iap.fraunhofer.de<br />
Christian Rabe’s bio-based thermochromic dyes will enable<br />
purely biobased materials to change color in the future (Photo Till<br />
Budde, Fraunhofer IAP)<br />
bioplastics MAGAZINE [<strong>02</strong>/17] Vol. 12 47