Issue 03/2016
bioplasticsMAGAZINE_1603
bioplasticsMAGAZINE_1603
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Materials<br />
By:<br />
Florian H. M. Graichen, Science Leader, Biopolymers and Chemicals<br />
Stefan J. Hill, Research Leader, Advanced Chemical Characterisation<br />
Dawn Smith, Research Leader, Polymers and Composites<br />
Scion, Rotorua,New Zealand<br />
The premier<br />
trade show<br />
for all<br />
biobased<br />
industries<br />
Objects made from 3D filament printing stock containing New Zealand paua<br />
(abalone) shell.<br />
Work at Scion has found that unique combinations of DFE biomass and<br />
additives results in bioplastics with an attractive balance of processability<br />
and mechanical properties. Polylactic acid (PLA)/DFE biocomposites have<br />
been shown to weather and disintegrate faster than PLA alone.<br />
Bioplastics with DFE are a win-win solution. Raw material processing<br />
via cow is free, the supply is large and continuous, value is added to a side<br />
stream that is costly to make safe and dispose of, the overall cost of the<br />
bioplastics is lowered and carbon is returned to the soil. Applications for<br />
the use of DFE bioplastics on dairy farms are being explored.<br />
Paua Power<br />
Paua is the New Zealand Maori name for abalone (Haliotis iris). Maori<br />
and later settlers value black-fleshed paua as a seafood and its beautiful<br />
iridescent, blue, green and pink shell, which is widely used in arts and<br />
crafts.<br />
Abalone is considered a delicacy in many countries, and it commands<br />
high prices. New Zealand exports paua harvested both from the wild and<br />
from aquaculture farms. The shells remain after paua processing. While<br />
one shell is a beachcomber’s delight, the tens of thousands of tonnes<br />
produced by the paua export industry becomes a management problem.<br />
Paua is a New Zealand treasure. Paua processors would like options to<br />
add value to the shells in New Zealand rather than selling them cheaply to<br />
off shore processors, as is currently the case.<br />
Materials scientists at Scion have been experimenting with adding<br />
ground shell (which is mostly calcium carbonate) to bioplastics to produce<br />
3D printing filament stock.<br />
The next step in the development process is to develop bioplastics that<br />
capture the iridescence and colour of the original paua shells. Scion is<br />
also working with local designers and manufacturers to develop products<br />
that exploit both paua shell and the possibilities of 3D printing.<br />
www.scionresearch.com<br />
Showcase your expertise<br />
in bio economy at the<br />
trade show that takes<br />
the bioeconomy from<br />
“let’s talk about it”<br />
to “let’s do it”<br />
15 – 16 February 2017<br />
Cologne · Germany<br />
industrial biotechnology · algae<br />
·biomass · biorefinieries · biopolymers<br />
· bioenergy · biofuels<br />
· biobased chemicals · biobased<br />
lubricants · biobased surfactants<br />
· biobased materials<br />
www.biobasedworld.de<br />
bioplastics MAGAZINE [<strong>03</strong>/16] Vol. 11 33