bioplasticsMAGAZINE_1406

Consumer Electronics
Durable plastic
for mobile devices
Among the major bioplastics polylactic acid (PLA) attracts the
developer by its wide potential for use in various applications
such as injection, extrusion, blow moulding, fibres/textiles,
and even foaming. However, it’s rather weak heat resistance blocks
its way, to a certain extent, in the field of engineering plastics but
holds a strong position mainly in the field of disposables, or within
a room temperature environment. By adding reinforcing fibres or
other fillers it may improve PLA’s heat resistance, but the resulting
blends still suffer from longer cycle times, especially in the field of
injection moulding. Moreover, the dimensional stability, which might
affect the assembly process, is another problem related to its slow
crystallization rate.
By properly introducing PDLA (poly-D-lactide) into PLLA (poly-
L-lactide), the SUPLA 155 not only has an HDT superior to ABS
with similar mechanical properties but also has an acceptable
cycle time. Suplas was honoured that the AIO/PC (all-in-one 21.5”
Kuender touch screen PC, made of the Supla 155), was awarded
second prize at the 8 th Bioplastics Award in 2013 by the successful
application in high-end electronics. For further adaptation into
personal mobile communication devices, Supla have developed a
new grade of modified PLA not only to meet the requirements of
durability, ease of manufacture and assembly, and shock resistance
but also has an anti-bacterial property.
With the lactide from Corbion (Purac), Supla has PLLA and PDLA
polymerized at the Sulzer PLA unit. Based on these materials of
high optical purity, Supla developed Supla 158 in 2014, responding
to a new market for mobile consumer electronics. Kuender, an
expert in injection molding for electronics housings, has applied
Supla 158 to the kid’s cell phone for Dikon Information Technology
(shanghai) Co, Ltd., who have been authorized by a famous cartoon
rights owner. The design of this product, mentioned in this article,
is still confidential before the formal launch. In addition to the kid’s
cell phone, a 10” Pad (Fig. 1), the MIFI (Fig. 2), a mobile power
charger with wireless router, will be launched by Kuender under the
Ecotrend brand by the end of this year, using Supla 158 as the
material for the outer housing.
Supla 158 has physical properties to meet the requirements for
tensile strength of 45-55 MPa, elongation at breakage of 15-20 %,
impact strength of 30-50 J/m and HDT/B of 135‐145 °C. Moreover,
since such devices are usually held between the hand and the mouth,
the reduced bacterial activity on the surface makes it safer for the
user. To answer the special need of this market, Supla 158 also
features anti-bacterial properties with regard to the antibacterial
ratio of coli and aureus respectively (99.2 % and 99.6 %).
Supla (SuQian) New Materials Co. Ltd. has a production capacity
of 10,000 tonnes per annum for PLA polymerization and will have
additional compounding lines by the end of 2014 at SuQian, China.
It offers eco-friendly high performance plastics derived from
green plants, which could be processed by current manufacturing
machines without major changes.
Fig.2: Eco-trend MIFI
By:
Robin Wu
Chairman
Supla (SuQian) New Material Co. Ltd.
Jiangsu, China
www.supla-bioplastics.cn
Fig.1: Antibacterial Pad
42 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/14] Vol. 9