Limagrain Launches New Grade of Bioplastic for Thermoforming

Biolice 50T is the result of the combination of cereal flour and two different biodegradable polyesters compounded by a twin screw extrusion process.

22 Jan 2010 --- Limagrain Céréales Ingredients (LCI) has announced the launch of Biolice 50T, a new grade of bioplastic for thermoforming applications.

“This new grade of biolice for thermoforming applications is a result of our long-term and continuing research programme into bioplastics,” says Nathalie Gorce, Marketing Manager for biolice at LCI. “Biolice 50T has excellent properties for thermoformed disposable products for packaging as well as trays, containers and cups, and has particular advantages for the manufacture of disposable and single use food trays where commercial composting of leftover food would be feasible.”

“Biolice 50T therefore fits into the expanding markets where biodegradable plastics can be used for the manufacture of rigid packaging in place of conventional plastics.  This can be seen in the context of growing environmental awareness of consumers and brand owners, government concerns about the growing cost of waste disposal, and the developing compost infrastructure in European countries.”

Biolice 50T is the result of the combination of cereal flour and two different biodegradable polyesters compounded by a twin screw extrusion process.  It is a process unique on the bioplastics market, using whole cereal grains from a number of specific Limagrain maize varieties.

Biolice 50T has a number of important technical characteristics and competitive advantages:

• It is possible to extrude a sheet (mono- or multi layers) from 300 µm to 2mm, either by calendering or by chill roll extrusion, without special equipment.
• It is easy to thermoform, the last step in making plant pots, due to its wide range of processing temperatures and very high stretching ability.
• The stiffness of biolice 50T is very close to the market standard and gives a good result for a scratch test: a part made with biolice 50T is less brittle than a part made with PLA or PS.
• The biodegradability of biolice 50T complies with European standards EN13432 up to a thickness of 450 µm.

Nathalie Gorce concluded: "Thanks to the development of an even more advanced production method, combined with our unique expertise in cereals, the biolice team can today respond to most thermoforming applications and it is possible to customise a formulation according to specific customer requests."