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Bio-TPU: a sustainable material for the future

19/07/2023
Thermoplastic elastomers



Bio-TPU is a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) made from renewable materials such as vegetable oils, waste oils and food waste. It has the same properties as traditional TPE, but has a lower environmental impact.

Bio-TPU is made from renewable materials, which means that it does not contribute to the depletion of non-renewable resources. Bio-TPU is also biodegradable, which means that it can be broken down into harmless substances by microorganisms.

It can be used in a wide range of applications, including footwear, sports equipment, consumer electronics, automotive and household products.

Bio-TPU: a sustainable material for the future on Gianeco.com


TPEs are a family of polymeric materials that exhibit elastic and ductile properties. They are used in a wide range of applications, including footwear, sports equipment, consumer electronics, automotive and household products.

TPEs can be made from a variety of materials, including synthetic polymers, natural rubber and thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs). Synthetic polymers are made from petrochemicals, which are a non-renewable resource. Natural rubber is made from the sap of rubber trees, which is a renewable resource. TPEs can be made from a variety of renewable materials, including vegetable oils, waste oils and food waste.

The availability and production of BIO-TPU is still relatively low compared to virgin TPU, but is increasing rapidly. In 2022, global production of BIO-TPU was about 100,000 tonnes, while global production of virgin TPU was about 2.5 million tonnes. 

BIO-TPU production is expected to increase by about 20 per cent per year in the next five years.

Virgin TPU is produced from a combination of petroleum and biological materials. BIO-TPU, on the other hand, is produced exclusively from biological materials, which makes it a more sustainable material than virgin TPU, as it does not require the extraction of fossil fuels.

However, BIO-TPU is also more expensive than virgin TPU. This is due to the fact that the technology for its production is still relatively new and under development. It is expected that the price of BIO-TPU will decrease as the technology develops and production increases.

Overall, BIO-TPU is a more sustainable and cost-effective material than virgin TPU. 

Here are the average prices of BIO-TPU and virgin TPU in the Western world:

Material      Average price (USD/kg)

  • BIO-TPU        10-15

  • Virgin TPU     5-10

Here are some other things to keep in mind when comparing the prices of BIO-TPU and virgin TPU:

The price of BIO-TPU can vary depending on the manufacturer, the quality of the material and the quantity purchased.

The price of virgin TPU can vary depending on the manufacturer, the quality of the material and the production process used.

The price of BIO-TPU and virgin TPU can change over time.

Advantages of Bio-TPU


Bio-TPU offers numerous advantages over traditional TPE, including:

  • It is more sustainable: Bio-TPU is produced using renewable raw materials, which helps reduce environmental impact.

  • It is more biodegradable: Bio-TPU naturally biodegrades, which helps reduce waste pollution.

  • It is more flexible: Bio-TPU is more flexible than traditional TPE, which makes it ideal for applications requiring higher flexural strength.

  • It is stronger: Bio-TPU is stronger than a traditional TPE, making it ideal for applications requiring greater impact resistance.

  • It is lighter: Bio-TPU is lighter than a traditional TPE, making it ideal for applications requiring greater weight reduction.

Applications of Bio-TPU


Bio-TPU can be used in a wide range of applications, including:

  • Footwear and sporting goods: to make more sustainable and comfortable shoes and stronger and lighter sporting goods;

  • Consumer electronics: to make more sustainable and impact-resistant electronic equipment;

  • Automotive: to make more sustainable and lighter automotive components;

  • Household products: to make more sustainable and resilient carpets, blankets, pillows, mattresses, furniture, kitchen utensils, plates, glasses, cutlery

  • Furniture: to make chairs, tables, sofas, beds, wardrobes, lamps, paintings;

  • Packaging: to make boxes, bags, bottles, containers, trays and labels;

  • Medical: to make medical devices, prostheses, implants, surgical instruments, consumables; 

  • Industrial: to make bearings, gaskets, O-rings, cables, pipes, pumps, compressors.

Main producers of Bio-TPU:


BASF, DuPont, Covestro, Solvay, Lanxess

Bio-TPU processing methods


Here are some details on the colouring, moulding and extrusion processes of Bio-TPU:

Colouring


Bio-TPU can be coloured using a variety of methods, including:

Powder dyes: Powder dyes are added to bio-TPU during production and mix with the material during melting.The future of Bio-TPU

Bio-TPU is a sustainable material that offers many advantages over traditional TPEs. The use of Bio-TPU can help to reduce the environmental impact and promote a circular economy.

Liquid dyes: Liquid dyes are added to bio-TPU after production and mixed with the material using a mixer.

Ink: Ink is used to print drawings or text on bio-TPU.

Moulding


Bio-TPU can be moulded using a variety of techniques, including:

Injection moulding: Injection moulding is the most common technique for moulding bio-TPU. The bio-TPU is heated and injected into a special mould, where it cools and forms the desired product.

Groove printing: Groove printing is a technique that uses a laser to vaporise bio-TPU into thin layers, which are then overlaid to create the desired product.

3D printing: 3D printing is a technique that uses a process of building layers to create a three-dimensional object from a digital model.

Extrusion


Bio-TPU can be extruded to create a variety of profiles, tubes and other objects. The extrusion process involves heating the bio-TPU and feeding it through a nozzle, where it is cooled and forms the desired product.

The future of Bio-TPU


Bio-TPU is a sustainable material that offers numerous advantages over traditional TPE. The use of Bio-TPU can help reduce environmental impact and promote a circular economy.

Are you considering the use of recycled plastic in your production process? Contact Gianeco for recycled bioplastics and thermoplastic elastomers.


Contact us
email: info@gianeco.com
tel: +39 0119370420 




News

Bio-TPU: a sustainable material for the future

19/07/2023
Thermoplastic elastomers



Bio-TPU is a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) made from renewable materials such as vegetable oils, waste oils and food waste. It has the same properties as traditional TPE, but has a lower environmental impact.

Bio-TPU is made from renewable materials, which means that it does not contribute to the depletion of non-renewable resources. Bio-TPU is also biodegradable, which means that it can be broken down into harmless substances by microorganisms.

It can be used in a wide range of applications, including footwear, sports equipment, consumer electronics, automotive and household products.

Bio-TPU: a sustainable material for the future on Gianeco.com


TPEs are a family of polymeric materials that exhibit elastic and ductile properties. They are used in a wide range of applications, including footwear, sports equipment, consumer electronics, automotive and household products.

TPEs can be made from a variety of materials, including synthetic polymers, natural rubber and thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs). Synthetic polymers are made from petrochemicals, which are a non-renewable resource. Natural rubber is made from the sap of rubber trees, which is a renewable resource. TPEs can be made from a variety of renewable materials, including vegetable oils, waste oils and food waste.

The availability and production of BIO-TPU is still relatively low compared to virgin TPU, but is increasing rapidly. In 2022, global production of BIO-TPU was about 100,000 tonnes, while global production of virgin TPU was about 2.5 million tonnes. 

BIO-TPU production is expected to increase by about 20 per cent per year in the next five years.

Virgin TPU is produced from a combination of petroleum and biological materials. BIO-TPU, on the other hand, is produced exclusively from biological materials, which makes it a more sustainable material than virgin TPU, as it does not require the extraction of fossil fuels.

However, BIO-TPU is also more expensive than virgin TPU. This is due to the fact that the technology for its production is still relatively new and under development. It is expected that the price of BIO-TPU will decrease as the technology develops and production increases.

Overall, BIO-TPU is a more sustainable and cost-effective material than virgin TPU. 

Here are the average prices of BIO-TPU and virgin TPU in the Western world:

Material      Average price (USD/kg)

  • BIO-TPU        10-15

  • Virgin TPU     5-10

Here are some other things to keep in mind when comparing the prices of BIO-TPU and virgin TPU:

The price of BIO-TPU can vary depending on the manufacturer, the quality of the material and the quantity purchased.

The price of virgin TPU can vary depending on the manufacturer, the quality of the material and the production process used.

The price of BIO-TPU and virgin TPU can change over time.

Advantages of Bio-TPU


Bio-TPU offers numerous advantages over traditional TPE, including:

  • It is more sustainable: Bio-TPU is produced using renewable raw materials, which helps reduce environmental impact.

  • It is more biodegradable: Bio-TPU naturally biodegrades, which helps reduce waste pollution.

  • It is more flexible: Bio-TPU is more flexible than traditional TPE, which makes it ideal for applications requiring higher flexural strength.

  • It is stronger: Bio-TPU is stronger than a traditional TPE, making it ideal for applications requiring greater impact resistance.

  • It is lighter: Bio-TPU is lighter than a traditional TPE, making it ideal for applications requiring greater weight reduction.

Applications of Bio-TPU


Bio-TPU can be used in a wide range of applications, including:

  • Footwear and sporting goods: to make more sustainable and comfortable shoes and stronger and lighter sporting goods;

  • Consumer electronics: to make more sustainable and impact-resistant electronic equipment;

  • Automotive: to make more sustainable and lighter automotive components;

  • Household products: to make more sustainable and resilient carpets, blankets, pillows, mattresses, furniture, kitchen utensils, plates, glasses, cutlery

  • Furniture: to make chairs, tables, sofas, beds, wardrobes, lamps, paintings;

  • Packaging: to make boxes, bags, bottles, containers, trays and labels;

  • Medical: to make medical devices, prostheses, implants, surgical instruments, consumables; 

  • Industrial: to make bearings, gaskets, O-rings, cables, pipes, pumps, compressors.

Main producers of Bio-TPU:


BASF, DuPont, Covestro, Solvay, Lanxess

Bio-TPU processing methods


Here are some details on the colouring, moulding and extrusion processes of Bio-TPU:

Colouring


Bio-TPU can be coloured using a variety of methods, including:

Powder dyes: Powder dyes are added to bio-TPU during production and mix with the material during melting.The future of Bio-TPU

Bio-TPU is a sustainable material that offers many advantages over traditional TPEs. The use of Bio-TPU can help to reduce the environmental impact and promote a circular economy.

Liquid dyes: Liquid dyes are added to bio-TPU after production and mixed with the material using a mixer.

Ink: Ink is used to print drawings or text on bio-TPU.

Moulding


Bio-TPU can be moulded using a variety of techniques, including:

Injection moulding: Injection moulding is the most common technique for moulding bio-TPU. The bio-TPU is heated and injected into a special mould, where it cools and forms the desired product.

Groove printing: Groove printing is a technique that uses a laser to vaporise bio-TPU into thin layers, which are then overlaid to create the desired product.

3D printing: 3D printing is a technique that uses a process of building layers to create a three-dimensional object from a digital model.

Extrusion


Bio-TPU can be extruded to create a variety of profiles, tubes and other objects. The extrusion process involves heating the bio-TPU and feeding it through a nozzle, where it is cooled and forms the desired product.

The future of Bio-TPU


Bio-TPU is a sustainable material that offers numerous advantages over traditional TPE. The use of Bio-TPU can help reduce environmental impact and promote a circular economy.

Are you considering the use of recycled plastic in your production process? Contact Gianeco for recycled bioplastics and thermoplastic elastomers.


Contact us
email: info@gianeco.com
tel: +39 0119370420 




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