Farrel Pomini and FPInnovations Combine Wood Pulp, Bioresin into Fully Biobased and Biodegradable Compound

In his presentation, “Novel Biocomposites for the Sustainable Win,” Applications Development Manager Dr. Ye will be joined by Canadian partner FPInnovations to share insights into how their collaboration produced a 100% biocomposite compound.

The resulting compound, features a fiber level up to 60%, demonstrated high dispersion quality and low processing temperatures. In one trial, injection-molded disposable knives were produced with a compound featuring up to 40% fiber. In another trial, thermoformed products and extruded sheets were produced at industrial scale with a version of the compound featuring 0.5% to up to 10% fiber.

Heat Deflection Temperature improved notably with the addition of cellulose fiber, Dr. Ye will explain. And, while the initial moisture content of the fiber was 3% to 4%, the compounding process decreased moisture to 0.05% to 0.1% in the final compound.

“The compound is produced through a continuous economically viable process,” Dr. Ye explained. “The addition of cellulose fiber into biodegradable resin can reduce cost, enhance compostability, maintain mechanical properties, increase heat resistance and lower carbon footprint.”

Food trays  from Good Natured Products, using wood pulp supplied by West Fraser, were one of the promising results of the collaboration. 

Visit Farrel Pomini at Booth W5161 at NPE2024.