Hycail launches first transparent, microwavable and ovenable biopolymer
Noordhorn, the Netherlands, December 3, 2005 - Hycail® BV, the European based producer of Polylactic Acid (PLA), has expanded its diversified PLA product portfolio with the first truly high heat resistant, transparent PLA., designated Hycail ® XM 1020.
Marcel Dartée, Hycail’s Commercial Director stated: “This material is a genuine game changer in PLA technology. It is fully renewable, transparent, and can be converted on the same equipment that is used for standard thermoplastics, like our “standard” transparent PLA, Hycail ® HM1011.”
This is not just another tweak to the bioplastics portfolio, this time Hycail can claim a major breakthrough, as Mr. Dartée continues: “Our technologists have been able to expand our capabilities dramatically, by substantially increasing the heat resistance of PLA, without jeopardizing attractive attributes like transparency, processability, gloss, printability, renewability and strength”.
Hycail ® XM 1020 is ovenable: the material can be heated with a variety of food products and can withstand temperatures over 200 °C, without distortion. Moreover, Hycail ® XM 1020 can withstand microwaving with fatty and liquid foodstuffs for a prolonged time, without distortion or stress cracking.
As an example, Hycail ® XM 1020 cups have been proven to withstand microwaving with olive oil up to temperatures of 205 ºC for 30 minutes without any distortion or cracking phenomena.
“This technology platform puts PLA in the high performance thermoplastics arena, where high heat, chemical resistance and transparency are combined ” continues Mr. Dartée.
Hycail is presently expanding the platform of Hycail ® XM1020 to other application areas where the high heat resistance in combination with other inherent properties of PLA are valued.
Hycail ® XM1020 is presently only available to selected partners of Hycail BV.
About Hycail B.V.
Hycail B.V. has developed a range of bio-based PLA polymers and resins through the use of unique proprietary technology. Hycail’s products can be used in a variety of application, including rigid packaging items, films, fibers, adhesives, chewing gum and emulsions. Hycail operates a semi-commercial facility with a few hundred tonnes of capacity in Noordhorn, the Netherlands, using annual renewable resources, such as sugar beats or corn, only sourced from Europe. Currently Hycail is in process of determining the size and scope of a large commercial facility. All products of Hycail are biodegradable and compostable according to EN 13432.
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