PLA enhancement in focus at Biopolymers Symposium 2011; reduced rates for the event with PlasticsToday

Edward Tam, manager of new strategic initiatives at custom plastics compounder Teknor Apex, will be especially busy at this month's Biopolymers Symposium 2011 in Denver, CO as he makes three presentations, including one on the company's technology for resolving a long-standing property tradeoff that has limited the use of polylactic acid (PLA) bioplastic. For processors interested in the event, read on to learn how you can save on your registration fee with PlasticsToday.

Teknor Apex's Edward Tam is among the speakers at this month's Bioplastics Symposium. Register with code MPW11 to save $200 off your attendance fees.

Organized by IntertechPira, the Symposium will take place September 26-28 in Denver, CO. For Tam and Teknor Apex (Pawcatuck, CT), the event is the perfect setting to detail some of the results of the compounder's efforts, and its customers' successes, with bioplastics. In 2009 Teknor Apex began a significant push into development of bioplastic compounds and in improving the mechanical properties of parts molded form these. (For coverage of the compounder's bioplastic developments, read our article here and click the link for a list of articles on bioplastics' moves at Teknor Apex.

 
"The Teknor Apex technology for enhanced PLA eliminates a tradeoff between heat resistance and impact strength that has prevented use of the biopolymer in potentially important applications," said Tam. "Recently we introduced two series of Terraloy compounds based on different chemistries, one for injection molded items such as cutlery, and the other for thermoformed sheet products such as frozen food trays, restaurant takeout packaging, coffee lids, and microwavable containers."
 
Tam will also serve as the instructor in a leadoff workshop called "Bioplastics 101" and present an overview of the U.S. bioplastics industry as part of a session on the business of biopolymers in the U.S. The session is being organized by the Bioplastics Council of SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association. Teknor Apex is a member of the Council.
 
Information on the Biopolymers Symposium 2011 is available at http://www.biopolymersummit.com/Home.aspx. PlasticsToday is working with IntertechPira to promote the event, and as a result you can use code MPW11 on your registration form to save $200 off of your registration for the event.