Biograde, an injection moldable compound developed and marketed by FKuR (Willich, Germany), was the winner of the “Biomaterial of the year 2008” award at last month’s Raw Material Shift & Biomaterials congress in Cologne, Germany. Extruder systems manufacturer Reifenhäuser sponsored the award. The material already is in commercial use by Ritter-Pen, an injection molder of writing utensils; 80% (by weight) of the firm’s new Bio-Pens are made from the renewable and compostable Biograde.
Biograde is transparent, depending on the grade, and is based on cellulose acetate with special additives and a coupler introduced via a compounding process developed by FKuR. The cellulose acetate used is derived from European soft wood.
FKuR Kunststoff GmbH makes and markets biopolymers under the brand names Bio-Flex (polylactic acid/copolyester compound), Biograde (cellulose ester compound), and Fibrolon (natural fiber reinforced polymers).—[email protected]
FKuR Kunststoff GmbH; Willich, Germany; +49 2154-9251-0; www.fkur.com
