UPM BioMotionTM RFF are a versatile product, built to increase the sustainability performance of various end-use applications made from thermoplastics. On the one hand, they can be used as additives, mainly to for coloring of compounds, but also compounds with a high UPM BioMotionTM RFF content are of interest, representing a completely new class of materials. Independent of the loading, UPM BioMotionTM RFF can be used in industrial, home, soil, and marine biodegradable products. The areas of application for UPM BioMotionTM RFF in thermoplastics are diverse, from packaging, agriculture, and consumer electronics to automotive, transportation and household items.
Thermoplastics
UPM BioMotionTM RFF is suitable for a large range of packaging applications. Various types of bottles, buckets, jars, containers, bags, and films, made from different polymers are possible.
In terms of sustainability and resource conservation, it is desirable to recycle thermoplastics, such as packaging materials, in a closed loop. However, if carbon black is used as a pigment in black-colored plastics, these materials cannot be sorted in recycling plants and therefore cannot be recycled. Due to the strong absorption of carbon black, the polymer of which the article is made cannot be detected with a near-infrared (NIR) detection system.
BioMotionTM RFF offer manufacturers of plastic articles and components the perfect alternative solution to help their customers achieve their sustainability goals. Unlike compounds colored with carbon black, UPM BioMotionTM RFF allow NIR detection of the base polymer and thus enables sorting and recycling of black-colored plastic products. The use of UPM BioMotionTM RFF as black pigment allows a characteristic black coloring of thermoplastic materials, with a slightly reddish and yellowish tone. Most efficient are loadings up to 3–5 wt%.
If a thermoplastic material is fed into the recycling cycle, it is important that the thermal and oxidative stress of further processing does not damage the polymer too much so that the recycled material can also be used in high quality applications. Thermoplastic materials colored with UPM BioMotionTM RFF show excellent thermal stability in terms of melt flow index (MFI) and oxidation induction time (OIT) during recycling. No color changes of the thermoplastic materials are observed.
Furthermore, a UPM BioMotionTM RFF masterbatch, suitable for coloring of packaging materials has a significantly higher renewable material content and a significantly improved carbon footprint than masterbatches using fossil additives and pigments.
When recycling is not feasible for the packaging solution, UPM BioMotionTM RFF can serve as an unlimited additive for industrial, home, soil, and marine biodegradable products (according to DIN EN 13432 and DIN EN ISO 224031).
UPM BioMotionTM RFF can also be used in higher loadings as filler in thermoplastic compounds for different injection molded or extruded applications using various polymers. Its unique combination of properties makes it advantageous over other filler materials. Due to its renewable raw material source RFF contains 100% bio-based carbon, which can be directly measured. Therefore, an increased renewable material content can be traced until the final article with standardized analysis methods. UPM BioMotionTM RFF has a negative carbon footprint from cradle to gate and offers low density compared to white fillers. This enables the production of lightweight parts with reduced carbon footprint. Since components containing UPM BioMotionTM RFF are lighter than those with conventional fillers, they help to improve fuel efficiency and could reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the use phase of vehicles.
As a filler RFF increases the stiffness of polymer compounds, while a characteristic black color is achieved. Moreover, RFF containing compounds are easy to process, allowing for the same design freedom as when using conventional fillers. This combination of properties and the fact that RFF has no negative impact on recycling, makes it an interesting filler for use in various polymers.
UPM BioMotionTM RFF can be used in unlimited amounts as an additive for industrial, home, soil, and marine biodegradable products (according to DIN EN 13432 and DIN EN ISO 224031). This opens possibilities for various biodegradable applications, with increased renewable material content. By combining RFF with other certified biodegradable products, a truly circular economic process becomes feasible. Renewable raw materials are used to create biodegradable polymers, which can then be returned to nature as new biomass after use.