 "Bioplastics in injection moulding | ENGEL")
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Bioplastics in injection moulding
New paths to greater sustainability
Bioplastics offer the opportunity to combine injection moulding with sustainable raw materials. ENGEL has years of experience in the use of bioplastics and offers support in processing them correctly, safely and sustainably. Get started now with ENGEL solutions and expertise.
 "Types of bioplastics for injection moulding | ENGEL")
Bio-PE, Bio-PA, WPC
Materials are biobased if they are produced entirely or partially from renewable biological resources. Biological resources include maize, potatoes, sugar cane starch and cellulose. The injection moulded component does not degrade naturally in the environment.
PLA, PHA, PHB
These are bioplastics that are both biobased and biodegradable. Chemical processes enable the biodegradation of bioplastics. Microorganisms present in the environment convert the bioplastic into natural substances such as water or compost. The injection moulded component degrades naturally in the environment.
PE, PET, PP
Fossil-based plastics are conventional plastics that are produced from fossil raw materials (crude oil, natural gas) and do not decompose. They are not bioplastics. The injection moulded component does not degrade naturally in the environment.
PBAT, PCL
Alternative plastics that are biodegradable but produced from fossil sources such as crude oil or natural gas are categorised as bioplastics. The injection moulded component degrades naturally in the environment.
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Would you like to know what possibilities bioplastics offer you in injection moulding and how you can process them? Our experts will be happy to provide you with comprehensive expertise.
Bioplastics can be processed on all ENGEL injection moulding machines. This means that you can use your own ENGEL machines to produce injection moulded components from alternative plastics. This enables flexibility in your production and avoids additional investment.
Corrosion-resistant plasticising components are essential for processing corrosive biomaterials. They ensure the longevity and safety of the system. It is also important to comply with the process parameters specified by the material supplier. Especially when it comes to the processing temperature. In order to achieve high quality with shear-sensitive alternative plastics, an optimised screw geometry supports the reduction of shear. The result: gentle processing of sensitive materials.
Our digital solution iQ weight control precisely regulates the injection volume based on the pressure curve in the mould. This ensures optimum part quality during injection moulding, even if the viscosity of the bioplastic fluctuates.
Thin-wall packaging made from alternative plastics can be produced using sandwich injection moulding. One example is coffee capsules with a biodegradable PVOH (polyvinyl alcohol) barrier. Multi-layer packaging offers perfect barriers against oxygen, moisture and humidity, thereby optimally preserving the freshness of the product.
Bioplastics can be processed on all ENGEL injection moulding machines. This means that you can use your own ENGEL machines to produce injection moulded components from alternative plastics. This enables flexibility in your production and avoids additional investment.
Corrosion-resistant plasticising components are essential for processing corrosive biomaterials. They ensure the longevity and safety of the system. It is also important to comply with the process parameters specified by the material supplier. Especially when it comes to the processing temperature. In order to achieve high quality with shear-sensitive alternative plastics, an optimised screw geometry supports the reduction of shear. The result: gentle processing of sensitive materials.
Our digital solution iQ weight control precisely regulates the injection volume based on the pressure curve in the mould. This ensures optimum part quality during injection moulding, even if the viscosity of the bioplastic fluctuates.
Thin-wall packaging made from alternative plastics can be produced using sandwich injection moulding. One example is coffee capsules with a biodegradable PVOH (polyvinyl alcohol) barrier. Multi-layer packaging offers perfect barriers against oxygen, moisture and humidity, thereby optimally preserving the freshness of the product.
The polylactide (PLA) for the ballpoint pens is produced from renewable, fast-growing sugar cane. Around one kilogramme of CO2 is released for one kilogramme of PLA during production. That is only around a quarter of what is produced for the same amount of conventional plastic.
Safe and sophisticated toys can be made from alternative plastics.
Bio-based TPE protects your smartphone from breakage.
Ecological ballpoint pens or fibre-tip pens with a lower CO2 footprint.
Alternative plastics such as bio-PA, which are scratch-resistant, impact-resistant and abrasion-resistant, can fulfil different requirements for technical plastic parts.
Coffee capsules are preferably made from bio-based and biodegradable raw materials such as PLA.
Reusable cutlery with wood fibre content is an ideal approved alternative to cutlery made purely of plastic.
Many applications can be produced from bioplastics. Contact us to achieve your idea together.
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