Biopolymers are synthesized materials produced from natural sources that are more easily degradable in the natural world than traditional plastics. The most common forms of these biopolymers include PLA and PHA, with the first (PLA) being a plastic made from plants like corn and sugarcane by refining their sugars and the second (PHA) being a plastic naturally formulated through the digestive process of microbes. Both of these biopolymers have many applications, although PLA plastics are most commonly used in the food packaging industry while PHA plastics are used more commonly in the medical device industry. An increased environmental consciousness has led to a growing demand for sustainable products, for which biopolymer-based plastics are a promising solution.
Along with our sustainability initiatives at Parkinson Technologies has come a distinct focus on the production of these biopolymers as a viable alternative to traditional plastic materials. In our Parkinson Technologies Lab, we encourage experimentation with biopolymer plastics to continue to improve the sustainability of products in the plastics industry. This testing is accomplished through our Marshall and Williams brand biaxial orientation line of machinery, where these biopolymers are stretched biaxially in order to ensure they possess the properties necessary to act with the same strength and durability of traditional plastics. We have also tested biopolymers in our Key Filters lab with great success, using the melt filtration methods of the Parkinson Key Filters product line.
Click here to learn more about the Parkinson Technologies Lab and our Marshall and Williams biaxial orientation technology, as well as our Key Filters Lab which includes our Continuous Belt Screen Changer technology.
