Jul 16 2014
New masterbatches formulations with almond shell have been successfully achieved on standard thermoplastic matrixes in the framework of a research project. These formulations, which are ready for the market, have been effectively applied in two demonstrators: toy and auxiliary furniture with interesting aesthetic and mechanical properties fitting the focused applications.
Demonstrator of the masterbatches application to other traditional industries.
With these new masterbatches, the weight of the final product can notably be reduced, and with their large-scale introduction in the market, the consumption of plastic coming from non-renewable sources can be significantly shortened, thus reducing the dependence most of the countries have on oil. Therefore, transportation costs will be also reduced to the minimum while reducing the weight these consumer goods have in the logistics required for their distribution and marketing.
With the aim of achieving its final implementation in the market, the materials exploitation route and the know-how IPRs distribution of the developments achieved have been determined among the partners. Thus, the project coordinator, IQAP masterbatches (plastic colourants and additive manufacturer) will carry out the actions previously established to put into the market these new materials; the toy company INJUSA, which manufactures mountable big vehicles, will introduce the masterbatches within its products; and the company PEREZ CERDÁ PLASTICS, devoted to plastic injection services, will advise their customers and apply the new masterbatches in those articles that, by including these masterbatches, can achieve an added value and improve their aesthetic and mechanical properties. The protection of property rights has also been considered. AIJU, technological centre that has held up research activities, keeps the knowledge developed for future potential research actions.
The developments obtained have solved some of the problems arising in injection at industrial scale, which constitutes a most simple and reproducible technique to inject additives and colour pieces to create more attractive and lighter products, processed in a more effective and efficient way which, additionally, will save painting and finishing costs. Moreover, its potential translation to other industries will constitute a global advantage of great impact within the plastics field.
In fact, its translation has been initiated through Inyectados Peke’s, a reference company in the manufacture of soles, using a demonstrator applicable to different models and colours of shoes manufactured by Wonders.
There are not almond shell-based masterbatches in the market that provides the products with natural aesthetic characteristics which resemble wood, what constitutes a great novelty.
This project has been developed for the last months in parallel to another similar project based on biodegradable plastics, whose research is still ongoing with good expectations for a little more than a year.
NATURMASTER project, funded by CDTI within the Research and Development programme (Expedient IDI-20120212) and co-funded with FEDER funds, implies a great novelty and technological level as it will contribute to medium-term sustainability and enhance the competitiveness of the toy and auxiliary furniture industries in particular, and the injection industry in general. Those developments have their continuity on biodegradable matrixes within project LIFE+ 2011 ENV/ES/513 MASTALMOND, whose progress can be followed at www.lifemastalmond.eu.
Acerca de AIJU:
The Technological Institute of Children’s Products and Leisure (AIJU) was founded in June 1985 as an initiative of the Valencian SMEs Institute (IMPIVA) and the Ministry of Industry & Energy (MINER), with the aim to support the development of the toy industry. Nowadays, AIJU has spread its activity and it is a reference in all the industrial sectors of children’s products and leisure; AIJU offers high technological value services to organisations working in different fields.
It is located in Ibi, Alicante, and is a non-profit organisation focused on research & development, technological innovation, the competitiveness increasing and the quality improvement.
The services that AIJU offers to more than 450 associated are focused in 6 specific areas: Technologies, Safety and Testing, Children & Leisure consumers, Product Development and ITCs, Innovation and Sustainability Management, Training and Information. The technical unit in charge of the activities displayed is the Technologies, Safety and Testing Unit, specifically the Materials and Technologies areas. This area has diverse research areas such as new materials development for both, traditional and Additive Manufacturing processing technologies, manufacturing and decorations process, surface treatments, etc. with the aim of optimizing those processes.
AIJU is the leader of PLATECMA (Technological Platforms for Traditional products manufacturers) and active member of several platforms as EuMAT, EFFRA, The European Platform for Sports Innovation and Manufuture, among others. AIJU is also member of the “Materials” group, promoted by REDIT within the Technological institutes of IMPIVA network.
Additional information at: www.aiju.info.