Metabolix to Highlight Use of Mirel PHA Biopolymers as Performance Modifiers in PLA Applications

Metabolix, Inc. (NASDAQ:MBLX) will highlight the use of its Mirel^® PHA biopolymers as performance additives for PLA at Innovation Takes Root 2016.
According to the news:

Metabolix has taken its new Mirel amorphous PHA biopolymer materials to market and is working closely with processors and brand owners in a range of applications:

• Clear packaging film: a-PHA modified PLA film is both tough and ductile, creating a clear film that provides an excellent surface for printing and messaging, and is suitable for a broad range of packaging applications.
• Sheet Extrusion and Thermoformed Packaging: Metabolix Mirel^® a-PHA is a softer and more rubbery version of PHA that offers a fundamentally different performance profile from semi-crystalline forms of PHA and is ideal for thermoform applications. The use of a-PHA for PLA modification allows for creation of biobased, compostable “clam shell” thermoform containers used in food and consumer packaging.
• Fibers and Non-wovens: Mirel^® a-PHA modifiers bring significant softness to PLA fibers at low loading levels which produce a soft, silky feel in woven applications. Our a-PHA modifiers can also increase the strength of high flow non-woven PLA fibers. This is ideal for developing compostable single-use hygiene and personal care products such as wipes, and in medical products such as gauzes and surgical gowns and drapes.
• 3D printing filament: Improvements to the toughness/modulus balance can be achieved through blends with our Mirel^® a-PHA biopolymer and PLA for 3D printing. The modified filament prints at the same speed and temperature profile as standard PLA with an improvement in layer to layer adhesion, resulting in good quality and consistent thickness. The resulting parts will be softer and tougher than parts made with pure PLA allowing for prototyping of parts with properties more similar to actual production materials.
• Injection molded articles: The addition of a-PHA to PLA enables the strength and toughness of injection molded products to be increased substantially to produce high biocontent parts. The addition of a-PHA to PLA can be applied to various mold geometries and physical properties can be further optimized with the addition of mineral filler. 

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