Germany’s Fraunhofer-Institut UMSICHT (Oberhausen; www.umsicht.fraunhofer.de) and the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de) have announced that as part of a two-year research project, they have discovered a technique to manufacture foam-moulded parts using the bioplastic poly butylene succinate (PBS). Fraunhofer said the technique could be applied to other bioplastics as well.

In a first phase, pellet-sized particles containing foaming agents are to be manufactured out of a specific bioplastic. With this in mind, the Ruhr Universität Bochum for the first time ever applied the PGSS (Particles from Gas Saturated Solutions) technique to the high-pressure spraying of highly viscose polymers. Later, Fraunhofer developed bioplastics designed specifically for the PGSS technique. In addition, the institute also developed a foaming test station and investigated the bioparticles’ foaming behaviour.

Anyone interested in learning more about possible applications can contact Thomas Wodke, E-Mail: Thomas.wodke@umsicht.fraunhofer.de