There’s plenty of interest in fillers, especially the bio-based or bio-friendly varieties, which can be added to polymer matrices and result in enhanced performance and “greener” content. Dr. Joachim (Joe) P. Roesler, president of New Polymer Systems Inc., (NPS) provided an update on bio-friendly fillers at a recent Emerging Technology Forum presented by PolymerOhio in Columbus.

 

“There is a lot of interest in our new natural filler, hydrophobic lignocellulose, for use as bio-friendly filler for polymers,” Roesler said. He commented that plastic compounds are more economical and/or better with the use of fillers and that the most popular mass fillers are minerals, manufactured, or bio-based (talc, calcium carbonate, carbon black, wood flour). He added that high-performance fillers and fibers (nano, glass, natural fibers, etc.) improve properties, at a price, and that there are plenty of other expensive additives that can modify properties further.