1. from the earth - into the earth Why should plastics processors use PHB? EPF Workshop, Paris 2006 Urs J. Hänggi, Biomer EPF Workshop, Paris 2006

2. from the earth - into the earth Why should researcher study PHB? and why should plastics processors use PHB? EPF Workshop, Paris 2006 Urs J. Hänggi, Biomer EPF Workshop, Paris 2006

3. from the earth - into the earth PHB is a biopolymer developed by evolution to serve cellular functions, not to become a plastic! It is an exceptional polymer, by pure chance with thermoplastic properties. EPF Workshop, Paris 2006

4. from the earth - into the earth PHB for medical sciences: - PHB has numerous key roles in living organisms - metabolite transport (albumin) - cholesterol metabolism - genetic competence (DNA transfer) - protein synthesis - ion channels - many more (-> a sure way to get Nobel price in medicine) Victor Norris (2005) PHB.... Cell. Mol. Biol 51, 629-631 EPF Workshop, Paris 2006

5. from the earth - into the earth EPF Workshop, Paris 2006 Biological functions of PHB (consequences for physicists, biochemists, and plastic processors) - ion channel -> absolutely isotactic (stereoregular) - monorail for mRNA in ribosomes -> absolutely linear - storage material -> mobile (liquid)

6. from the earth - into the earth PHB for polymer scientists: - absolutely linear -> synthetic polymers always are branched! - absolutely isotactic -> synthetic polymers may have excess of tacticity! - absolutely free of catalysts (nucleants) -> synthetic polymers have huge amounts of residual catalysts that act as nucleants! -> no better polymer than PHB to study polymer crystallization -> no better polymer than PHB to study polymer structure -> no better polymer than PHB to study thermal behavior of polymers (-> no better way to get Nobel price in polymer physics) EPF Workshop, Paris 2006

7. from the earth - into the earth PHB for plastics processors: - PHB changes properties over time - PHB is extremely brittle - PHB melt viscosity is extremely low (not plastic, but like water) EPF Workshop, Paris 2006

8. from the earth - into the earth PHB for plastics processors? 1) is there a market for such a lousy plastic? 2) is there a way to process such a polymer? EPF Workshop, Paris 2006

11. from the earth - into the earth EPF Workshop, Paris 2006 Outdoor activities mess the environment! people dislike messed environments! this is an opportunity for plastics processors by providing items that disappear after use!

12. from the earth - into the earth EPF Workshop, Paris 2006 Thermoplastic properties of PHB - PHB changes properties over time - PHB is extremely brittle - PHB melt viscosity is extremely low (not plastic, but like water) but also: - absolutely stereoregular and isotactic ->crystalline (does not yield) - absolutely linear -> highly melt fluidity (LCP!) - no crystallization inside the cells -> free of catalysts (nucleants) - > control speed of crystallization to do: diminish weaknesses, improve strengths

13. from the earth - into the earth EPF Workshop, Paris 2006 Transforming the biopolymer into plastics (Biomer) take PHB and mix (compound) it with - low and high mw plasticizers - nucleants - other processing aids -> compounded PHB

14. from the earth - into the earth EPF Workshop, Paris 2006 Mechanical Properties of Biomer PHB Formulations tensile strength elongation at break modulus (stiffness) Biomer ® P226 24 19 1750 Polypropylene 22 12-20 600-1200 Biomer ® P240 18 25 730 PE-HD 15 600 150-450

15. from the earth - into the earth EPF Workshop, Paris 2006 Conclusions Biomer ® P226 is as good as or better than PP Biomer ® P240 is as good as or better than PE-HD

16. EPF Workshop, Paris 2006

18. from the earth - into the earth EPF Workshop, Paris 2006 Why should plastics processors use PHB? - compounded PHB has properties like PP or PE-HD but in addition: - of renewable resources (crop based not oil based)! - totally biodegradable (anaerobe/aerobe)! - free of catalysts! - neither thrombogenic nor immunogenic! - better creep resistance! - faster cycle times! - thinner walls, more complex structures!

19. from the earth - into the earth EPF Workshop, Paris 2006 Why should researcher study PHB? Because there are fundamental issues not yet solved! We invite you to join us in still better knowing the molecule and exploiting the properties of PHB www.biomer.de mail@biomer.de

20. EPF Workshop, Paris 2006