Mazda Motor Corp. and an industrial consortium are partnering with the Japanese government and the academic community to develop a new bioplastic made through a fermentation process using natural materials such as fermented starches and sugars derived from corn. The prototype bioplastic is made of 88 percent corn and 12 percent petroleum, and requires 30 percent less energy to produce than conventional petroleum-based polypropylene.
The new bioplastic carbon-neutral (with only 12% petroleum content and reduced energy requirements for manufacture), is stronger and more heat-resistant than other bioplastics, making it a viable candidate for a wider range of automotive applications Its higher rigidity may make it a superior material to polypropylene plastics for mass production of injection molded parts.
24-May-06 
{{comment.DateTimeStampDisplay}}
{{comment.Comments}}