New masterbatch formulations with almond shell on standard thermoplastic matrixes offer weight reduction

New masterbatches formulations with almond shell have been successfully achieved on standard thermoplastic matrixes in the framework of a research project. These formulations, which are ready for the market, have been effectively applied in two demonstrators: toy and auxiliary furniture with interesting aesthetic and mechanical properties fitting the focused applications. With these new masterbatches, the weight of the final product can notably be reduced, and with their large-scale introduction in the market, the consumption of plastic coming from non-renewable sources can be significantly shortened, thus reducing the dependence most of the countries have on oil. Therefore, transportation costs will be also reduced to the minimum while reducing the weight these consumer goods have in the logistics required for their distribution and marketing. With the aim of achieving its final implementation in the market, the materials exploitation route and the know-how IPRs distribution of the developments achieved have been determined among the partners. Thus, the project coordinator, IQAP masterbatches (plastic colourants and additive manufacturer) will carry out the actions previously established to put into the market these new materials; the toy company INJUSA, which manufactures mountable big vehicles, will introduce the masterbatches within its products; and the company PEREZ CERDÁ PLASTICS, devoted to plastic injection services, will advise their customers and apply the new masterbatches in those articles that, by including these masterbatches, can achieve an added value and improve their aesthetic and mechanical properties. The protection of property rights has also been considered. AIJU, technological centre that has held up research activities, keeps the knowledge developed for future potential research actions. The developments obtained have solved some of the problems arising in injection at industrial scale, which constitutes a most simple and reproducible technique to inject additives and colour pieces to create more attractive and lighter products, processed in a more effective and efficient way which, additionally, will save painting and finishing costs. Moreover, its potential translation to other industries will constitute a global advantage of great impact within the plastics field. In fact, its translation has been initiated through Inyectados Peke’s, a reference company in the manufacture of soles, using a demonstrator applicable to different models and colours of shoes manufactured by Wonders. There are not almond shell-based masterbatches in the market that provides the products with natural aesthetic characteristics which resemble wood, what constitutes a great novelty. This project has been developed for the last months in parallel to another similar project based on biodegradable plastics, whose research is still ongoing with good expectations for a little more than a year. NATURMASTER project, funded by CDTI within the Research and Development programme (Expedient IDI-20120212) and co-funded with FEDER funds, implies a great novelty and technological level as it will contribute to medium-term sustainability and enhance the competitiveness of the toy and auxiliary furniture industries in particular, and the injection industry in general.