|
Oral Presentation 5-05 PHAs - Performance Polymers from Renewable Resources James Barber Metabolix Inc.
Metabolix
is creating an economical method for sustainably producing a large variety of
biologically derived materials (“PHAs”) – today through fermentation of
plant-derived sugars and oils and, within the foreseeable future, directly in
crop plants. Metabolix's patented
discoveries forge a significant new link between large-scale, low-cost,
sustainable agricultural production and the existing polymer processing and
chemical industries. PHAs range in properties from strong, moldable thermoplastics to highly elastic materials to soft, tacky compositions. They can be made as resins or as aqueous dispersions with excellent film-forming characteristics. PHAs are biodegradable, and in some cases extend the performance envelopes achievable with conventional plastics. PHAs offer a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum-derived synthetic materials.
|