Renol® ABS
What is it?
Renol® is a bio-additive for the plastic industry, produced from lignin, a waste from the forest industry. This grade is a bio-based material made from 20% Renol® and 80% ABS. It is used for injection moulding pieces, to reduce the percentage of fossil-based (virgin) material. The technology is patent protected by Lignin Industries AB. The material is produced in an extruder via a continuous process that releases no toxic emissions or hazardous residues. The lignin is chemically transformed and polymerized to produce Renol®, which acts as a bio-additive in bioplastics and/or thermoplastics such as PLA, PE, PP, ABS and others.
Material properties
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Tensile strength (MPa): 43
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Tensile modulus (MPa): 2700
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Elongation at break (%): 2,4
Link to the technical data-sheet
Technical benefits
Renol® is a polymer with increased hydrophobicity (water repellent) properties and improved thermal resistance. It is compatible with other polymers. Compounding Renol® with conventional thermoplastics does not significantly change their mechanical properties, but the sustainability of the end product is improved.
Look and feel
The natural colour of the material is dark brown with an earthy tone. Additional colours (except white or very light colours) can be achieved by adding colour pigments.
Environmental benefits
Forests are renewable resources and lignin is a by-product of the pulping industry. Globally, 80 million tonnes of lignin are processed, making it one of the largest natural by-products on earth. Today 99% of produced lignin is burned for its energy value. Instead of burning lignin, every 1kg of fossil-based plastics replaced by Renol® decreases the CO₂ released into the atmosphere by 3-6kg per kg of material, depending on which fossil-based material is replaced.
Applications
This grade can be used in any applications using ABS and other engineering polymers, including consumer goods and electronics, toys, and home appliances.
Why we chose this material
Upcycling waste is at the core of this material! In addition, the entire process of transforming lignin to pure Renol® occurs under mild conditions, produces only minor amounts of waste, and requires little energy compared with other biobased polymers. In minutes, one tonne of lignin can be converted into one tonne of bio-granulates.
Why you should consider this material
Because the bio-based content of this compound is generated from waste that would otherwise be incinerated, you are avoiding investing energy for incineration, emitting additional CO₂ to the environment, and using fossil-based content.
About the manufacturer
Lignin Industries is a Swedish innovation company with a family history of five generations of pioneers within the Pulp and Paper Industry. A solid industrialisation background combined with research is the basis for their mission to use green chemistry to upcycle residual products from the forest industry to replace fossil-based plastic and fiber production with sustainable and renewable solutions.