Page 56 - Plastics News June 2017

PRODUCT NEWS

Eastman introduces TREVA –a breakthrough with an engineering

bioplastics

astman Chemical Company has introduced Eastman frames, wearable electronics, headphones, Electronic
ETREVA™, a breakthrough in engineering bioplastics display applications, such as lenses and covers, that
that help global brands concurrently meet their consumers need to see through; Electronics, housings,
sustainability and performance needs in today’s rapidly intricate cosmetics cases, and other products with high
evolving marketplace. TREVA™’s composition is about half design and complex specifications; Automotive interior
cellulose, sourced from trees derived exclusively from components wherein chemical resistance and aesthetics
sustainably managed forests that are certified by the are desired.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The new material is BPA-
free and phthalate-free. Its excellent flow rates, durability Polypropylene powder with
and dimensional stability allow for less material usage,
thinner parts, and longer laser-sintering application
product life, enhancing
lifecycle assessments. dvanc3dMaterials, based in Hamburg, Germany,
TREVA™ offers excellent Ahas developed a polypropylene powder which
chemical resistance, can be processed by Selective Laser Sintering, as per
standing up better britishplastics.co.uk ‘AdSint PP Flex’ has superior
than other engineering
thermoplastics to plasticity, high elongation of 29%, low moisture
some of the harshest absorption and durability. It is comparable to standard
chemicals, including polypropylene and a very good alternative to polyamides.
skin oils, sunscreens,
and household cleaners. The material’s low birefringence
means eliminating the unwelcomed rainbow effect some
plastics experience with polarized light, improving the
user experience with electronic device screens and retail
displays.
Excellent flow characteristics also enable design freedom,
allowing TREVA™ to be used with complicated designs
and in filling thin parts. Under recommended processing
conditions, recent thin-wall 30 mil spiral flow testing
shows that TREVA™ flow rates are significantly better
than polycarbonate and polycarbonate/ABS blends, and
comparable to ABS.
TREVA™ is designed to allow for superior surface gloss,
clarity and warm touch and feel, enabled through
a combination of the base material and Eastman’s With this new SLS material, prototypes and small
technological expertise. The material also boasts great series can be produced directly from polypropylene,
color saturation, and superior secondary processing and so that the installed material matches that of the
decorating capability, creating additional design and serial production. Like a regular polypropylene, AdSint
branding options. Burt Capel, vice president and general Polypropylene Flex can be used in a wide field of
manager of Eastman’s Specialty Plastics business unit, application, automotive, electrical and sport industries,
said: “Eastman leveraged nearly 100 years of cellulosic
expertise in the design and testing of TREVA™ to meet the health care and orthopaedic products. It allows post
improved sustainability profile and performance needs processing like thermoforming or sealing.
of brands, fabricators, molders, and other companies Above all, the recycling rate of 80-100 per cent, which
across the value chain.” TREVA™’s superior combination
of sustainability and safety benefits, end-use performance represents an important cost advantage compared to
improvements, and design and brand flexibility make polyamides.
it ideal material choice for the applications: Eyeglass

Plastics News | June 2017 56