Renewable Polyethylene

Abstract: The invention provides improved tableware, comprised of plates, bowls and cups, which are formed from paperboard sheets comprised of rapidly renewable resources and are recyclable, biodegradable and compostable The paperboard sheets are comprised of bamboo, bagasse or any combination or singularity thereof, and are coated with a polymer such as biopolyethylene, also known as renewable polyethylene, polyethylene (PE) or polylactide (PLA), and decorated with FDA approved inks and dyes, and are formed in such a manner that the resulting tableware is capable of containing a liquid without filtration or seepage upon the user

Abstract: A method of making a foam using a renewable resource and a foam thereof is disclosed. The foam is made using green polyethylene polymers made from renewable sugarcane ethanol. The use of these polymers to make foam has the potential to reduce carbon dioxide gas emissions by more than half. The foam can be used in a variety of applications and can also be made with blends of renewable LDPE and non-renewable LDPE.

Abstract: Brazil has a remarkable position in the use of renewable energy. The potential of natural resources in Brazil has motivated the use of these renewable resources to make technologies more sustainable. From the large variety of commercially available High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) from different sources, two were chosen for investigation: one produced from sugarcane ethanol, and the other one, a conventional polyethylene, produced from fossil resources. In the preparation of the composites, sponge-gourds also called Luffa cylindrica were selectec. The main application of this product is as bath sponge, whose production generates scraps that are generally burnt. In this work, the composites were prepared by blending the sponge scrap at different proportions (10, 20, 30 and 40% wt/wt) with high density polyethylene (HDPE) from renewable source by extrusion. The melt flow index analysis of the composites was determined and specimens were obtained by injection molding for the assessment of mechanical properties such as tensile (elasticity modulus), flexural and Izod impact strengths. The microstructure of the impact fractured surface of the specimen also was determined. The results showed that the addition of sponge scrap affects positively all the properties studied as compared to HDPE. The results of tensile strength, elasticity modulus and flexural strength were similar to those observed in the literature for composites of HDPE from fossil source. The microstructure corroborates the results of mechanical properties. It was shown that the sponge scrap has potential to be applied as cellulosic filler for renewable polyethylene, providing a totally renewable material with good mechanical properties.