Optimization of Extruded Bead Expansion for Insulating Properties and Impact Protection of PLA Biobased Plastic for Replacement of Fish Packaging

消费者对环保产品的认识不断提高，鱼类包装行业法规的变化正在创造该行业的转变，以提供传统塑料投入的可持续替代品。然而，该行业正在努力寻找可扩展的解决方案，现有产品无法满足所需的质量、成本和制造兼容性要求。因此，布朗斯湾包装公司与佳洁士模具技术公司和兰伯顿学院合作开发了一种用于鲜鱼运输的新型可生物降解包装材料。在合作中，布朗斯湾包装、佳洁士模具技术和兰伯顿学院致力于修改材料组合，以创建一种挤出聚合物，其规格和性能与EPS材料相似，目的是创建一种可持续的制造鱼类包装工艺，该工艺具有抗撕裂和低成本的特点。为此，研究团队将测试各种建议添加剂的比例，以优化和生产聚乳酸颗粒，提高聚乳酸的耐热性，并为布朗斯湾包装产品建造模具，并测试改进对聚乳酸的效果。拟议项目的结果将支持布朗斯湾和佳洁士模具技术循环经济倡议，特别是产品开发和产品线的增长。此外，这一结果还将有助于加拿大不断增长的可持续化学产品组合，并改善鱼类包装行业。预计在两年内，布朗斯湾的市场渗透率将达到制造业初创企业的0.1%。反过来，一旦生产设施完全投入运营，预计这将带来每年950万的潜在收入，并创造多达25个全职职位。

Increasing consumer awareness of eco-friendly products and changes in regulations to the fish packaging industry is creating a shift in the industry to provide sustainable alternatives to traditional plastic inputs. However, the industry is struggling to find a scalable solution and existing products are failing to meet the quality, cost, and manufacturing compatibility requirements needed. As a result, Browns Bay Packing has partnered with Crest Mold Technology Inc. and Lambton College to develop a novel biodegradable packaging material for fresh fish shipping. In collaboration, Browns Bay Packing, Crest Mold Technology, and Lambton College aim to modify material combinations to create an extrusion polymer that holds the specifications and performance similar to EPS material for the purpose of creating a sustainable manufacturing fish packaging process that is tear-resistant and low cost. To do this, the research team will test various ratios of the proposed additives to optimize and produce PLA pellets, improve the thermal resistance of PLA, and build a mold for Browns Bay Packing products and test the effects of the improvements to the PLA.The results of the proposed project will support both Browns Bay and Crest Mold Technology circular economy initiatives, particularly product development and growth of their product lines. In addition, the results will also contribute to Canada's growing sustainable chemistry portfolio and improve the fish packaging industry. Within two years, it is anticipated that Browns Bay will have a market penetration of 0.1% of manufacturing start-up. In turn, this is expected to bring in potential revenues of 9.5 million per year and generate up to 25 full-time positions once the production facility is fully operational.