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Interface Polymers secures LOI and POC commitments for its Polarfin® additive technology to recycle mixed plastic waste

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Since starting up in early 2016, Interface Polymers Ltd. has been developing game-changing solutions to surface and polymer matrix compatibility issues associated with polyolefins using its unique, patented di-block copolymer Polarfin® additive technology. The R & D team has successfully developed di-block additives for use with virgin and recycled polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) based masterbatches, compounds, filled polymers, and sheet and film products. Compatibilization products are increasingly being used to enhance product performance, improve processing, reduce costs and solve recycling challenges for a variety of plastic applications in the packaging, construction, agriculture and automotive market sectors.

More recently, Interface Polymers has been working closely with a number of companies across the supply chain looking to utilise mixed plastic waste, such as PE and PP with EVOH/ PA/ PET/PS, in preference to disposal in landfill or incineration. Two key recycling projects have made major technical breakthroughs. As a consequence, the company has now secured a Letter of Intent (LOI) agreement and a Proof of Concept (POC) project commitment with leading industry players.

The LOI agreement is with a company which manufactures synthetic fibres and textile fabric products for industrial and domestic applications. The POC feasibility project is with a major producer of multilayer plastic packaging film. Both projects are focused on developing viable PE and PP products formulated with Polarfin additive which utilise currently unrecyclable mixed plastic packaging waste; a key aim is to create new products with at least 30% recycled content. Once commercialised, these projects will provide both companies with a greener product offering that will be more acceptable to manufacturers, retailers and consumers actively wanting to use more sustainable materials.

LOI textile application using PP/ PE mixed plastic waste

The LOI project with the synthetic fibre and fabric producing company is looking to incorporate a PE/PP waste stream into a polar polymer for use in a wide variety of commercial and domestic textile products. The fabric producer has been evaluating various recycling options, but up to now all other additives tested were unable to be processed. By adding Interface Polymers’ novel Polarfin di-block technology, the technical issues are being overcome. Ongoing trials are proving that PE/PP mixed waste can be efficiently reprocessed on existing equipment and recycled or even upcycled into higher value products.

The project aims to divert thousands of tons of mixed waste plastic materials from landfill or incineration so that it can effectively be reused. The final outcome is to provide a commercially attractive, circular economy recycling solution, which will significantly benefit the environment in the future.

POC for recycling multilayer plastic packaging film

A second project has resulted in a POC for the recycling of multilayer plastic film from packaging applications back into multilayer film without significant loss of properties. Critically, the Polarfin additive, even at low addition levels, has been shown in trials to eliminate gels, which are visual defects which also disrupt production and reduce productivity. Gels are a very common problem for polyolefin films using recycling mixed plastics, which up to now has restricted their recyclability.

Simon Waddington, Business Development Director for Interface Polymers commented: “We have successfully demonstrated that both recycling and upscaling polyolefin mixed plastic waste into higher value products is possible using our Polarfin additive technology. We and our partners are very excited to fully commercialise these new recycling opportunities, which are doubly beneficial to the environment by helping producers to reduce overall energy use and their carbon footprint, as well as diverting currently unrecyclable mixed plastic materials away from landfill.”

Chief Executive Officer, Dominique Fournier added: “With latest UK Government legislation at policy paper stage to introduce a new tax from April 2022 on any plastic packaging which contains less than 30% recycled plastic, the commercial viability and financial incentive for companies to take advantage of our innovative di-block additive to recycle mixed plastic waste becomes even greater. Anyone interested in our di-block technology should get in contact as we are actively looking to develop our investment partners further.”

Interface Polymers continues to push the innovation boundaries by using its Polarfin additive as a tailored dispersion to overcome polyolefin interfacial incompatibility and enhance performance properties by improving polar particle/fibre matrix adhesion and polymer chain entanglement. Polarfin additives can easily be incorporated into a formulation and used with existing polymer conversion processes, such as extrusion, injection or compression moulding, with no need to modify existing production equipment. This new additive technology is offering companies new opportunities to significantly improve the performance, cost competitiveness and recyclability of polyolefin-based materials.

Polarfin® is an internationally patented technology and registered trademark of Interface Polymers Ltd.

14 December 2020

Interface Polymers secures LOI and POC commitments for its Polarfin® additive technology to recycle mixed plastic waste

Since starting up in early 2016, Interface Polymers Ltd. has been developing game-changing solutions to surface and polymer matrix compatibility issues associated with polyolefins using its unique, patented di-block copolymer Polarfin® additive technology. The R & D team has successfully developed di-block additives for use with virgin and recycled polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) based masterbatches, compounds, filled polymers, and sheet and film products. Compatibilization products are increasingly being used to enhance product performance, improve processing, reduce costs and solve recycling challenges for a variety of plastic applications in the packaging, construction, agriculture and automotive market sectors.

More recently, Interface Polymers has been working closely with a number of companies across the supply chain looking to utilise mixed plastic waste, such as PE and PP with EVOH/ PA/ PET/PS, in preference to disposal in landfill or incineration. Two key recycling projects have made major technical breakthroughs. As a consequence, the company has now secured a Letter of Intent (LOI) agreement and a Proof of Concept (POC) project commitment with leading industry players.

The LOI agreement is with a company which manufactures synthetic fibres and textile fabric products for industrial and domestic applications. The POC feasibility project is with a major producer of multilayer plastic packaging film. Both projects are focused on developing viable PE and PP products formulated with Polarfin additive which utilise currently unrecyclable mixed plastic packaging waste; a key aim is to create new products with at least 30% recycled content. Once commercialised, these projects will provide both companies with a greener product offering that will be more acceptable to manufacturers, retailers and consumers actively wanting to use more sustainable materials.

LOI textile application using PP/ PE mixed plastic waste

The LOI project with the synthetic fibre and fabric producing company is looking to incorporate a PE/PP waste stream into a polar polymer for use in a wide variety of commercial and domestic textile products. The fabric producer has been evaluating various recycling options, but up to now all other additives tested were unable to be processed. By adding Interface Polymers’ novel Polarfin di-block technology, the technical issues are being overcome. Ongoing trials are proving that PE/PP mixed waste can be efficiently reprocessed on existing equipment and recycled or even upcycled into higher value products.

The project aims to divert thousands of tons of mixed waste plastic materials from landfill or incineration so that it can effectively be reused. The final outcome is to provide a commercially attractive, circular economy recycling solution, which will significantly benefit the environment in the future.

POC for recycling multilayer plastic packaging film

A second project has resulted in a POC for the recycling of multilayer plastic film from packaging applications back into multilayer film without significant loss of properties. Critically, the Polarfin additive, even at low addition levels, has been shown in trials to eliminate gels, which are visual defects which also disrupt production and reduce productivity. Gels are a very common problem for polyolefin films using recycling mixed plastics, which up to now has restricted their recyclability.

Simon Waddington, Business Development Director for Interface Polymers commented: “We have successfully demonstrated that both recycling and upscaling polyolefin mixed plastic waste into higher value products is possible using our Polarfin additive technology. We and our partners are very excited to fully commercialise these new recycling opportunities, which are doubly beneficial to the environment by helping producers to reduce overall energy use and their carbon footprint, as well as diverting currently unrecyclable mixed plastic materials away from landfill.”

Chief Executive Officer, Dominique Fournier added: “With latest UK Government legislation at policy paper stage to introduce a new tax from April 2022 on any plastic packaging which contains less than 30% recycled plastic, the commercial viability and financial incentive for companies to take advantage of our innovative di-block additive to recycle mixed plastic waste becomes even greater. Anyone interested in our di-block technology should get in contact as we are actively looking to develop our investment partners further.”

Interface Polymers continues to push the innovation boundaries by using its Polarfin additive as a tailored dispersion to overcome polyolefin interfacial incompatibility and enhance performance properties by improving polar particle/fibre matrix adhesion and polymer chain entanglement. Polarfin additives can easily be incorporated into a formulation and used with existing polymer conversion processes, such as extrusion, injection or compression moulding, with no need to modify existing production equipment. This new additive technology is offering companies new opportunities to significantly improve the performance, cost competitiveness and recyclability of polyolefin-based materials.

Polarfin® is an internationally patented technology and registered trademark of Interface Polymers Ltd.

Interface Polymers expands R & D Team to meet demand for polyolefin surface functionality solutions

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Interface Polymers Ltd is expanding its additive technology R & D team with two new full-time positions at its main laboratory and testing facilities in Loughborough, UK. Launched in February 2016 to develop and commercialize its new Polarfin® block copolymer additive range, the University of Warwick spin-out company is on a steep growth curve, responding to demand for polyolefin compatibility and surface functionality solutions across a wide range of applications in the packaging, construction, agriculture, automotive and recycling sectors.

The additional roles have been created to accelerate development of new additive solutions for specific market opportunities with global potential, such as film packaging and new composite materials. Phil Smith, CEO of Interface Polymers commented: “This is a very exciting time for the business with so much interest in our game- changing additive technology. We are looking forward to the new starters joining us in the New Year and helping to develop Polarfin® additive solutions for a number of attractive market opportunities that we are working on with our first wave of customers”.

According to the company, its Polarfin® additive technology can be easily incorporated into a polymer formulation and used with existing polymer conversion processes with little, if any, change to existing production equipment. It works by modifying the surface chemistry of polyolefin-based materials to enable interfacial bonding or other desirable surface properties such as anti-fog performance. For example, Polarfin® additives enable permanent interlayer surface adhesion, not possible before without costly, energy-intensive ‘functionalising’ methods such as: flame torching, chemical etching, corona discharge and plasma treatments. Many of the Polarfin® additive grades currently being commercialized bring the added benefit of reducing processing costs in addition to the main advantage of providing enhanced surface properties in end-use applications.

The new R & D appointments, which start in January 2018, will substantially expand the company’s new product development (NPD) and in-house testing resources whilst also adding expertise in downstream polymer processing methods such as multi-layer extrusion and film-blowing. Dr Christopher Kay, Chief Scientific Officer and founder of Interface Polymers, explains: “After encouraging discussions with interested customers across a diverse range of markets and application areas, we now have a large number of very interesting NPD opportunities. The addition of polymer processing expertise to the R & D team is now essential. These new roles will build upon our strengths in polymer synthesis and enable us to both speed up product development and optimize downstream processing guidelines in collaboration with our customers.”

The two new Interface Polymers R & D appointments are:

Dr Luke Hollingbery, who joins as Senior Polymer Development Engineer, bringing commercial NPD experience and a rigorous academic approach, having spent more than 20 years in the Materials Department at Loughborough University working for a minerals company on application development and polymer processing.

Mr Shaun Morris, an MSc Chemistry graduate from the University of Warwick, is taking on the new role of Polymer Development Scientist, providing considerable expertise as a synthetic chemist able to successfully formulate new compounds from initial ideas or market needs in a short cycle time.

04 January 2018

Interface Polymers expands R & D Team to meet demand for polyolefin surface functionality solutions

Interface Polymers Ltd is expanding its additive technology R & D team with two new full-time positions at its main laboratory and testing facilities in Loughborough, UK. Launched in February 2016 to develop and commercialize its new Polarfin® block copolymer additive range, the University of Warwick spin-out company is on a steep growth curve, responding to demand for polyolefin compatibility and surface functionality solutions across a wide range of applications in the packaging, construction, agriculture, automotive and recycling sectors.

The additional roles have been created to accelerate development of new additive solutions for specific market opportunities with global potential, such as film packaging and new composite materials. Phil Smith, CEO of Interface Polymers commented: “This is a very exciting time for the business with so much interest in our game- changing additive technology. We are looking forward to the new starters joining us in the New Year and helping to develop Polarfin® additive solutions for a number of attractive market opportunities that we are working on with our first wave of customers”.

According to the company, its Polarfin® additive technology can be easily incorporated into a polymer formulation and used with existing polymer conversion processes with little, if any, change to existing production equipment. It works by modifying the surface chemistry of polyolefin-based materials to enable interfacial bonding or other desirable surface properties such as anti-fog performance. For example, Polarfin® additives enable permanent interlayer surface adhesion, not possible before without costly, energy-intensive ‘functionalising’ methods such as: flame torching, chemical etching, corona discharge and plasma treatments. Many of the Polarfin® additive grades currently being commercialized bring the added benefit of reducing processing costs in addition to the main advantage of providing enhanced surface properties in end-use applications.

The new R & D appointments, which start in January 2018, will substantially expand the company’s new product development (NPD) and in-house testing resources whilst also adding expertise in downstream polymer processing methods such as multi-layer extrusion and film-blowing. Dr Christopher Kay, Chief Scientific Officer and founder of Interface Polymers, explains: “After encouraging discussions with interested customers across a diverse range of markets and application areas, we now have a large number of very interesting NPD opportunities. The addition of polymer processing expertise to the R & D team is now essential. These new roles will build upon our strengths in polymer synthesis and enable us to both speed up product development and optimize downstream processing guidelines in collaboration with our customers.”

The two new Interface Polymers R & D appointments are:

Dr Luke Hollingbery, who joins as Senior Polymer Development Engineer, bringing commercial NPD experience and a rigorous academic approach, having spent more than 20 years in the Materials Department at Loughborough University working for a minerals company on application development and polymer processing.

Mr Shaun Morris, an MSc Chemistry graduate from the University of Warwick, is taking on the new role of Polymer Development Scientist, providing considerable expertise as a synthetic chemist able to successfully formulate new compounds from initial ideas or market needs in a short cycle time.

Interface Polymers today announced that it has closed a £2m investment round led by private capital investment group 24Haymarket.

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The company’s unique Polarfin® copolymer additive technology modifies the surface properties of the world’s most commonly used plastics enabling adhesion between otherwise incompatible materials.

With strong interest from overseas customers in the packaging, construction and recycling sectors, the nascent business is initially focusing on its range of polyethylene-based additives for use in combination with polar polymers such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl acetate (PVA) and polystyrene (PS). Examples of end-use applications under development include elimination of tie-layers in multi-layer packaging, improving paint adhesion and enabling the recycling of mixed plastic waste.

Commenting on the investment, Phil Smith Chief Executive Officer at Interface Polymers said “We are delighted to have 24 Haymarket and their investors on board. We have a fast-growing queue of customers waiting to trial our Polarfin® additives so this funding will enable us to scale up production and further develop our value propositions across a diverse range of exciting applications”.

Jean-Lou Rihon at 24Haymarket said: “This is a first-class management team that we are backing, with in-depth knowledge and outstanding track records in chemicals and other relevant sectors. With the help of the non-executive directors the business should advance relatively quickly into becoming a provider of high performance additives to targeted industries.”

About 24Haymarket

www.24haymarket.com
24Haymarket is a premium deal-by-deal investment platform focused on high-growth businesses, investing up to £5 million in any particular company. 24Haymarket’s Investor Network includes several highly-experienced private equity and venture capital investors, seasoned entrepreneurs and senior operators. We invest our own capital in direct alignment with entrepreneurs and typically seek board representation to actively support their growth agenda. Since inception in 2011, 24Haymarket has invested in more than 50 high-growth businesses.

29 September 2017

Interface Polymers today announced that it has closed a £2m investment round led by private capital investment group 24Haymarket.

The company’s unique Polarfin® copolymer additive technology modifies the surface properties of the world’s most commonly used plastics enabling adhesion between otherwise incompatible materials.

With strong interest from overseas customers in the packaging, construction and recycling sectors, the nascent business is initially focusing on its range of polyethylene-based additives for use in combination with polar polymers such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl acetate (PVA) and polystyrene (PS). Examples of end-use applications under development include elimination of tie-layers in multi-layer packaging, improving paint adhesion and enabling the recycling of mixed plastic waste.

Commenting on the investment, Phil Smith Chief Executive Officer at Interface Polymers said “We are delighted to have 24 Haymarket and their investors on board. We have a fast-growing queue of customers waiting to trial our Polarfin® additives so this funding will enable us to scale up production and further develop our value propositions across a diverse range of exciting applications”.

Jean-Lou Rihon at 24Haymarket said: “This is a first-class management team that we are backing, with in-depth knowledge and outstanding track records in chemicals and other relevant sectors. With the help of the non-executive directors the business should advance relatively quickly into becoming a provider of high performance additives to targeted industries.”

About 24Haymarket

www.24haymarket.com
24Haymarket is a premium deal-by-deal investment platform focused on high-growth businesses, investing up to £5 million in any particular company. 24Haymarket’s Investor Network includes several highly-experienced private equity and venture capital investors, seasoned entrepreneurs and senior operators. We invest our own capital in direct alignment with entrepreneurs and typically seek board representation to actively support their growth agenda. Since inception in 2011, 24Haymarket has invested in more than 50 high-growth businesses.

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Polarfins®. A whole batch of benefits

Our unique Polarfin® additives offer the plastics industry worldwide the ability to transform performance and cost competitiveness in any market application where interfacial compatibility or surface properties are important.

Traditional attempts to overcome compatibility problems, such as chemical etching, corona discharge and plasma treatment, introduce an additional energy-intensive process, costly equipment and logistical inconvenience. Furthermore, these techniques are only suitable for flat shapes such as films and foils and the effects can be highly inconsistent and short-lived.  Read more

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LE11 3QF, UK
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