Novomer Releases Biodegradable Polymer
By David Ehrlich
Ithaca, N.Y.-based Novomer, a developer of biodegradable plastics, polymers and other chemicals, announced today that it released its first product, a polypropylene carbonate sacrificial binder.
The company said its polypropylene carbonate burns cleaner, more uniformly and at lower temperatures thancurrently available products.
Sacrificial binders are used in production to provide mechanical strength to ensure uniform consistency, and for solidification or adhesion during manufacturing processes, according to Novomer.
"We believe that NB-180 is the cleanest-burning binder available, and demand is very strong for these types of materials in clean-room technologies," said Fox Holt, product manager at Novomer.
"As products become smaller and smaller, manufacturing processes become increasingly exact. NB-180 can help deliver the precision required in these critical operations."
Novomer said application areas include advanced ceramics, microelectronics, nanotechnology, metal brazing and fuel cells.
Last November, Novomer announced that it raised $6.6 million in Series A funding. Physic Ventures and Flagship Ventures co-led the round of financing, joined by DSM Venturing (see Solar and biofuel deals lead the day).
Novomer said its new NB-180 polymer was developed using its catalyst technology, which enables theproduction of polymers and plastics using greenhouse gases, reducing the need for non-renewable petroleum products as feedstocks.
The company said the resulting materials are 30 percent to 50 percent carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide by weight.
Novomer said NB-180 is more than 40 percent carbon dioxide by weight.
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