Innovative and sustainable, a novel bio-adhesive was recently presented by the Thuringian Institute for Textile and Plastics Research (TITK). The production of this hot melt adhesive generates fewer greenhouse gases and requires no fossil resources. Researchers at the institute in Rudolstadt, in eastern Thuringia, have developed a bio-based and biodegradable adhesive using polylactic acid (PLA). According to the institute, PLA is compostable under industrial conditions, biocompatible, and can replace conventional petroleum-based plastics. The manufacturing process involves the addition of bio-resins, plasticizers, and waxes; the bio-based content of the adhesive, named Caremelt, reaches up to 95 percent.
The approximately 200 employees of Thuringia's largest industry-oriented research institute conduct both preliminary and applied research in the industrial sector. Chemists, process engineers, and textile engineers work hand in hand with partners and clients to rapidly and market-orientedly translate research results into new processes and technologies. The institute's focus areas include native polymers and chemical research, textile and materials research, plastics research, and functional polymer systems. (hw)
