Eastman Introduces Engineering Bioplastic Breakthrough

“Eastman leveraged nearly 100 years of cellulosic expertise in the design and testing of TRĒVA^™ to meet the improved sustainability profile and performance needs of brands, fabricators, molders, and other companies across the value chain,” said Burt Capel, vice president and general manager of Eastman’s Specialty Plastics business unit. Capel formally introduced the innovation to media at the Chinaplas Plastics & Rubber Trade Fair taking place in Guangzhou, China.

TRĒVA’s benefits are three-fold: sustainability, end-use performance, and design and brand flexibility.

Sustainability Benefits
TRĒVA’s composition is about half cellulose, sourced from trees derived exclusively from sustainably managed forests that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The new material is BPA-free and phthalate-free.

Its excellent flow rates, durability and dimensional stability allow for less material usage, thinner parts, and longer product life, enhancing lifecycle assessments.

End-Use Performance
TRĒVA offers excellent chemical resistance, standing up better than other engineering thermoplastics to some of the harshest chemicals, including skin oils, sunscreens, and household cleaners.

The material’s low birefringence means eliminating the unwelcomed rainbow effect some plastics experience with polarized light, improving the user experience with electronic device screens and retail displays.

Design and Brand Flexibility
Excellent flow characteristics also enable design freedom, allowing TRĒVA^™ to be used with complicated designs and in filling thin parts. Under recommended processing conditions, recent thin-wall 30 mil spiral flow testing shows that TRĒVA^™ flow rates are significantly better than polycarbonate and polycarbonate/ABS blends, and comparable to ABS.

TRĒVA is designed to allow for superior surface gloss, clarity and warm touch and feel, enabled through a combination of the base material and Eastman’s technological expertise. The material also boasts great color saturation, and superior secondary processing and decorating capability, creating additional design and branding options.

Applications targeted with the new material include eyeglass frames, wearable electronics, headphones, and many other personal devices that come in direct contact with the skin, as well as lenses and covers, that consumers need to see through;
Electronics, housings, intricate cosmetics cases and automotive interior components in which chemical resistance and aesthetics are desired.

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