A method was developed to incorporate wood powder into the plastic injection molding process, using a lubricant. Based on this innovation, UDT has manufactured pellets on a pilot scale, with a production capacity of 200 kg per hour (TRL 7). This bio-based material can be incorporated directly into the process with polylactic acid (PLA) or polypropylene (PP) pellets in injection molding equipment, without requiring prior extrusion of the components, as is the case with the products currently available on the market. The use of this product allows a cost reduction of up to 40% in the manufacture of products injected with PLA.
Domestic and foreign plastic processing companies have carried out tests in their plants, obtaining favorable results in the manufacture of products such as spoons, containers, flower pots, container lids, among others. It is worth mentioning that during this period the technology developed has been protected by patent application No. 202102399.
