Norner has developed an extensive competence in Biopolymers, Compostable plastics and other Green chemistry.

Bioplastics can be either biobased and/or compostable. Some materials can be both produced from bio-based raw materials and be bio-degradable like polylactic acid (PLA). Others can be from bio-sourced raw materials like BioPE but are not biodegradable.

There are several polymers available in these categories and Norner have practical experience with several of these through our client and funded projects.

Our high focus brings substantial value and increased speed to customer’s bioplastics projects.  

We offer

• Hands on experience with biopolymers from development, processing and testing.
• Scientists with direct experience in biopolymers. 
• A technology centre where the various aspects of a polymer can be tested like: polymer. characterisation, compounding, processing, performance testing on standard specimens or on our s packaging prototypes.
• Broad industrial expertise in plastics from polymer properties to application performance.
• In depth technology and market studies on BIO materials for international FMCG companies.

Client studies and Research programmes 

• Norner performs strategic technical studies of the suitability of bio sources for polymers.
• Norner evaluates bio-polymerisation in a cost/complexity/benefit scenario.
• Bio polymers as neat solutions or as composites are studied versus end applications.
• Conversion to end products and documentation of end use performance of biopolymer.
• Development of new and enhanced properties and applications for biopolymers.

Chemical recycling is any process by which a polymer is chemically reduced to its original monomer form so that it can eventually be processed (re-polymerized) and remade into new plastic materials that go on to be new plastic products.

Norner is active in studies and R&D into pyrolysis process and technology.

Among this we have carried out studies of:

• Effect of process conditions on output compositions
• Impact and consequences of polymer purity
• Effect of catalyst on output and yields

Write about it, put it into context, demonstrate that we understand the complexity.

 Possible topics

• Additivation
• Reduce complexity
• Strategic advice
• FuturePack resirc. study (Jorunn)
  • Sorting on application
• WALID (thermoplastics windmill)
• NornSlip

 Include also longevity and re-use topics like

• Barriere calc
• MDO
• Levetidsanalyser
• Piql

National and international media have covered the problem of marine and plastic litter in depth during the past few years and this have, together with a high attention from the authorities, created the high awareness in the public. Norwegians are nature-loving and it gives us a practical meaning of doing something useful when we participate in solving one of the fastest growing environmental issues we have internationally. It’s a huge task to reverse the situation with 8 million tons of plastic ending up in the sea every year.

Plastic and other items generally enter the environment as a result of irresponsible behaviour or a lack of appropriate infrastructure. However, we must provide people with the opportunity to do the right thing – we need developed waste infrastructures that are easily available.

Plastics recycling is including several steps and operation in the value chain of waste management to ready recycled material. The waste must be collected, sorted, grinded, washed and decontaminated as well as possible before entering the melt extrusion and filtering to produce a homogenised new granulate.

Norner have facilities for simulating the recycling extrusion process and devolatilising of the material as well as dedicated small scale extruder for quality assessments. The produced material can be further tested and assessed in our processing pilots, chemical analysis, migration and odour as well as physical properties.

Read more about our Recycling pilot centre

Our services in plastic recycling

•  Tests and evaluation of waste streams
• Post consumer waste (PCW) to post consumer recyclate (PCR) trials
• Processing trials including particle/gels removal (melt filtration)
• Study effect of additives and degradation
• Odour and volatile reduction technology
• Application trials in state-of-the art pilots (READ MORE at processing pilots)
• Performance testing on product prototypes (Link application testing)
• Polymer characterisation
• Physical material testing
• Microscopy investigations
• Analysis of chemical contamination, migration, odour and taste

Norner has during the last years been active in the research of polymerisation of CO2 to form polymer. The development has resulted in a basic design of a new continuous process, including a simplified purification step.

The further plan is to find the right consortium to build a small scale pilot for production of polycarbonates and further to commercialize the technology. The projects have focused on several critical aspects including additivation, catalyst, process efficiency and application testing. Norner has a team of experts as well as polymerization facilities in-house for further developing the technology.

Technologies utilising CO2

• The interest in making polymers from CO2 is huge due to the utilisation of a waste product that is harming the climate, as well as the substitution of petro based raw materials which are more costly than CO2. Such polymers substitute 35-45% of the hydrocarbon based raw material with CO2.
• Norner has developed a position as a recognized player in the emerging «Carbon Capture and Use» industry. In this regard, Norner has developed technology since 2008, building up knowhow within this field as well developing a number of technology concepts supported by patent applications.
• Poly(propylene carbonate), PPC, is produced by the copolymerisation between the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide and propylene oxide in the presence of a catalyst. PPC is an environmentally friendly material that needs to be considered for much broader applications than the current limited commercial use. New interesting properties can be achieved with Poly(cyclohexane carbonate) PCHC due to its Tg above 100 0C.

Norner provides environmental benefits utilising greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) as raw material

PPC with increased thermal stability¹

• The thermal properties of PPC poses a challenge as the polymer has a low glass transition temperature (softening) as well as is prone to degradation especially when containing catalyst
  residues. In a recent scientific article, Carlos Barreto Soler (PhD) discusses ways to overcome these hurdles, by Norner’s own purification and stabilisation technology.
• In fact, PPC may be purified without the use of organic solvents, and the thermal properties may be tailored to be dramatically increased compared to today’s scientific and industrial benchmarking PPC materials. Norner’s novel procedure renders the PPC thermally stable at 200 °C for ca 60 min, thus expanding the processing window for PPC.

Blends of PPC with PP or PE

• PPC is a material with significant opportunities, but with some limitations. One limitation that is well known is its use in conventional thermoplastic applications due to a low glass transition temperature, Tg, and a low decomposition temperature. One way to overcome this limitation, and speed up the time to market for PPC, is by the use of blends and multilayered solutions with conventional thermoplastic resins (PE and PP).
• Blends with other biobased polymers and nanomodified polycarbonates have also shown interesting properties
  Injection Moulding.
• The injection molding should apply the same temperature recommendations as given for the compounding step above. Blends and injection moulded items of PPC and polyolefins with up to at least 50% content of PPC can be made. The stiffness can be modified with the content of inherent plasticizer, propylene carbonate (PC).

Blow moulding

• PPC has superior melt strength compared to conventional polyolefins, as illustrated. This is an advantage with respect to parison and blow moulding performance. The barrel, die and melt temperature should hold the same temperature recommendations as given for the compounding step above.

For more information contact: Siw Bodil Fredriksen, Advisor

1. Novel solventless purification of poly(propylene carbonate). Tailoring the composition and thermal properties of PPC. Carlos Barreto, Eddy Hansen, Siw Fredriksen, Polymer Degradation and Stability, Volume 97, Issue 6.June 2012.

Norner provides sustainable solutions, consultancy, verifications and testing of polymer materials for the renewable energy industry.

Polymers play an important role in developments within the renewable energy sector. Use of specific polymers in projects within on-and offshore wind power, floating solar power, new battery technology, hydrogen storage, production and transport, super critical CO₂ storage and transport and even production of bio-based fuels may contribute to a longer service life in extreme environments and more sustainable products.

Our services in renewable energy

• Polymer competence for the renewable energy industry
• Material development and use of polymers in on-and offshore wind and solar power
• Use of polymers in anchoring systems and floating structures
• Use of polymers in batteries
• Use of polymers for hydrogen storage, transport and production
• Use of polymers for storage and transport of super critical CO₂
• Subsea cables
• Microplastics analyses
• Anti-fouling issues
• Protective coatings - challenges and approvals related to offshore wind and solar power
• Failure analyses
• Mechanical testing
• UV/ageing testing
• Lifetime predictions
• Sustainable product development

Contact us

Do you have any questions about polymers in your renewable energy project, please contact us.