Biobased biodegradable polyester adhesives for metallic and polymeric films

Overview

Renuvix's biobased polyester adhesives are solvent-free, 100% solid products synthesized from renewable natural building blocks such as plant oils, α-hydroxy acids, and saccharides. These polyesters are engineered to bond both metallic substrates and biopolymer films, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional petroleum-based adhesives. The materials can be tailored for crystallinity, melting point, and biodegradability, enabling compostability without sacrificing adhesion performance. By adjusting the ratio of polar to non-polar building blocks, the adhesive properties can be tuned to suit diverse surface energies, making them suitable for applications ranging from metalized packaging to biopolymer film lamination.

Technical specifications

• Biobased composition: Derived from plant oils, α-hydroxy acids, saccharides, and other natural feedstocks; polyester backbone with tunable polarity
• Solvent-free and 100% solid: Enables hot-melt application with no volatile organic compound emissions
• Tunable physical properties: Hard to soft physical states achievable through composition variation; adjustable melting point range for diverse processing windows
• Adhesion capability: Polyester chemistry provides inherent affinity to both high-energy (metal) and low-energy (biopolymer) surfaces; polar functional moieties enhance adhesion to low-energy substrates
• Biodegradability and compostability: Tunable degradation rates confirmed via ASTM D-5988 soil degradation testing; compostable end-of-life profile
• Inherent affinity to biopolymers: Natural compatibility with biopolymer films such as PHA due to biobased origin
• Testing capabilities: Adhesion evaluation via X and cross-cut tape tests, 180° peel test, and Loop Tack test (ASTM D6195); additional characterization available through NDSU RCA labs and mechanical, coatings, and polymeric materials department facilities

Technology readiness level

Renuvix's developmental polyester products have undergone initial soil degradability testing confirming tunable biodegradation behavior by varying building block and chemical structure. Preliminary observations indicate adhesive properties on different substrates, though detailed systematic adhesion studies remain to be conducted. The company is actively pursuing collaborative validation, including potential NDA/MTA agreements to evaluate these polyesters as hot-melt adhesives for metal and PHA film bonding. Current capabilities include in-house soil degradation and adhesion testing, with access to expanded analytical resources through partner university laboratories.