BioBinder™
id card
Biobased catalyst, carbohydrates, proteins & organic acids
composition
Cellulose, Protein
building blocks
Organic
material origin
Liquid
shape
9 – actual system proven in operational environment
TRL
Plastic-free binder and additive for nonwoven and technical textile materials.
Biodegradable alternative to toxic chemicals and other burdensome, synthetically derived substances through the utilisation of biomimicry and green chemistry.
Following and emulating the footsteps nature takes in constructing its barriers - the mechanical strength of trees, the stiffness and hardness of crab shells, the water repellency of plant leaves and the flame retardant properties of certain grasses and other apt gifts - for a result brings a dance of molecules that make for a happy, lightweight future in the jazzy world of binding materials.
Properties
Improves a number of mechanical properties of the host material such as dry & wet strength - as well as adding to the dimensional stability through varying degrees of stiffness and softness.
Can bribe nonwoven and technical textiles into 100% biodegradable, non-toxic and 100% compostable concoctions.
Adjustable viscosity and content of the binders can be therefore applied to nonwoven or textile materials in different ways.
Additionally, they offer binders that improve fire protection of the targeted material. Specifics of the six available biobinders:
BioBinder™Pine - For polyester-based nonwoven and textile materials. Transparent, yellowish liquid – can become cloudy with time. Composed of an aqueous formulation of modified biopolymers and natural plant compounds. Improves the mechanical properties of polyester-based materials and enhances material stiffness.
BioBinder™Oak - Intended use is to improve the mechanical properties of fiber-based materials, such as dry and wet strength, with the increase of material stiffness as an additional trait. Hydrophilic. Opaque water based liquid, of yellowish hue. Can be used on fibers, nonwoven material, airlaid paper and other fiber-based materials. BioBinder™ Oak has a good retention to cellulosic fibers (e.g. cotton, paper pulp), but also works well with blends containing both cellulosic and synthetic fibers.
BioBinder™Lily - For increase of dry and wet strength. The product is hydrophilic. Additional features are increased material stiffness. Opaque, water based liquid, with the colour being on the yellow side. Optimized for being used together with cellulosic fibers in nonwoven material, airlaid paper and other fiber-based materials.
BioBinder™Clover - Adding to the dry strength of fiber-based materials. Concocted from modified biopolymers and natural plant compounds, also yellowish in result. Designed for use with cellulosic fibers in nonwoven material, airlaid paper and other fiber-based materials.
BioBinder™Ash Tree - Induces fire resistance to fiber-based materials. An aqueous solution of salts, making it a clear liquid in shape. Optimized for being used together with cellulosic fibers in nonwoven material, airlaidpaper and other fiber-based materials.
BioBinder™Lotus - Intended for increase of dry and wet strength, material stiffness on the bonus side - hydrophilic liquid. Opaque water based, beige-white concoction. Used on fibers, nonwoven material (wet or dry process), paper (wet or dry process) and other fiber-based materials. BioBinder™ Lotus has a good retention to cellulosic fibers (e.g. cotton, paper pulp), but also works well with blends containing both cellulosic and synthetic fibers.
BioBinder™Olea - Oil repellency of fiber-based materials achieved by modifying biopolymers and natural plant compounds. Quite surprising - it is of the yellow shade. Optimized for being used together with cellulosic fibers in papers, nonwoven material and other fiber-based materials.
Cyclability
Plastic free. Non-toxic.
100% biodegradable, 100% compostable.
Classified as having “ready biodegradability” according to OECD 301A and, as mentioned, can be used to produce 100% biodegradable and compostable nonwovens.
APPLICATIONS
Sustainable surrogate for the plastic-based binders used in nonwoven, technical textiles, bio-composites and special papers.
Binders are water-based and are applied to materials by spray impregnation, dip impregnation or coating. After application, the fiber-based material is dried and cured at elevated temperatures.
Increases rigidity and prevents wear, which make them suitable for the manufacture of sunscreen or home textiles.
Adapted for several different nonwovens and speciality papers such as air laid, wet laid, spun lace, spun bond, carded, and dry laid. "We have binders that can be used with most types of fibres, such as natural fibres from wood, cotton, viscose, hemp and pulp. We also produce compostable binders that are adapted for synthetic fibers such as polyester, PLA, mineral fibers, glass fibres and blended fibers."
Mycelium vegan leather binding possibility.
Some of already realised products include air laid napkins and tablecloths, wet laid agricultural sheeting, wet laid hygiene products, and in knitted textile inserts.
FOOTWEAR APPLICATIONS
Adhesive
Production process
Naturally extracted cellulose fibers are modified with the inclusion of molecules & biopolymers with varying specific properties, exhibiting different behaviour and mimicking the way nature works through their patented OrganoClick technology.
For the nonwoven binders, biopolymers bond with fibers in the nonwoven material creating a network of strengthening attributes - - biomimicking nature's solutions through the incorporation of green chemistry & sustainability.
Manufacturing facts
They manufacture at scales of 1,000 tonnes and deliver worldwide
production time
"More than 10 years of research and development have resulted in us now using various residual material streams from the food industry instead of fossil-based plastics and synthetic chemicals. Pretty smart, right? For example, we use wheat bran, cellulose and potatoes as binders instead of cement in sound absorbers, and natural fatty acids from coconut and rapeseed instead of PFAS in our textile impregnations. For our nonwoven binders, we use biopolymers, organic acids and proteins from fruit peel, shrimp shells, corn and potatoes instead of fossil-based plastic polymers. By combining these materials in different ways with our patented cellulose modification technology, we have developed a broad product family of biobased, biodegradable and plastic-free binders."
the factory
Behind the screen
OrganoTex®, OrganoWood®, OrganoComp®, BIOkleen®, OC-BioBinder™, and OC-AquaSil™
products
Mårten Hellberg
founders
2006
Täby, Stockholm, Sweden
time & place
OrganoTex®
partnerships
CERTIFICATIONS
Climate Neutral Company