A. Schulman Develops Water-Soluble Polymer for Film & Injection Molding Applications

A. Schulman Inc. has developed AquaSol(TM), a water-soluble polymer that uses a proprietary polyvinyl alcohol technology for film and molding applications.

"AquaSol has similar physical properties to other polyolefins and it provides exceptional tensile strength and clarity, yet it dissolves completely when immersed in water, in as little as 60 seconds," said Oscar Mascarenhas, Ph.D., Business Manager Polybatch Film Concentrates. Potential uses include packaging of detergents & chemicals, barrier films, graphics films and disposable medical supplies, as well as injection molded articles.

Mascarenhas also noted that AquaSol is free from problems that have plagued previous water-soluble compounds, such as processing issues, yellowing, gels and smoke.

Completely biodegradable, AquaSol is available in cold water formulations. Development of a hot water soluble formulation is expected to be launched in Q1 of 05, as well as a general grade formula that can be dialed in to dissolve at a given temperature.

"A potential use of AquaSol would be to develop a medical laundry bag that allows the safe handling of contaminated laundry, yet dissolves completely at 160 degrees F in the washing machine," he said.

A. Schulman is a leading international supplier of high-performance plastic compounds and resins, which are used as raw materials in a variety of markets. The Company's principal product lines consist of proprietary and custom-formulated engineered plastic compounds, color concentrates and additives that improve the appearance and performance of plastics in a number of specialized applications.