Green Science Alliance Launches Plant-Based Cellulose Nanofiber Composite Biodegradable Resin Filament for 3D Printers

2024.05.29 10:30

GSアライアンス株式会社

Green Science Alliance Inc., a company that researches and develops cutting-edge technologies for the environmental and energy fields to build a decarbonized, carbon-neutral society, has developed and started selling a cellulose nanofiber composite biodegradable resin filament for 3D printers by applying plant- and naturally derived materials developed by the company. The product is scheduled to go on sale on June 3, 2024.

Cellulose nanofiber composite polylactic acid (PLA) filament for 3D printers

Environmental problems such as global warming, environmental pollution, and deforestation caused by the population explosion are serious issues, and plastic pollution is reaching catastrophic levels that are destroying the ecosystem. Nanoplastics are already entering our bodies through the atmosphere, and there are concerns about the negative effects on our health. Nanoplastics are microscopic particles of plastic formed by the natural decomposition and denaturation of plastics left in the environment. Many of these plastics are said to enter our bodies through ingestion and breathing. Recently, it has been pointed out that these nanoplastics may increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes, cause inflammatory reactions in the digestive system, and adversely affect the immune response.

Biodegradable plastics, on the other hand, are materials that, after use and disposal, biodegrade and return to the soil and other natural environments, and are one potential solution to these plastic pollution problems. Although more rigorous testing is needed to determine which biodegradable plastics biodegrade under composting conditions, in soil, fresh water, seawater, and in the human body, lactic acid-based and lactone-based biodegradable materials used in medical applications are the types of biodegradable plastics already in use in the human body.

Under these circumstances, GS Alliance researcher Daiki Tanaka has developed and started selling plant-derived cellulose nanofiber composite biodegradable resin filaments for 3D printers by applying plant- and naturally derived materials developed by the company (sales website: https://www.nano- sakura-shop.com/ ). The material is a composite of polylactic acid (PLA) and cellulose nanofibers, and the company has found that when the concentration of cellulose nanofibers is high, biodegradability is improved compared to regular PLA. The company also has a product that is filamented with cellulose biodegradable resin, which is derived from inedible biomass of plant origin, but it has issues with printability and adhesion, and is currently being improved. Therefore, we will first sell filaments made of PLA + cellulose nanofiber biodegradable resin. In the future, we will also develop filaments made of different biodegradable resins and colored biodegradable filaments for 3D printers.