Production of ants from bioplastics

Video content Production of ants from bioplastics

The video content on the topic “Production of ants from bioplastic”: Plastics technically, it takes three things to produce ants from bioplastic. It needs an injection molding machine, or in this case a micro injection molding machine, because the ants are very small and have fine details like the feelers. A suitable “tool” is also required for the injection molding machine itself. The "tool" is the mold into which the bioplastic is injected and the ants are ultimately formed. Appropriate bioplastic material is of course also required.

In principle, bioplastics can also be used to produce everything that can normally or previously be produced from petroleum plastics. In processing, however, the difference lies in small details. This is primarily about the shrinkage behavior of the bio-material, i.e. the reduction in volume due to cooling and the processing temperature, since bio-plastic behaves somewhat differently than we are used to from conventional plastics. Therefore, the manufacturing process must be adjusted accordingly, among other things, with these parameters.

This ant project is also an opportunity for us to try out special circumstances and material mixes. We also use bioplastics that have already been recycled here for the ants. The use of recycled bioplastics is also the way to go - i.e. keeping raw materials in a cycle through processing and reuse. In a further step, we will also test adding algae to the bioplastic for the ants.

In the injection molding machine, the bioplastic is heated to a specific processing temperature and transported by means of a screw in the direction of the injection molding tool (injection mould). The heated or liquid bioplastic is then injected into the tool in the micro injection molding machine used, shaped accordingly by the mold and then cooled again directly in the tool. In the last production step, the finished ant is then ejected. In the case of the tool for the ants made of bioplastics, it is a so-called multiple tool, in which several ants can be produced at the same time in one operation.

In the video you can also see how the injection molding tool is made and the steps involved. You can also find a size comparison of the cutter used to make the tool in this video. We don't want to reveal too much at this point, just that a hair plays a role.

The injection mold is milled out of a metal block with a special milling cutter. A particularly fine milling tool was required for the ants. The milling process itself is computer controlled and runs on a 3D milling machine. First, the injection mold is developed and drawn on the computer, and appropriate software then converts it for the milling process. When drawing and designing the injection mold, among other things, not only the cast object itself must be taken into account, but also the filling channels so that the liquid plastic can be used.

As you can see from this ant project, everything that can be made from conventional plastic can be made from bioplastics - as already mentioned. The big advantage of using bioplastics is simply that plants that grow back and bind CO2 are used as raw materials. Therefore, the CO2 bound in the plastic comes from the atmosphere and not from fossil sources, which are harmful to our climate.
At the end of the product lifecycle, products made from bioplastics are compostable and do not break down into dangerous microplastics. With all these advantages, why aren't all products made from bioplastics? This question can be answered quickly and easily: The only disadvantage of bioplastics is the higher price. That is why not all petroleum-based plastic products are being replaced by bioplastics.

Update: Testing a new bio-based/biodegradable material using micro-injected ants

As part of an EU project on bio-based and biodegradable materials, Mr. Univ.-Prof. Franz Stelzer from Graz University of Technology tested a new material with us under real production conditions using injection molded ants*. These ants are particularly interesting because the finest details are produced here using the micro-injection molding process.

You can also find more videos on the topic of bioplastics here NaKu YouTube channel.

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