| Tokyo, Japan, -- Mazda Motor Corporation has | | | | organizations - have an extensive history of research |
| announced that an industry-government-academia joint | | | | into the practical uses of biodegradable plastics than |
| research project in Hiroshima Prefecture, in which it is | | | | can be broken down by microorganisms. In particular, |
| participating, has achieved an improved exterior | | | | great results have been achieved through joint |
| surface quality, high-strength, heat-resistant plastic | | | | international research into lactic acid copolymers. So it's |
| (bioplastic) made of natural materials. It can also be | | | | safe to say the Hiroshima area is fertile ground in |
| used for vehicle interior parts. An automotive sector | | | | terms of research achievements. Together with our |
| first, this new bioplastic is made from natural materials | | | | regional partners over the next few years, Mazda |
| and is carbon neutral because of the reduced | | | | intends to continue its bioplastics research for the |
| amounts of fossil fuels used to make it and the | | | | purpose of utilizing any advances we achieve to make |
| consequent lowered amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) | | | | better products for our customers." |
| emissions. | | | | 2006 marks the final year of the Mazda Momentum |
| This newly-developed bioplastic features is stronger - it | | | | mid-term management plan. Two of the plan's goals |
| has three times the shock impact resistance along | | | | were to achieve 100 billion yen in operating profit and a |
| with 25 percent higher heat resistance when | | | | net-debt-to-equity ratio of less than one hundred |
| compared to contemporary bioplastics used for items | | | | percent by the end of fiscal year 2006; these were |
| such as electrical appliances. In addition, it is made with | | | | achieved one year earlier than projected. Another key |
| a fermentation process that includes natural materials | | | | measure of the plan is to strengthen research and |
| such as fermented starches and sugars which, | | | | development efforts. As a company that values its |
| compared with the process to make polypropylene, | | | | social contributions now and into the future, Mazda will |
| reduces energy use by 30 percent. In contrast to | | | | keep up its proactive technical research on |
| current petroleum-based polypropylene plastics, the | | | | eco-friendly and safe products for its customers. |
| new bioplastic also has comparatively higher rigidity, | | | | Mazda will exhibit vehicle interior parts made with the |
| resulting in thinner molds and fewer materials used. | | | | newly-developed bioplastic in its booth at the |
| These attributes hold great promise for better | | | | Automotive Engineering Exposition at the Japan |
| productivity in the mass production of vehicle parts, | | | | Society of Automotive Engineering (JASE) Annual |
| since parts manufacture frequently involves | | | | Congress, to be held at the Pacifico Yokohama |
| injection-molding equipment. Mazda will continue its | | | | complex from May 24-26, 2006. |
| research and development in this area for the next | | | | Notes: |
| several years, with any new advances being | | | | 1) Carbon neutral |
| employed in Mazda products. | | | | As an example, carbon neutral can be characterized |
| Bioplastic | | | | as CO2 gases released during plant decomposition or |
| This newly-developed bioplastic is made of 88 percent | | | | combustion being absorbed during the growth phase |
| corn and 12 percent petroleum. Mainly using | | | | of photosynthesis, so any emitted CO2 gases are |
| corn-based polylactic acids, Nishikawa Rubber Co. Ltd, | | | | offset and end up producing a negligible impact on |
| Hiroshima and Kinki Universities focused their efforts | | | | CO2 levels in the atmosphere. |
| on developing a new nucleating agent for crystallization | | | | 2) Nucleating agents for crystallization |
| and a compatibilizer compound to raise the strength | | | | An additive to stimulate crystallization |
| and heat resistance of the new plastic, dramatically | | | | A "stimulus" nucleating agent added to crystal acts as |
| increasing the amount of applications for automobile | | | | a catalyst and makes it easier to form the crystals. |
| manufacturing. | | | | Polylactic acid has properties which make for |
| This research was the result of joint | | | | comparatively slower crystallization when compared |
| industry-academia-government collaboration, promoted | | | | to other plastics and this negatively impacts on |
| under the auspices of the Japanese Ministry of | | | | production efficiency when molding bioplastics for car |
| Economy, Trade and Industry's (METI) "Consortium | | | | parts. Given this factor, it is necessary to carry out the |
| R&D Projects for Regional Revitalization" program, | | | | crystallization earlier by means of a nucleating agent. |
| which began in 2004. The joint research conducted | | | | When the molecular chain is arranged in a systematic |
| under this rubric has the goals of fostering new | | | | way, the plastic's strength is increased and its |
| industry, creating new business and revitalizing regional | | | | heat-resistant properties are improved. |
| economies in Japan. | | | | 3) Compatibilizer |
| The new bioplastic consortium project partners are | | | | An additive is needed for a material that has two or |
| Hiroshima University, Nishikawa Rubber Co. Ltd., | | | | more different types of properties, and when |
| Western Hiroshima Prefecture Industrial Research | | | | distributed uniformly, it improves the physical properties |
| Institute, G.P. Daikyo Corporation, Japan Steel Works | | | | of the material. It is necessary to mix the polylactic |
| Ltd., Kinki University School of Engineering, Nishikawa | | | | acids with a combination of polylactic acid and an |
| Kasei Co. Ltd., National Research Institute of Brewing, | | | | added element that is not chemically compatible. |
| Yasuhara Chemical Co. Ltd., MANAC Incorporated and | | | | 4) Lactic acid copolymers |
| Mazda Motor Corporation. This is a consortium | | | | This is a plastic material derived by partly replacing |
| consisting of two universities, seven companies and | | | | some of the elements of polylactic acids with other |
| two research institutes. | | | | ingredients. |
| Seita Kanai, senior managing executive officer in | | | | 5) International collaboration |
| charge of Mazda's R&D, said, "Mazda and G.P. Daikyo | | | | -Participating organizations: Hiroshima University (the |
| Corporation are at the center of a world-class | | | | representative research institute); University of |
| accumulation of automotive plastic module parts | | | | Massachusetts and Tufts University (US); University of |
| makers here in the Hiroshima area. Based on our rich | | | | Liege (Belgium), Zhejiang University (China). -Research |
| tradition of sake brewing in this region, we've been | | | | content: The aforementioned research institutions |
| accumulating fermentation biotechnology for a long | | | | worked together to conduct research and |
| time and Hiroshima University, Nishikawa Rubber | | | | development into lactic acid copolymers for general |
| Company and the Western Hiroshima Prefecture | | | | use as well as use in medical treatments. |
| Industrial Research Institute - among other | | | | |