Biomass Balanced LCP for Reduced CO2 Emissions and Improved Renewable Content

The development of a sustainable liquid crystal polymer (LCP) is set for commercial launch in spring 2025 by Polyplastics. The Laperos bG-LCP is based on biomass-derived materials (mass balance approach) which reduces CO₂ emissions and improves the renewable content ratio. This introduction expands the company’s Duracircle initiative which already includes Duracon bG-POM (polyacetal resin). According to the company, Laperos bG LCP is manufactured like conventional products and exhibits the same chemical and physical properties. Polyplastics plans to expand this new solution to all grades of Laperos LCP.

The mass balance approach combines raw materials derived from biomass with those derived from fossil resources. By combining them into resin manufacturing processes, a portion of the resulting product can be considered to be biomass-derived, according to the volume of biomass raw material input. This sustainable option eliminates the need to produce biomass-derived and fossil resources-derived products separately. Users also have no need to reevaluate performance and quality for each separate grade. As such, the company says the approach effectively helps to more quickly achieve carbon neutrality and a circular economy.

Laperos LCP delivers thin-wall and high-flowability characteristics along with superior heat resistance and strong mechanical performance. It also possesses higher strength per unit area at reduced thicknesses, along with a low linear expansion coefficient close to that of metal. It is used in many ultrasmall precision connectors and other parts of cutting-edge IT devices which are becoming increasingly compact, including tablets and smartphones.

Polyplastics’ Duracircle initiative encompasses the use of renewable feedstocks, resin recycling and recompounding operations aimed at generating higher performance and value. This includes biomass balanced products such as Laperos bG-LCP and Duracon bG-POM, expanding the use of postconsumer recycled (PCR) sources, chemical recycling and the development of raw material technology that reuses CO₂ emissions.