Evonik is investing in start-up interface polymers

Evonik invests in British company Interface Polymers Ltd. Polarfin® additives make it easy to process plastics mixed with polyethylene or polypropylene, for example. At the same time, the technology makes it possible to recycle such plastics, thus solving one of the biggest problems that exist in the recycling process.

As a specialty chemicals company, Evonik works on solutions for the circular economy on many levels. Polyethylene and polypropylene are widely used and versatile materials due to their light weight and durability. The disadvantage, however, is its poor miscibility with other materials: this was previously only possible with expensive and time-consuming surface treatments. Polarfin®’s unique polymer interface technology eliminates this. In addition, it is necessary to use much less additives. This makes it easy to reuse the blended plastic.

“Plastics are now indispensable in many areas of application. However, their recycling remains a major challenge. Interface Polymers addition technology provides a solution and fits perfectly with Evonik’s circular plastics programme,” says Bernard Mohr, Chief Capital Officer Venture on Evonik. Interface Polymers is another investment from the Evonik Sustainable Technology Fund, which will be launched in 2022. Thus, the group is enhancing its technology expertise to implement its sustainability goals.

Our Polarfin® additive technology modifies and improves the properties of the most widely used plastics worldwide. “They can solve many of the important environmental challenges still associated with their use today,” said Ross Paglin, managing director of Interface Polymers. “We are delighted to have a global company like Evonik as an investor and development partner, and we look forward to making polymers the best solution to many of human needs.”

In addition to the Sustainability Technology Fund’s participation, Evonik’s Coating Additives line of business has agreed to an overall development partnership with Interface Polymers, whereby the company’s coatings and coatings technologies will be used. “We have been impressed with the pace of development at Interface Polymers over the past two years. With their help, we want to reduce or even completely eliminate surface pre-treatment that takes a lot of time, ”explains Elias Lacerda, Head of Evonik’s Coating Additives Business Line.

Interface Polymers was formed in 2016 to commercialize inventions from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Warwick in Coventry (UK). One of the company’s core competencies is the use of its Polarfin technology to make the polyolefin surface compatible with other materials. Diblock copolymers combine polyethylene, polypropylene, and polar materials to improve their compatibility with metals, ceramics, and other plastics. This provides advantages in recycling mixed plastics, affixing paints and adhesives to plastic surfaces, and dispersing materials in molded plastics.