What makes RFF excellent
Renewable carbon originates from alternative non-fossil sources like biomass or CO₂ and circulates between the atmosphere and biosphere. It contains a well-characterized amount of C14 isotopes that differentiate fossil carbon materials by radiocarbon analysis. ASTM D6866 quantifies the biobased content relative to the material’s total organic content and does not consider the inorganic carbon and other non-carbon-containing substances present. UPM’s Renewable Functional Fillers are “DIN-tested” and certified to belong to the highest biobased material class. According to ASTM D6866, their renewable carbon contents are greater or equal to 94%.
In contrast to heavy CO₂-intensive traditional functional fillers used by the rubber and plastics industry, UPM’s RFF features a much lower material density. Determination by volumetric gas pycnometry according to ISO 21687 yields values of only 1.3 g/cm³, which, compared to carbon black and precipitated silica, is more than 25% and 35% lower, respectively. Inactive, inorganic white fillers like kaolin, talcum, or siliceous earth are even twice as heavy. This unique natural feature of RFF allows for significantly reducing the overall compound [or article] weight. Depending on the compound design (i.e. rubber type, filler to be replaced, and actual filler loading), final weight savings up to 25% can be achieved. Lightweight materials have always been an essential topic in product design across several industries. Nowadays, the concept has been essential in the automotive industry regarding better fuel economy. Here, the critical driver for lightweight materials is to compensate for the heavyweight of the batteries in electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
UPM’s Renewable Functional Fillers are characterized by high specific resistivity of greater than 1*1010 Ωm in a dry state. The corresponding electrical conductivity in an aqueous solution has been determined to be less than 1500 µS/cm according to ISO 787. In contrast to carbon black and similar to precipitated silica or other inorganic white fillers, rubber compounds applying RFF maintain their electrical insulating performance at any filler concentration. This feature effectively prevents electrochemical corrosion when in direct contact with light metal alloys like magnesium and aluminium and improves the lifetime of the metal parts. Similarly, electrochemical degradation of rubber parts in direct contact with water and other cooling liquids are effectively avoided.
In contrast to many fossil-based materials, UPM’s Renewable Functional Fillers are PAH free. The related content for each of the eight different EU PAHs determined by GC/MS analysis is well below 0.1 mg/kg after Soxhlet extraction with toluene for 48 hours. In compliance with Commission Regulation (EU) No. 1272/2013, UPM’s RFF is ideally suited to be used even at very high concentrations in plastic or rubber parts of consumer goods as no PAHs are added by their introduction. Due to the absence of hazardous PAHs, UPM’s fillers can be even applied for Category 1 materials of the voluntary “Tested Safety” mark (Geprüfte Sicherheit, GS-Mark) of the German Product Safety Committee (Ausschuss für Produktsicherheit, AfPS) without concentration limits.
UPM’s Renewable Functional Fillers offer high cleanliness: zero grit in the form of coke and refractory materials, sulphur levels of less than 0.2wt%, traces of heavy metals like Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn well below 10 ppm, and a residual ash content of less than or equal to 1wt%.
Driven by a total oxygen content of greater than 25wt%, UPM’s Renewable Functional Fillers are polar. Surface OH-groups in phenolic and aliphatic functionalities are available for chemical modification and reaction, further expanding the range of possible applications.
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UPM Biochemicals GmbH
Am Haupttor, Bau 4614
06237 Leuna, GERMANY