Summary

Showa is a major Japanese producer of unsaturated polyesters, emulsions, and phenolics, with 1993 sales in excess of $261 million. The company is a member of the Showa Denko group, which also owns Showa Denko, K.K., a multiline chemical company. It is producing Bionolle (R) polyesters chains extended with diisocyanate.

Highlights

• Bionolle is one of the most developed biodegradable synthetic polymers since polycaprolactone (PCL).

• Showa tested Bionolle in Japan and Belgium with soil, active sludge, and suspended soil in water.

• Showa representatives think Bionolle is better than PE for incineration since it has lower BTUs.