Teknor Apex recently signed a licensing agreement with Cerestech Inc that grants Teknor Apex exclusive worldwide rights to manufacture & market products based on Cerestech's patented technology and to sub-license use of the blending process. The technology involves preparing thermoplastic starch (TPS) from starch granules and then combining it as a masterbatch with bioplastics like polylactic acid (PLA) or polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), or with petrochemical-based polymers like polyethylene.

"The Cerestech technology yields blends that, even at high starch loadings, retain a substantial portion of the mechanical properties of the bioplastic or synthetic base polymers. They exhibit lower levels of sensitivity to moisture than many other starch-containing plastics, are tranlucent, printable, and sealable, and can be formulated for biodegradable applications,"said Dr John Andries, senior vice president – Technology, Teknor Apex.