News

Kuraray Plastics Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Osaka, President: Katsuhiko Kishi) has developed a tarpaulin sheet that dramatically reduces carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions generated during the waste incineration process. Through the use of Kuraray Plastics' unique polyvinyl chloride resin, consisting of a combination of inorganic components, Kuraray has succeeded in reducing CO₂ emissions (a cause of global warming) by 20–50% compared to emissions produced using Kuraray Plastics' conventional olefin resin-based product. With environmental concerns increasing in importance in every industry, this new tarpaulin sheet will be promoted in a wide range of applications, including the advertising- and construction-related fields.

The tarpaulin sheet is a multilayered sheet consisting of polyester fabric sandwiched between synthetic resin film. Stronger and more stain resistant than cloth and paper, the tarpaulin sheet can be adopted for use in a wide range of fields, from advertising, as a material used in ad banners and POP sales promotions, to construction, as a material used in safety signs and as a protective sheet used at construction sites.

Synthetic resin film used in tarpaulins can be broadly classified into two main types: those derived from olefin, which include polypropylene and polyethylene, and those derived from polyvinyl chloride. This new tarpaulin uses Kuraray Plastics' proprietary polyvinyl chloride resin containing high density inorganic compounds.

At a normal incineration temperature of 850℃, CO₂ emissions from producing the new polyvinyl chloride-based tarpaulin are 1300mg/g compared to 2600mg/g for the olefin-based product, representing a maximum 50% emission reduction. At a high incineration temperature of nearly 1000 ℃, increasingly common in recent years, no CO₂ emissions are generated from the thermal decomposition of the inorganic compounds.

Additionally, the new tarpaulin sheet is equivalent in performance in all areas to conventional tarpaulin sheets in terms of secondary workability, such as printing and welding, as well as strength, flame resistance, and other areas.

• Top