Evonik Invests in Interface Polymers

Evonik has invested in the British company Interface Polymers Ltd. This company’s Polarfin additives simplify the processing of plastics such as mixtures with polyethylene or polypropylene. At the same time, its technology makes it possible to recycle such plastics, thereby solving one of the biggest problems in the recycling process.

As a specialty chemicals company, Evonik is working on solutions for the circular economy at many levels. Polyethylene and polypropylene are versatile and widely used plastics because of their low weight and durability. However, their poor compatibility with other materials is a drawback.

So far, costly and time-consuming surface preparation was the only solution. The unique Polarfin additive technology developed by Interface Polymers makes such preparation unnecessary. Moreover, it greatly reduces the amount of additives needed. As a result, mixed plastics are easier to recycle.

“Many modern applications would be unthinkable without plastics, but recycling them is still a big challenge,” Bernhard Mohr, head of venture capital at Evonik, said. “Interface Polymers’ additive technology offers a solution and is an excellent fit with Evonik’s Circular Plastics Program.”

In addition to the investment by the Sustainability Tech Fund, Evonik’s Coating Additives business line has agreed an extensive development partnership with Interface Polymers with the aim of using its technology in paints and coatings.

“We are impressed by the speed with which Interface Polymers has developed in the past two years,” said Elias Lacerda, head of Evonik’s Coating Additives business line. “With its help, we want to reduce or even eliminate the intensive pretreatment of surfaces.”

Interface Polymers was established in 2016 to commercialize inventions made in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Warwick in Coventry, UK.