BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA — Commercializing plastic additives to create tougher acrylic glass is moving closer to realization, thanks to a A$950,000 (US$893,000) investment in an Australian technology company.
A University of Queensland (UQ) sponsored start-up company, Brisbane-based TenasiTech Pty. Ltd., is developing the innovative plastic additives based on research by UQ's professor Darren Martin.
TenasiTech CEO Richard Marshall told Plastics News the acrylic additive range, called Solid, will be manufactured commercially “by the end of the year or early next year.”
TenasiTech is currently in pre-commercial trials, but Marshall will not name the companies involved.
“We're at the stage where we want to work with commercial partners. The technology is not licensed or restricted to any one company,” he said.
He said the product's potential market is encouraging. “The poor scratch-resistance of acrylic glass is a key barrier to more widespread replacement of traditional glass,” he said.
“Our additive products are simple to incorporate and allow customers to design plastic sheets and other parts that are more durable as they are less prone to surface defects when handled.”
He said the Solid range doubles the surface hardness and scratch-resistance of acrylic without loss of gloss or impact strength.
TenasiTech secured the A$950,000 from members of investment groups Brisbane Angels Pty. Ltd. and Melbourne Angels Inc., and from UQ-based venture fund Uniseed Pty. Ltd.
The company has a U.S. sales office in Boston, and products will be marketed in the U.S. and Australia.
