Cool Corn Competition – A look behind NCGA’s 6 Consider Corn Challenge III winners

BioAstra Technologies won for their smart and recyclable formulations based on cellulose and PLA. And of course, PLA is used for so many things, like plastic bags, surgical masks, and Phase-Change Materials.

Smart Polymers are long-chain macromolecules that abruptly change their properties when triggered by an external stimulus. What is unique about Smart Polymers is the ability to change properties in a DISCONTINOUS, ABRUPT manner in response to triggers of a very small magnitude – in a responsive, almost life-like manner.

The Bioastra Smart Polymer Platform is a unique industrial resource that synthesizes the chemistry, experiments, designs, data and prototypes developed over years to correlate smart polymer properties to structure. This platform allows the Bioastra team to quickly respond to incoming spec sheets form clients and produce timely, cost-effective solutions on demand.

Among their focus is Smart Packaging. With its unique Polymer-Based Phase-Change Nanocomposites and Emulsions that can be directly coated on Plastic or Paper, the Bioastra team has developed a novel thermal buffering system for food and medical products. Other offerings in packaging include thermochromic labels, anti-ripening coatings and porous polymer-based insulation coatings.