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Research
Tetramer Technologies Shows
A‘maiz’ing Potential
 Tetramer
Technologies, LLC is adding corn to plastic containers -- and cars,
airplanes and golf clubs -- while creating jobs along the way.
The
Pendleton-based Clemson University spin-off company received a $100,000
Phase I Small Business Innovative Research award (SBIR) from the
National Science Foundation to demonstrate the commercial feasibility
of plastics partially derived from renewable sources like corn.
This award builds on previously-earned NSF small business program
grants.
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Dr. Dennis Smith (right),
professor of chemistry, and Earl Wagener, Tetramer CEO (left),
and Quyn-Ho Thai-Taylor, research scientist, are investigating
the commercial feasibility of plastics partially derived from
renewable sources like corn |
Most
plastics, varnishes and packaging foams are made from oil-based
chemicals, which are derived from petroleum. Stiffer environmental
regulations and consumer conscience are driving the search for materials
that are recyclable, renewable and less polluting. Polylactic acid
is a byproduct of corn. It currently is used in some pill coatings
and sutures because it easily dissolves -- a property not desirable
in drink containers, boat coatings and packaging.
Clemson University professor Dennis Smith and his research group
have found a new way to replace up to 50 percent of the chemicals
that make regular plastics with polylactic acid. The end product
is a plastic that has both the environmental friendliness of the
corn-based product and the durability of regular plastics. Potentially,
this new material could reduce by 5 billion pounds per year the
amount of single-use, nonbiodegradable plastics discarded by consumers.
And reduce the air pollutants from plants that produce plastics
for everything from cars to airplanes to golf clubs.
“Tetramer
is fueling South Carolina’s knowledge-based economy,”
said Earl H. Wagener, CEO of Tetramer.
This
NSF grant allowed Tetramer to hire three more employees, bringing
total employment to eight. The company plans to staff 20 full-time
employees over the next five years. In addition to possible jobs
for Clemson’s engineering graduates, Tetramer will expand
to employ technicians trained by local technical institutes.
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