Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC; Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Masayuki Waga) today announced the development of a new light-diffusing grade of DURABIO™ bio-based engineering polymer, which has been adopted by KOIZUMI Lighting Technology Corp. (Koizumi LT; Head office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Teruyuki Umeda) for lighting shades used at warm bathing facilities. Sales began last month in Japan.*1
Until now, glass, engineering plastic, and other materials have been used for lighting shades, but each of these materials has problems. For example, glass poses a safety risk of shattering if it breaks, and engineering plastic has low weather resistance and is subject to discoloration.
DURABIO™ is a bio-based engineering polymer made from plant-derived isosorbide, which features excellent performance, offering higher resistance to impact, heat, and weather than conventional engineering plastics. MCC has recently succeeded in developing this new grade that can diffuse light and is suitable for lighting shades, while maintaining these characteristics. In addition, DURABIO™ was adopted as KOIZUMI LT’s lighting shade by combining it with an injection blow molding technology developed by Shinko-Kasei Co. (Head office: Inashiki-shi, Ibaraki; President: Masafumi Hirose). In the future, DURABIO™ has great potential for other lighting applications requiring high durability, as well as used at indoor and outdoor warm bathing facilities.
Moving toward the Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Group’s vision, “Realizing KAITEKI*2,” MCC continues to accelerate research and development and expand applications of plant-derived biodegradable products including DURABIO™ to help establish a recycling-oriented society and achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
*1 The product is introduced in “AKARI SENKA,” a brochure showcasing KOIZUMI LT’s residential and commercial lighting products.
*2 KAITEKI means “the sustainable well-being of people, society and our planet Earth.” It is an original concept of the Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Group that proposes a way forward in the sustainable development of society and the planet, in addition to serving as a guide for solving environmental and social issues.