BIOCOVERS® 200

BIOCOVERS® 200

BIOCOVERS® 200 is the heaviest quality in range with a weight of 200g/m². It offers additional protection for difficult projects. We recommend the use of BIOCOVERS® 200 on steep slopes or areas with loose soil. Like BIOCOVERS® 157, this quality contains 5% natural fibre (hemp) for an even more natural look.

What are the advantages? 

UV stable

Body 

The raw material PLA is UV stable. Sunlight will not break down the product. Therefore there is no need to cover up the fabric with expensive bark or wood chips. BIOCOVERS® will biodegrade through combined action of microorganism, temperature and humidity.

Excellent water and air permeability

Body 

The water permeability of BIOCOVERS® is 10 times better than woven fabrics which will promote the growth of the young plants.

What is PLA?

 PLA or Poly Lactic Acid is made from plant material. Starch and plant sugars are used as renewable resource. Today, mainly side and waste streams of the corn industry are used as feedstock.

How is PLA produced? Some chemistry

It all starts with the sun! During the process of the photosynthesis, the leafs of green plants will absorb CO2 from the atmosphere. A molecule CO2 is combined with a molecule water to form sugar and oxygen. The molecule oxygen is released back in the atmosphere. The sugar is used as fuel for the plants. Any unused sugar is stored as starch and can be harvested.

 

Industrially, dextrose (sugar) is created from the harvested plant starch through a process called hydrolysis. Next, microorganism will convert the sugar into lactic acid through fermentation. The PLA polymer is formed either by (1) direct condensation of lactic acid or (2) via the cyclic intermediate lactide through a ring opening process.  PLA is formed!