EcoTek
A biodegradable microencapsulated phase change material — durable in use, biodegradable at end of life.
EcoTek is a new family of microencapsulated phase change materials built on a biodegradable microcapsule that has passed OECD 301F biodegradation testing. It moves Alexium's sustainability story beyond bio-based content — which describes where a material comes from — to biodegradability, which describes where it goes.
Passed OECD 301F
In OECD 301F testing — the 28-day aerobic respirometry method regulators and certification bodies use as the first gate for a biodegradability claim — the EcoTek microcapsule reached 63.3% biodegradation relative to the reference, clearing the test's 60% pass level.
Durable in use
Biodegradability does not come at the expense of performance in the product. EcoTek capsules are engineered, like every Alexium mPCM, to withstand high-temperature drying, lamination, coating-line shear, foam and slurry formulation, and incorporation into building materials and packaging. The shell begins to break down only under the microbially active conditions the test methods simulate.
At a glance
- Passed OECD 301F — 63.3% biodegradation over 28 days, above the 60% pass level
- Engineered to stay intact through manufacturing and for the life of the finished product
- Thermal performance in line with Alexium's mPCM family, with melt points from 27 to 31°C
- Broad application range across textiles, foams, coatings, building materials, packaging, electronics, transportation and medical applications
- Made in the United States, supporting supply-chain resilience and consistent quality at commercial volume
Where it fits
EcoTek joins Nextek™, Vivtek™ and Micronal in Alexium's mPCM portfolio, serving bedding and textiles, apparel and footwear, furniture, building and construction, packaging and cold-chain logistics, electronics, transportation, life science and medical devices, and personal comfort and safety gear.
Availability
EcoTek is available now for partner evaluation, with commercial volumes planned to follow. Technical data, test summaries and evaluation samples are available by contacting Alexium at info@alexiuminternational.com.
EcoTek specifications
- Capsule
- Biodegradable microcapsule shell with phase change core
- Biodegradation
- Passed OECD 301F — 63.3% over 28 days
- Melt points
- 27–31°C
- Manufacturing
- Made in the United States
What's your challenge?
From bedding to ballistic gear, our chemists partner with you to solve thermal, flame, and humidity problems at the molecular level.