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Fujitsu Develops Bio-based Polymer with Superior Impact Resistance; Ideal for Use in Mobile Phones - Broader Applications Envisioned to Reduce Environmental Burden and Petroleum Consumption.


Tokyo, Japan, May 16, 2006 - (JCN JCN Japan Corporate News
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JCN joint communications network (US DoD) 
 Newswire) - Fujitsu Limited and Fujitsu Laboratories, Ltd. today announced the development of a new bio-based polymer that retains the heat resistance and moldability of their previously developed bio-based polymer, while improving impact resistance by 50%. Fujitsu has succeeded in developing a prototype mobile phone chassis using the new bio-based polymer, which will be exhibited at Fujitsu Forum 2006 to be held from May 18 to 19 at the Tokyo International Forum.

In recent years, increases in carbon dioxide carbon dioxide, chemical compound, CO2, a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is about one and one-half times as dense as air under ordinary conditions of temperature and pressure.  emissions caused by the use of fossil fuels, such as petroleum and coal, have resulted in a rapid advance in global warming global warming, the gradual increase of the temperature of the earth's lower atmosphere as a result of the increase in greenhouse gases since the Industrial Revolution. . Hence, there is an urgent call for the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. This condition has raised interest in the use of bio-based polymers which have a lower environmental burden, as an alternative to conventional plastics made from petroleum, a limited natural resource.

In collaboration with Toray Industries, Inc., Fujitsu has developed a new bio-based polymer that features high impact resistance, by further refining the microstructure mi·cro·struc·ture  
n.
The structure of an organism or object as revealed through microscopic examination.


microstructure
Noun

a structure on a microscopic scale, such as that of a metal or a cell
 and improving the compatibility (the ease with which materials mix) of polylactic acid polylactic acid /poly·lac·tic ac·id/ (-lak´tik) a hydrophobic hydroxy acid polymer that is formed into granules and used as a surgical dressing for dental extraction sites. (*1), made from materials including corn, with polymer alloyed-(*2) polycarbonate A category of plastic materials used to make a myriad of products, including CDs and CD-ROMs. (*3), which has a high glass transition temperature The glass transition temperature is the temperature below which the physical properties of amorphous materials vary in a manner similar to those of a solid phase (glassy state), and above which amorphous materials behave like liquids (rubbery state). (*4). The new bio-based polymer features the same heat resistance, and molding properties of bio-based polymer previously developed by the companies, and with a 50 percent improvement in impact resistance the plastic can now be applied to various mobile devices.

In addition, Fujitsu succeeded in making a prototype mobile phone chassis composed entirely of the new bio-based polymer. The company plans to use the new plastic in future mobile phone models to reduce the use of petroleum

and help alleviate environmental burden.

In June 2002, Fujitsu introduced the world's first notebook PC in which certain parts of the chassis were made from a corn-based bio-based polymer. In January 2005, Fujitsu and Toray combined polymer-alloy technology and flame-retardance technology(*5) to develop a bio-based polymer with high heat-resistance, low flammability, and good moldability, which Fujitsu introduced in the world's first notebook PC with a full-size chassis made with bio-based polymer. In Fujitsu's latest notebook model available in Japan, the FMV-BIBLO NB80S, 93 percent of the entire chassis is made from bio-based polymer.

Fujitsu introduced the use of bio-based polymers as early as 1996 in conveyer trays for LSI LSI: see integrated circuit.


(Large Scale Integration) Between 3,000 and 100,000 transistors on a chip. See SSI, MSI, VLSI and ULSI.
 devices, and since then has applied it in a variety of products, such as POS (1) See point of sale and packet over SONET.

(2) "Parent over shoulder." See digispeak.

POS - point of sale
 terminals, ATMs, document scanners, and the PalmSecure palm vein authentication device. Building on this track record, Fujitsu aims to introduce mobile phones that use bio-based polymer to the market by 2007, while at the same time promoting applications to a variety of other electronic equipment.

Prototype mobile phone chassis made with this bio-based polymer will be on display at Fujitsu Forum 2006 to be held at the Tokyo International Forum from May 18 to 19.

Glossary

*1. Polylactic acid:

A bio-based polymer made using lactic acid lactic acid, CH3CHOHCO2H, a colorless liquid organic acid. It is miscible with water or ethanol. Lactic acid is a fermentation product of lactose (milk sugar); it is present in sour milk, koumiss, leban, yogurt, and cottage cheese.  derived from the fermentation of starches and saccharide saccharide /sac·cha·ride/ (sak´ah-rid) one of a series of carbohydrates, including the sugars.

sac·cha·ride
n.
 such as corn and potatoes.

*2. Polymer alloy:

A compound of effectively combined various polymers that differ by nature, to create a new material with superior performance or functionality.

*3. Polycarbonate:

A type of resin derived from petroleum, featuring excellent impact resistance.

*4. Glass transition temperature:

The temperature at which glass transition, the phenomenon in which heated polymer transforms from a hard glass-like state to a rubbery state, takes place.

*5. Flame-retardance technology:

Technology that uses a flame retardant to prevent plastic from burning when exposed to flames. Flame-retardance standards for electronic equipment are governed by the UL-94 standard.

For more information on Fujitsu Forum 2006 please see: http://forum.fujitsu.com/2006/tokyo/en/

About Fujitsu Limited

Fujitsu Limited (TSE See Tokyo Stock Exchange.

TSE

1. See Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE).

2. See Toronto Stock Exchange (TSE).
: 6702, ADR ADR - Astra Digital Radio : FJTSY) is a leading provider of customer-focused IT and communications solutions for the global marketplace. Pace-setting device technologies, highly reliable computing and communications products, and a worldwide corps of systems and services experts uniquely position Fujitsu to deliver comprehensive solutions that open up infinite possibilities for its customers' success. Headquartered in Tokyo, Fujitsu Limited reported consolidated revenues of 4.7 trillion yen (US $44.5 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005. For more information, please see: www.fujitsu.com.

About Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd.

Founded in 1968 as a wholly owned subsidiary Wholly Owned Subsidiary

A subsidiary whose parent company owns 100% of its common stock.

Notes:
In other words, the parent company owns the company outright and there are no minority owners.
 of Fujitsu Limited, Fujitsu Laboratories Limited is one of the premier research centers in the world. With a global network of laboratories in Japan, China, the United States and Europe, the organization conducts a wide range of basic and applied research in the areas of Multimedia, Personal Systems, Networks, Peripherals, Advanced Materials and Electronic Devices. For more information, please see: http://jp.fujitsu.com/labs/en/

Source: Fujitsu Limited

Contact:
Public and Investor Relations
Fujitsu Limited
Inquiries: http://www.fujitsu.com/global/news/contacts/

Environmental Engineering Center
Corporate Environmental Affairs Unit
Fujitsu Limited
E-mail: ecobox@fujitsu.com


Copyright [c] 2006 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. A division of Japan Corporate News Network K.K.
COPYRIGHT 2006 Japan Corporate News Network K.K.
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 2006, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Publication:JCN Newswires
Date:May 17, 2006
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