Extrusion 3-2017

Polyolefins additives supplier Milliken has innovative solutions to showcase at the upcoming interpack 2017 trade fair for clear packaging applications in polypropylene and PET. At that May 4-10 show in Düsseldorf, Milliken will demonstrate why NX™ UltraClear PP is the optimal, cost-effective option to help brand owners address the growing packaging trends for both resource efficiency and attention-grabbing appeal. those thicker walls. NX UltraClear PP’s lower density yields pro- ducts that weigh much less than corresponding PET applications yet with equal stiffness. • Sealing effectiveness – Polypropylene is known to be very robust and easy to seal. Standard PP sealant films still seal well even when residue is left on tray edges and exteriors during fill- ing. A mono-material PP tray & PP film solution offers the ad- vantage of a 100% recyclable system that does not require the use of an adhesive. • Hot filling, retort & microwave ability – NX UltraClear PP is a great choice for any thermoformed cup or tray application where higher temperatures are concerned. Its excellent heat re- sistance and good cold-temperature performance combine to make it suitable for hot fill and microwaveable applications, while also enabling the “fridge to microwave” concept. • Recycling & sustainability – Polypropylene offers a com- pelling circular-economy story in that a strong market exists for recycled PP in a variety of end products. As a material, PP con- sumes the least amount of energy during production and pro- duces the fewest carbon dioxide emissions. Its lower density means that adopting the resin also reduces the absolute amount of waste. Thermoformed NX UltraClear PP applications also are straightforward to recycle because their mono-material concept. Enabling complex, easy-empty blow molded bottles NX UltraClear PP allows brand owners to develop lightweight bottles with integrated handles and complex, eye-catching de- signs. These extrusion blow molded (EBM) bottles are also ea- sier and faster to empty than other options. Polypropylene Clear Packaging Solutions “NX UltraClear PP, which is polypropylene clarified with Milliken’s Millad ® NX™ 8000, is the ideal material to bring ex- ceptional clarity, aesthetics, lightweighting and increased sus- tainability to a variety of commercial packaging applications,” according to Sami T.K. Palanisami, Milliken Commercial Mana- ger – EMEA. “It offers the clarity of materials such as PET, while delivering specific benefits for different processes” – all of which Milliken will highlight at interpack 2017. Brand owners benefit from thermoformed NX UltraClear PP When it comes to thermoformed and foldable packaging, NX UltraClear PP delivers a vast range of property and performance benefits to converters and brand owners, allowing the resin to offer an all-round packaging solution. These include: • Glass-like transparency : For thermoforming and sheet packaging, NX UltraClear PP rivals the glass-like clarity of com- monly used resins such as A-PET and polystyrene, while also of- fering a glossier appearance than that normally associated with standard, nucleated polypropylene. • Lighter weight – NX UltraClear PP has a significantly lower density than other plastic material options, reducing the weight of a thermoformed part. PP’s density of 0,9kg/m³ compared to PET’s density of 1,37kg/m³ allows converters to produce signifi- cantly more trays per kilo of material. Using less material also can help to reduce eco-tax contributions. • Stiffness & impact strength – For NX UltraClear PP to achieve the same stiffness as A-PET, the PP sheet typically is 15 to 20% thicker compared to the virgin A-PET sheet. But opting for a ribbed or improved design often can obviate the need for 36 Raw Materials Extrusion 3/2017 Milliken to highlight its clear packaging solutions at interpack 2017 (Photos © 2017 Milliken & Company)