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

Raw Materials

Extrusion 3/2017

Milliken to highlight its clear packaging

solutions at interpack 2017