Nucleation agent that expands functionality in films and packaging

14-Jun-07

Nucleating agents provide a physical, molecular-level trigger point around which highly-ordered crystalline structures called spherulites form rapidly. Underlining its ongoing commitment to plastic films, Milliken has launched Hyperform HPN-20E, a new nucleating agent that expands functionality in films and packaging. The nucleating agent delivers optical improvements, an enhanced moisture barrier and improved mechanical properties for polyethylene (PE) resins. Hyperform HPN-20E has recently been granted food contact notification (FCN), which opens up a range of new options for customers in the PE industry. Target applications include monolayer and coextruded film for food packaging, agricultural applications and overwrap films. Early focus has been in the area of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) resins where optical enhancement is vital for shelf appeal. Nucleating LLDPE with HPN-20E can enhance optics without detriment to tear and impact, offering film producers a new and novel option for packaging film constructions. The nucleating agent has also shown some improvement in PE film hot-tack performance that can potentially speed up vertical form, fill, and seal lines (VFFS). It also permits potential down-gauging by enhancing stiffness and eliminating much of the reduction in tear and impact performance associated with LDPE blending. This presents potential new ways for cost effective film constructions. Nucleating polyethylene with Hyperform HPN-20E is also showing exciting reductions in water vapour transmission rates (WVTR), hence enhancing the barrier properties of polyethylene film layers - high density PE (HDPE) and LLDPE - used in a range of different coextruded structures. WVTR reductions on the order of 40percent (LLDPE) and 20percent (HDPE) have been observed in trials.