FILM ADDITIVES | MATERIALS


Adding performance to films


Additive manufacturers have introduced a number of new products that can lift performance and productivity in the films sector.Peter Mapleston finds out more


Plastic films is a highly competitive market where performance counts and small improvements in production efficiency can really add up. In recent months, leading additive suppliers have taken some interesting and unusual steps forward in helping compounders and converters improve film product quality and processability. These develop- ments include a better way to create slip in BOPP films, a highly-efficient means to improve barrier while enhancing optics, a step-up in stabilisation performance, and some novel anti-fog additives, as well as several new processing aids. Dow Performance Silicones (previously Dow


Corning) introduced its HMB-6301 Masterbatch for biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film at the Fakuma plastics processing show last October. The company says the product, a pelletised formulation


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containing 25% ultra-high molecular weight siloxane polymer reacted with a polypropylene homopolymer, provides a low dynamic coefficient of friction (COF) at low loadings – for example 0.2 to 0.3 film-on-film at an addition rate of 2-5 wt% (Figure 1). It is also said to deliver stable, long-term slip performance without migration. HMB-6301 complies with EU 10-2011 food contact regulation and FDA approval is currently being obtained. Dow envisages applications in films for food bags, wrappers, packages and pouches. Christophe Paulo, Global Segment Leader


Plastic Additives at the company, says HMB-6301’s advanced technology addresses key drawbacks of standard slip agents, including continuous migra- tion from the film surface and degradation over time and under elevated temperatures. He says the


January 2018 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 49


Main image: Film barrier, optics, oxidative stability, slip and fogging can all be improved using the latest additive


technologies


PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK


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