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Foamed sheet | materials feature


Latest developments in foamed sheet


Foamed sheet can be applied to a broad range of applications – from packaging to construction. And the latest developments encompass just about every polymer on the market. At K2016, for instance, Braskem of Brazil launced a


new polypropylene (PP) grade for making a wide range of foam products. Amppleo is a high-melt-strength PP resin (HMS-PP) that can be used for a wide range of applications including automotive, manufacturing and packaging. The resin can support temperatures of up to 100°C without deforming and enables the production of foams with a high versatility of applications within a broad density range, from 35 to 300kg/m3


. It also allows for


lighter weight products compared to other materials and offers high thermal and acoustic insulation. The material is also recyclable. “Developing a new high-technology resin shows not


only Braskem’s capacity to innovate, but also to understand its clients’ needs so that it can offer them differentiated and sustainable solutions,” said Walmir Soller, head of the PP business at Braskem. “This resin’s unique properties support a wide variety of applications and the opportunity to develop increasingly efficient and versatile products.” Research for Amppleo’s development was conducted


at the Braskem Innovation and Technology Center at the Triunfo Petrochemical Complex in Brazil, and at the Innovation Center in Pittsburgh, USA – which recently started operations at a pilot plant to produce foams.


www.filmandsheet.com


A wide variety of techniques and materials – including recycled plastics – form the basis for the


newest generation of foamed sheet. Lou Reade reports


At the same time, Luxembourg-based Armacell


International – a manufacturer of flexible foam for equipment insulation, and of engineered foams – has acquired PoliPex, a Brazilian manufacturer of extruded PE insulation foams, for an undisclosed amount. “PoliPex has decades of technology know-how in


extruded PE production as well as a strong domestic team. We are looking forward to serving our clients across Latin America with a broader product portfolio and extended customer service levels,” said Patrick Mathieu, president and CEO of Armacell. “Historically, PoliPex exhibited solid growth rates and healthy operating margins. The predicted rebound of the Brazilian economy and the overall construction market make PoliPex an attractive investment for us.”


PET upgrade Armacell was also a partner in the two-year rPET project – led by Nexam Chemical – which has just been completed. Its aim was to upgrade recycled PET (rPET),


December 2016 | FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION 21


Linde’s DSD 400 metering technology uses carbon


dioxide gas for extrusion foaming


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