2016 | Show review
In the second of our post-show reviews, we look at some of the innovative materials that were seen at this year’s K2016 exhibition in Germany
Wrapping up K2016: materials innovations
Materials might account for a relatively small proportion of the hall space at any K show, but they pack no less of a punch than many of the machinery innovations. In our last issue, we focused on advances in machinery and ancillaries from K2016. Now, we turn our focus to materials – and innovations that are used in applications as diverse as fashion and physiotherapy. Sabic launched three new families of resins, made using the Nexlene technology that it co-owns with SK Global. The company says the bimodal technology produces resins with higher processability and higher impact strength. The grades are: Supeer, which are packaging grades that are processed using cast and blown film extrusion; Cohere, for sealing applications; and Fortify, which is an impact modifier. Supeer is an LLDPE that is ideal for multi-layer packaging, and can be used for applications such as pouches and stretch hood film, says Sabic. “This is where typically LLDPE
grades are used – but because this is C8 it has better performance,” said Rolf Scherrenberg, director of market develop-
ment and technical support at Sabic. “You can down- gauge it further.”
He said that using a metallocene catalyst usually
makes a material harder to process – but the bimodal process overcomes that. One Sabic customer has used the grades to produce a disposable dental bib – which is cheaper than one made using existing materials, and an intermediate layer that is 20% thinner. Sabic cites a lower sealing
Covestro has developed a TPU-based film that is printed with copper circuits and incorporated into fabrics
42 FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION | December 2016
temperature and an absence of gels as advantages to the new formulation. Scherrenberg says there are around 10 Supeer
grades, five of Cohere and 10 of Fortify. At the same time, Celanese introduced five new
polymers at K2016 – one of which was relevant to film and sheet extruders. Its Hostaform M25IE POM claims to help sheet extruders boost production throughput rates when producing calendered sheet. The new grade was developed to meet the high performance and processing requirements of POM sheet, while retaining its mechanical properties – including strength, durability, resistance to moisture and chemicals, and tribological properties. It can be used to make sheet in a wide variety of thicknesses and sizes, says Celanese.
Smart silicone sensors Wacker demonstrated applications of its Elastosil silicone film – which can be used to make wearable sensors, membranes and actuators. The wearable sensors take advantage of the electro-
active properties of silicone rubber. When the film is embedded between two conductive electrodes – which are made from silicones that incorporate carbon black – the layers combine to form a flexible capacitor that can store electric charge. If the capacitor is stretched – such as by movement – the capacitance will change. The film’s electroactive properties also make it
appropriate for use in actuators – in which electrical power is converted into motions, in products such as pumps, switches and electrical relays. And, by piling several hundred stacks of flexible capacitors together, motion can be converted into novel power generators. Silicone films are also impermeable to water, but
permeable to gases, so could be used as the basis for membranes that remove specific gases from a mixture. “We are looking for new applications,” said Renate
Glowacki, an applications chemist for silicone films at Wacker.
www.filmandsheet.com
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