ADDITIVES | CLARIFIERS AND NUCLEATORS
RiKAFAST EDX is described as a high-perfor- mance sorbitol-based clarifier for PP homopolymer and random copolymer that imparts good clarity and improved aesthetics across a wide range of process- ing temperatures. Applications include injection and blow moulded, as well as thermoformed, items such as packaging, housewares, food containers, cups, bottles and trays. The EDX grade can be used in concentrations of 0.18-0.4% in PP homopolymer and random copolymer, with a recommended process- ing temperature range of 190-240°C. The EDX products are said to be compatible
with all existing sorbitol-based clarifiers but not with newer nonitol chemistries. According to NJC Europe Technical Manager Dr Esti Santamaria, the incompatibility of sorbitol and nonitol clarifiers can be a challenge as special cleandown and cross- contamination measures must be taken to avoid unwanted downtime.
Changing demands Growing demand for clarifiers is also being experienced at Adeka Polymer Additives Europe, which attributes this positive trend to the increased demand for ready-to-eat foods resulting from the expansion of e-commerce and changes in dietary habits due to the pandemic. “In these applications, it is not only the transparency of the packaging that is important, but also its stiffness, sustainability and affordability,” says Marie-Raphaël Morvillier, Technical Director at the company. “Adeka’s clarifiers — ADK STAB NA-21 and NA-71
— offer many advantages by meeting these require- ments to an elevated level with a good balance
compared with other products on the market. For example, high stiffness enhancement enables production of thinner packages, which contributes to higher transparency and a reduction in resin. They also improve heat deflection temperature, enabling the use of packaging in high-temperature condi- tions such as hot-filling, microwaves and dishwash- ers,” she says. “In addition, because the crystallisa- tion temperature of polypropylene is improved, high productivity and lower energy consumption can be expected due to shorter moulding cycle times.” Adeka adds that demand for lightweight thin-wall packaging with good shape stability is expected to increase and clarifiers can be used in such applications to enable carbon footprint reductions to be made. To meet this forecast market demand, Amfine Chemical Corporation in the US – a joint venture between Adeka Corpora- tion and Mitsubishi Corporation – expanded production capacity for ADK STAB NA-71 at its manufacturing plant in Kentucky last year. The ADK STAB NA-71 clarifying agent is de- signed for application in PP homo and co-polymers for transparent food packaging applications. It is suitable for thermoforming, blow moulding, and thin-wall injection moulding. The additive is FDA cleared for use in PP, with no restrictions in food type or conditions of use (A-H). It is also thermally stable and generates no odour during processing. In common with other Adeka nucleators and
clarifiers, ADK STAB NA-71 is an organic phosphate salt-based product. It is said to be resistant to plate- out, exudation and migration, and the company claims a better clarification effect at low concentra-
SPI shapes up with clarified PP lids
Taiwanese thermoformed packaging producer South Plastic Industry (SPI) developed a clear, anti-fogging PP lid to replace OPS for its ready meal food packaging using Millad NX 8000 clarifier from Milliken. Together with Milliken, the company developed an UltraClear PP resin formulation that met the performance and aesthetic requirements for ready meal packaging and for more demanding microwaveable meals. The formulation also provided some additional processing gains. “By using Milliken’s additives, we are able to thermoform our products
at a lower processing temperature, which allows us to reduce our energy use,” says Tosho Wang, President of SPI. “At the same time, these additives allow SPI to produce a thinner PP lid without affecting rigidity, which in turn helps to reduce plastic usage while increasing output.” SPI now uses Milliken clarifiers in all its UltraClear PP packaging and says it plans to explore using the material in more food applications, including some that currently use PET.
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www.milliken.com 44 COMPOUNDING WORLD | June 2022
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