ADDITIVES | CLARIFIERS AND NUCLEATORS
benefits in the production of lighter-weight, clarified PP parts through shorter cycle times and lower processing temperatures (average energy savings of 10% are claimed). In addition to delivering clarity, Millad NX 8000
Figure 1: Spider chart comparing key performance attributes of Adeka’s organic phosphate salt clarifiers against other commercially-available types Source: Adeka Europe
tions and broader processing window than alternative sorbitol-type products. It is also said to provide a greater improvement in mechanical properties such as flexural modulus and HDT, making it suitable for high temperature, heat sterilised or hot filled food packaging applications.
Clear gains Ever-increasing demand for improving the optical, thermal and physical properties of polyolefins for use in packaging applications is driving demand for new plastics additive solutions, according to Milliken. The company claims that its additives are enabling more eco-friendly PP grades for packag- ing, while increasing inter-material replacement and meeting brand owner’s goals of reducing environmental impact.
Minimising the carbon footprint of a packaged
Right: Milliken’s Hyperform 500ei is targeted at thermoforming applications requiring improved optics, stiffness and impact performance
product can be accomplished in various ways, according to Milliken. A package can enable easier recycling through mono-material package design, for example. It may consume less energy during its manufacture than alternatives or may be more durable to reduce breakage and waste. By being thinner and lighter than other options, it can also be more eco- friendly to transport. Milliken says that it has developed advanced plastics nucleator and clarifier additives that improve all these aspects of various polymers, but particularly PP. Millad NX 8000 ECO, for example, delivers crystal-clear, glass-like clarity while extending sustainability
46 COMPOUNDING WORLD | June 2022
ECO also maintains a consistent, fresh appearance under all retail lighting conditions, regardless of the presence of UV light from the light source. This is of growing significance as more retailers shift to LED lighting, which can impact how products look on the shelf. Meanwhile, Milliken says its UL-certified Hyper- form nucleators play a key role in allowing PP to produce packaging that is stronger, stiffer and highly recyclable – all without compromising on the final part’s impact properties. The growing adoption of the reusable packag- ing business model among brand owners is also driving the use of these types of additives, Milliken says. In contrast to the single-use model, reusable packaging designs must be durable yet still offer good transparency for easy refilling. Reusable packaging must also be stiffer and last longer to sustain its extended period of use - both require- ments that be satisfied through the use of clarifiers and/or nucleators. One well-known brand that has worked with
Milliken to enhance its packaging circularity is Italian chocolatier Ferrero. The company asked Milliken to custom-develop more than 20 PP formulations to replace the long-established PS Ferrero Rocher box. During the course of the project, Milliken was able to demonstrate measurable performance improve- ments, including lower resource consumption and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, while meeting Ferrero’s demanding specifications and maintaining the box’s transparency. “This project with Ferrero is a great example of how close collabora- tion can help to deliver value-added solutions,” says Ruben Subira, Regional Market Manager - Plastic Additives. Milliken’s Hyperform 909ei and Hyperform 500ei nucleators have been developed for production of thermoformed packaging that meets brand owner demands for better clarity and higher rigidity. Traditional nucleating agents
required customers to sacrifice impact to gain greater stiffness in thermoform- ing applications, according to Milliken. Hyperform 500ei enables thermofor- med parts to deliver improved optics while also offering high stiffness and
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IMAGE: MILLIKEN
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