POLYOLEFINS | MATERIALS
Recent advances in polyolefin materials include new grades for biaxial orientation and thermoforming – plus a polyethylene film that claims to be ‘as strong as steel’
Mass appeal: advances in polyolefin materials
Polyolefins are most typically found in areas such as food packaging, though the properties of special grades mean they can also be used in more advanced applications. Recently, for instance, Toray Industries developed a plastic film – from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) – which it says is “almost as strong as stainless steel”. The new film has a maximum tensile strength of 1,200 MPa, it says. The molecular weight of UHMWPE is 10 times
greater than that of regular PE. One shortcoming is low processability because the molecular chains are long and highly entangled. This makes it difficult to produce high-strength films with biaxial stretching. Toray overcame this challenge by creating a nanostructure with highly oriented molecular chains of UHMWPE across two dimensions – using its proprietary extrusion and biaxial stretching technologies. The film has more than twice the tensile strength of PET film, which is used in typical industrial applications. It is also as strong as aramid film, says Toray.
www.filmandsheet.com The company says the film could function as a
heat-dissipating material for flexible devices and other applications requiring miniaturisation, lightness, insulation, and flexibility.
Thinner labels Innovia Films has launched two new BOPP-based label facestock films – which claim to be much thinner than alternative products. CPE45 (clear) and WPE45 (white) are naturally printable, and much thinner than other label materials such as PE, it says. They maintain the high machine direction stiffness of bubble produced films, meaning that end-users and applicators see no reduction in label dispensing speeds. “CPE and WPE are approximately 40% thinner than the PE films currently used, so you can use a label that is much thinner, and uses less resources,” said Alasdair McEwen, product manager for labels and graphics at Innovia Films. “CPE also has outstanding clarity and low haze compared to a PE label, making it perfect for use on clear-on-clear applications on PET bottles.”
Main image: Borealis has helped develop a mono-material pouch
containing more than 95% PP
� January/February 2024 | FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION 35
IMAGE: BOREALIS
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