MATERIALS | POLYOLEFINS
Right: Two new Sabic materials can be used for parts such as EV battery pack components
customers to form large, complex structural parts. The products are 30% glass fibre-reinforced, intumescent, flame retardant (FR) materials, based on polypropylene (PP). They can be used for electric vehicle (EV) battery pack compo- nents such as top covers, enclosures and module separators. Both grades offer good thermal barrier properties to delay or contain thermal runaway propagation. In addition, their properties offer design, system
cost, inherent thermal and electrical insulation and weight advantages compared to stamped sheet metal, said Sabic. Compared to injection moulding of thermoplastics and compression moulding for thermosets – which require expensive tooling and equipment – extrusion and thermoforming can be more cost-effective and efficient for several cases, said Sabic. “By providing alternatives to traditional materi- als and processes, we can enable customers to design and manufacture the next generation of battery components while driving down costs and gaining a competitive advantage,” said Abdullah Al-Otaibi, general manager for ETP and market solutions at Sabic. The company has validated the mechanical, fire safety performance and manufacturability of both resins in EV battery applications with complex geometries – both in its labs and with customers. The materials allow the replacement of sheet metal or thermosets in final applications – and can be used to create prototypes to determine the feasibility of investing in injection moulding tools.
Recyclate supply Packaging major Amcor has signed an agreement with Nova Chemicals for the supply of mechani- cally recycled polyethylene resin (rPE) for use in flexible packaging films. Amcor says that increasing the use of rPE in flexible packaging applications is an important element of its commitment to support packaging circularity. The supply agreement would enable Amcor to
buy Syndigo rPE resin from Nova’s mechanical recycling facility in Connersville, Indiana, which is scheduled to begin operations next year. “This is an opportunity to supplement our rPE supply and achieve 30% use of recycled material across our portfolio by 2030,” according to Fred Stephan, president of Amcor Flexibles North America.
Nova plans to expand its recycling footprint
across North America in future, to help reach its target of a 30% share of total PE sales from products containing recycled content.
38 FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION | January/February 2024
PFAS-free PPAs Baerlocher has introduced a family of polymer processing aids (PPAs) for blown film that are free of PFAS and siloxane. Its AID family is compatible with other additives used in film, such as anti-block or slip agents. Baerolub AID PPAs deliver rapid melt fracture clearing for metallocene and Ziegler-Natta LLDPE) and HDPE – equalling or surpassing clearing times of traditional PFAS-containing PPAs, it said. “Current and evolving EU and US federal and
state regulations are forcing the plastic industry to look for new alternatives to PFAS-based processing aids,” said Chad Harlan, strategic business unit head at Baerlocher. Because the PPAs are soluble in the polymer
matrix, they provide better haze performance than insoluble PFAS-based PPAs and good control of frost line height, said the company. The products can also reduce die build-up and extruder pres- sure. Because they are designed for maximum compliance with global food contact regulations, they are well suited for applications such as PE films for food packaging. Two grades are available: Baerolub AID 2201, which clears the melt fracture in metallocene LLDPE quickly; and Baerolub AID 2202, which provides fast melt clearing times compared to traditional PPAs.
CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION: �
www.toray.com �
https://innoviafilms.com �
www.ti-films.com �
www.borealisgroup.com �
www.repsol.com �
www.eurotec-ep.com �
www.exxonmobilchemical.com �
www.scg.com �
www.sabic.com �
www.novachem.com �
www.baerlocher.com
www.filmandsheet.com
IMAGE: SABIC
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