MATERIALS | STRETCH & SHRINK FILM


Right: Ingenia says using LLDPE and its Incircle polymer


modifier allows downgauging in shrink film


remains less susceptible to damage from sharp corners.” Incorporating 35% PCR into the HTPS film


reduces stretch force – though it continues to perform like a standard 12-micron PPS film in stretch force, he added. Lauwers said that HTPS is most effective when applied at higher secondary stretch levels, while PPS performs better at lower stretch levels. The optimal performance for HTPS is around a 50% stretch, he said. Polymers like ExxonMobil’s Exceed Flow,


70% reduction in defects for 400-micron film and an 85% reduction in defects for 800-micron film. “Our 8020AC PCR offers the quality and consistency needed for stretch film production,” he said, citing: an OCS defects report for every batch; a guaranteed defect level for every batch; and a stabilised grade by means of tailor-made additive package. It has produced the grade since 2024, saying its


Right: Wells has developed PFAS-free processing aids for stretch and shrink film production


production process to make it has been “optimised and cost reduced” to make it price competitive. Collaboration projects in PCR-based film over the last two years include topics such as: stabilising accelerated degradation under heavy environmental conditions; optimising automatic machine wrapper settings; testing a ‘high tenacity power stretch’ approach; measuring degradation history; and balancing molecular weight distribution of PCR against virgin grades.


Stretching out Bart Lauwers, principal CAD Europe industrial packaging at ExxonMobil, said advanced poly- mers can be used to create a new type of machine wrap – containing 35% PCR. Traditional power pre-stretch (PPS) film is typically designed to be stretched by 250-300%, meaning a 12-micron PPS film typically thins to 3-4 microns after stretching. He said the new concept – called high tenacity power stretch (HTPS) – is designed for a stretch of around 50%. “An 8-micron HTPS film pre-stretched to 50% delivers higher stretch force than a 12-micron PPS film,” he said. “At this pre-stretch level, the HTPS film thins to roughly 6 microns, yet


22 FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION | May/June 2026


Vistamaxx and Exceed Tough can all be used to create HTPS films, he said. One formulation might use Vistamaxx to boost tear propagation resist- ance, for instance. In terms of processing, folded edge technology is needed to ensure stable wrapping and process- ing for HTPS. It can be used in high-speed wrap- ping processes.


In load stability tests (based on EUMOS 40509) both PPS and HTPS films passed at 0.3g, but failed at 0.4g.


“Plastic deformation is a bit too high – but


there’s more deformation with 12-micron PPS,” said Lauwers.


S


LDPE elimination Mohammed Abdus Salam, a technical service representative at Ingenia Polymers, said eliminating LDPE in shrink films can drive downgauging. He said shrink properties could be maintained – and mechanical properties boosted – by replacing LDPE with LLDPE and Ingenia’s


Incircle IP1610 polymer modifier. This was initially tested in a lab study. Impact, tensile, tear and optical proper-


ties were all maintained. “It is possible to remove LDPE in heat shrink film application by adding IP1610, maintain shrink properties and improve mechanical properties,” he said.


In commercial trials, the new formulations showed good bubble stability, better shrink properties and mechanical improvement. In addition, 20% downgauging was possible, with no effect on shrink or impact properties. “Haze increases with the IP1610, so you need to monitor specific packaging applications to ensure acceptability,” he said. “However, thinner films are now possible – so haze impact can be minimised.”


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