MATERIALS | BIAX FILM


with all the results obtained, and retesting PA-con- taining structures with the new CEN D4R testing protocol when available,” said Korkala.


Sustainable films Meanwhile, Peru-based Oben presented details of its recycled and bio-based films that can be used in biaxial film.


Omar Gonzalez, regional business development manager at Oben, told delegates that the company offers several ‘sustainable’ options, including grades made with PIR, mechanical or chemical recycling processes – as well as PCR-based grades suitable for food contact. These include BOPP, BOPA and BOPET.


Above: Oben offers a number of films based on recycled material


supplying custom BOPP film for printable barriers, as well as introducing BOPE solutions to the company.


BOPA recycling Finland-based Biaxis is a producer of biaxially oriented polyamide (BOPA) film – and has recently carried out a recycling study of BOPA with the Advanced Packaging Association (APA). PA and BOPA are commonly used in packaging,


and APA wanted to understand its recyclability, said Juho Korkala, managing director of Biaxis. The project studied a variety of film structures including PE/PA6 coextrusions, PE/BOPA laminates and others. The project involved choosing three commer- cially available PE/PA film structures and one PIR PE resin for dilutions and as reference. These were then granulated and blended with PIR PE to simulate the PE recycling stream. Industrial recy- cling facilities then recycled and produced pellets, which were used to make film samples – first at pilot lab scale and then at commercial scale. Five different blends were recycled into pellets


at three separate facilities. Conclusions included: all recycling processes were very stable and produced good quality material; PE films contain- ing PA did not negatively impact the process; and pressure of PA-containing samples was compara- ble with PE reference samples. There were then two film extrusion trials – one at


Ube, the second at Seapack. In the Seapack trial, PA-containing resins could be processed and converted into commercial films. High moisture in some samples caused issues without the correct preventive measures. Samples with BOPA – but without compatibiliser – showed worse appearance but good mechanical properties. “Next steps include preparing a technical paper


28 FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION | October 2026


Another option is mono-material lidding films based on PET and PP. Its Terphane films are available in lock seal, peelable and resealable versions. In one example, it offers a high-barrier CPP that is laminated to a transparent or matte BOPP – for a mono-material, 2-ply structure, for applications such as coffee pouches. It also offers ultra-thin (6 micron) BOPA that cuts


material use. The film boasts high flex-crack resistance, drop test performance and reliable protection against chemical migration and aroma loss. In addition, it is double treated for improved adhesion in laminations.


“It has a sustainability advantage, with 60% less plastic versus 15-micron BOPA,” said Gonzalez. Its bio-based films, called Oben Earth, are made


of oriented PEF, which compare favourably with BOPET in characteristics such as strength and elongation at break, he said – as well as a superior oxygen barrier.


“BOPEF has 10 times the oxygen barrier and


three times the water vapour barrier of BOPET, so can replace PVDC and EVOH,” he said. “When metallised, met-BOPEF has 10 times higher oxygen barrier and twice the moisture barrier of met-BO- PET, so it can replace Al foil.”


Material gain Mitsubishi Polyester Film said that expanding capacity of biax polyester at its plant in Wiesbaden in Germany will help to boost its capability for food packaging trays. Holger Kliesch, manager of product develop-


ment, said the company expanded annual produc- tion capacity by 27,000 tonnes this year. He said that while a PET tray typically uses a PET film seal, an enclosed sauce container is usually made from PP. However, running a recycling test with the tray from mixed waste will lead to good recovery for tray and inlay, he said.


www.filmandsheet.com


IMAGE: OBEN


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42