MULTI-LAYER PACKAGING | PROCESSING


The process causes changes to the structure of the film – orienting the molecules in the machine direction. This causes changes in the crystalline structure – which helps to boost mechanical, optical and barrier properties. Another benefit is that it introduces micro pores


– creating ‘breathable’ films for applications such as diapers. The technique has been used to


create all-PE pouches that are easier to recycle than mixed-material versions. In one case, MDO-PE was used to replace PET – in a mono- material solution that allowed high-speed printing and sealing. Developments in MDO include: wider machines; increased thermal capacity; bigger dies – with more layers and higher throughput; and new automated systems for repro- ducible processing.


MDO-PE can also be combined


with EVOH to create an even higher barrier – which still remaining recyclable, he said. The company helped to create a 25-micron, nine-layer SUP.


Nylon recycling


Despite the focus on mono-material solutions, nylon producers say that their material can be recycled along with PE. Brad Celmer, technical service engineer at Ube, told delegates of four ‘myths’ in nylon recycling. These, he said, were:


Multi-layer films become ‘fluffy’ when shredded due to the toughness of nylon – so are hard to extrude with more than 5% nylon content; Moisture absorption of nylon makes these films


unrecyclable; Nylon in recyclate generates instabilities such as gels; and,


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Multi-layer strucutres containing nylon cannot


be recycled – and it is a ‘contaminant’. He went through these in turn, saying that each was false. In the first case, he said multi-layer films with up to 30% nylon could be shredded very smoothly. Regarding moisture, he said that no extra drying was needed and that extrusion into new pellets were tested and evaluated. “They were processable within a PE temperature range,” he said. He also alluded to the qualities of


extruded blown film – showing that films retained properties such as haze and mechanical strength. He also pointed to the fact that the Association of Plastic Recyclers


recognise ‘Performance PA SC 15’ as meeting – or exceeding – the strictest APR PE-CG01 critical guidance protocol for PE film and flexible packaging criteria. “Multi- layer PE/nylon films are recyclable,” he said.


n The next Multilayer Flexible Packaging confer- ence takes place in Barcelona, Spain on 21-22 November 2023. For more details, contact Carole Charrade (carole.charrade@amiplastics.com) on +44 (0) 117 314 8111.


CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION: � www.amiplastics.com � www.baystar.com � www.dow.com � www.mespack.com � www.obengroup.com � www.polyplastics.com � www.peaknano.com � www.reifenhauser.com � www.wh.group � www.ube.com


Left: W&H has created a number of


MDO pouches, including this one with Dow and B&B


IMAGE: DOW


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