NOVA Chemicals has announced the launch of polyethylene (PE) resins that incorporate non-fluorinated polymer processing aids (NF-PPA), said to deliver comparable performance to legacy fluoropolymer PPA technology and help manufacturers meet global regulatory compliance standards with minimal production disruption.
The company’s Surpass, Sclair and Novapol PE resins with new NF PPA are said to provide enhanced process stability for consistent performance including frost line control, reduced die-lip build-up, and predictable slip and coefficient of friction properties. NOVA Chemicals adds that it delivers melt fracture clearing and film optics comparable to fluoropolymer-based PPA technologies.
The new product aims to help converters and brand owners adapt to evolving legislation that eliminates the use of fluoropolymers, such as the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation in the E.U. The PPA is also compatible with existing resin formulations, enabling the production of high-quality film structures free from fluoropolymers.
NOVA Chemicals says it has obtained broad regulatory approvals for the NF-PPA resin technology in North America, Latin America, the EU, and China, with additional global approvals underway as legislation evolves. Nine grades of PE including FP120-D, SPs116-D, VPsK914-C and PF-Y821-BP are currently available with NF-PPA for use across various blown film applications including food packaging, e-commerce, and heavy-duty sacks.
In March the company revealed its first polyethylene (PE) film recycling facility SYNDIGOI in Indiana, USA, set to produce 100 million lbs. of SYNDIGO recycled PE (rLLDPE), suitable for food- and non-food grade packaging applications. Reportedly, A grade of SYNDIGO rLLDPE has FDA compliance for all food types under Conditions of Use B through H and can be used to add recycled content for food packaging applications such as refrigerator items and freezer packaging.
In similar news, Dow recently launched its DOWSIL 5-1050 Polymer Processing Aid (PPA), designed to address the growing demand for film packaging manufactured without fluoropolymer-based PPAs. The new PPA contains a silicone additive in a polyethylene carrier and is supplied as a masterbatch for ease of feeding into existing extrusion processes.
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