PolyMirae Company Ltd, a joint venture of LyondellBasell and Daelim, has developed two new PP resins, Clyrell RC5003 and Moplen RP5007, which aim to address the increasing demands of customers in high transparency and high flow applications.
Given its high transparency, Clyrell RC5003 has the potential to replace traditional polymers, such as polycarbonates (PC), polyester (PET) and styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN), in applications such as appliances and housewares.
A polypropylene copolymer with high gloss, transparency and fluidity, Clyrell RC5003 offers a good balance of rigidity and impact strength required by customers in demanding applications such as housewares, food and display containers, toys and appliances. The resin is compliant with U.S. FDA Food Contact requirements.
The resin offers potential cycle time improvements of up to 10 percent and haze value reductions from 12 percent to 6 percent, compared to standard PP random copolymers clarified with traditional clarifying agents, said GY Ha, technology manager of PolyMirae. Clyrell RC5003 enables easier handling and better processing as well as inter-material replacement of more expensive or higher density engineering polymers. Clyrell RC5003 is good news for customers who are seeking ways to save on costs and enhance productivity.
When processed using one-stage or two-stage injection stretch blow molding (ISBM) techniques, the clarity and mechanical strength of applications produced using Clyrell RC5003 can be enhanced compared with the existing PP random copolymers. Polypropylene is a cost-effective option for the production of high clarity bottles and containers in food contact applications.
The high fluidity and high gloss of Moplen RP5007 enable processing temperatures to be reduced by 10 to 20°C, injection speeds to be increased, and cooling time as well as cycle time to be significantly shortened compared to standard MFR C2 and C3 random copolymers.
According to Ha, With improved aesthetic appeal, along with well-balanced high rigidity and superior impact properties, Moplen RP5007 is expected to be used in thin-wall injection molding (TWIM) applications such as food containers. Customer feedback has been positive, as the end products display scratch resistance in the washing process and demonstrate almost no sink marks, which are the most frequent defect in molding and warpage due to low residual stress. The resin meets FDA food contact reheating requirements including microwave oven reheating, and the containers are fully recyclable after use.
| Kathy Chan, +852 2585 0103 kathy.chan@lyondellbasell.com |
