EVALENE® PHF0702 for Thin i-PP Application |
| by Cherry Chavez |
| |
| Inflation or Tubular Water Quench Polypropylene (PP) Process |
Inflationor Tubular Water Quench PP Process refers to the process for enhancing the physical characteristicsof polyolefin films by controlling thecrystalline growth during film formation. Polyolefin films, such aspolypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, are in great demand inboth the industrial and consumer marketplace because of their great strengthand toughness. For the fast-growing thin film inflation PP (iPP)applications, PP films prepared by presentprocess and equipment preferably has a thickness of about 8 to 10 microns. |
| |
|
Process*. The tubular waterquench process combines the air-blown process with chill roll or conventionalwater bath and includes drawing a bubble of molten film to a desired diameter. |
| |
|
Water Cooled PP Films. Among the differenttechniques commercially available is shell Tubular Quench (TQ) process, which involves downward extrusion from an annular die followed by rapid coolingon water-covered converging boards. At the same time the tubular molten film isinflated with air in the normal way to give it the required layflat width andthickness. |
| |
|
| | Another process known is the Dow-Tagaprocess. In this process, the blown film goes through a hollow ringwhere it is coated with a film of water which flows from the ring and on to thefilm before it is collapsed. The water film that runs down the convergingboards shock cools the film and causes rapid crystallites formation and hencethe formation of small spherulites with a consequent increase in clarity. Different sizes of rings must be used tomatch changes in blow up ratios whereas with the TQ process, no changes in equipment areneeded when making different diameters of tubular film. | Click to Enlarge |
|
|
|
Advantages. Among theadvantages of the water-cooled tubular process mentioned above are (1) lowcost, (2) ease of conversion into bags and (3) flexibility of operation. Thesefactors have been largely responsible for the large-scale penetration oflow-density PP films into packaging markets. Techniques of water-coolingtubular PP film, however, have opened up ways of producing clear films, withgreater toughness and at no greater cost than cast PP (cPP) films. The TQprocess is particularly valuable for outputs of film below the economic outputof a cast film line. Costs are much lower and benefit from the greatflexibility of the blown film process and the absence of edge trim waste. |
| |
|
iPP films can be produced at ahigh throughput, with excellent film optics and increased tensile strength. |
|
|
| Improved EVALENE PHF0702 Thin iPP Grade |
Evalene PHF0702 is a homopolymerthin iPP grade developed for general-purpose packaging film applicationsspecifically for 8- to 10-micron thicknesses. It is a 7 Melt flow grade with slip and antiblock additives, designedfor optimum balance of stiffness and impact performance combined with very goodopenability and optical properties. |
| |
|
Product Attributes: |
| | | | Improved Processability | | | | | Excellent gauge control in both monolayer and coextruded films | | | | | Very good openability | | | | | High gloss | | | | | Excellent clarity | | | | | Excellent balance of stiffness and toughness | | | | | Pellet to pellet and lot to lot consistency | | | | | Compliance with FDA regulation 21CFR177.1520 |
| |
|
|
|
| | | | |
|
Typical Applications: Evalene PHF0702 is used to makegeneral-purpose packaging films such as for Garment bags, food packaging, andother transparent packaging bags. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Customer Feedback. Feedback on EVALENE PHF0702 include: |
| | | | | | |  | | Excellent clarity (better than its competitor grades) | | | | | Very good openability | | | | | Easy processability | | | | | Good stiffness and bubble strength | | | | | Very good bubble stability | | | | | Lower temperature processing parameters |
|
| |
|
JGSPC’s policy tofocus on customer satisfaction has resulted in continuous efforts to upgradeits products and technical service for all of JGSPC’s valued customers. |
|
| |
*Reference: TheComplete Technology Book on Plastic Films, HDPE and Thermoset Plastics. Author:NIIR Board of Consultant & Engineers. |
| |
