Packaging metallocene polyethylene

A textured metallocene polyethylene foam sheet suitable for use in a floor covering is made using a highly coactivated azodicarbonamide package which blows the metallocene polyethylene effectively. The preferred coactivators are zinc oxide and urea. The textured surface of metallocene polyethylene foam is formed by a chemical embossing process which utilises a liquid triazole having an alkyl moiety as a foam-expansion inhibitor. The triazole is dissolved in a non-polar solvent to form the foam inhibitor. The preferred inhibitor is a hydrocarbon which may be halogenated. 

Harden s (27) market survey of the growth of polyolefin foams production and sales shows that 114 x 10 kg of PE was used to make PE foam in 2001. The growth rate for the next 6 years was predicted as 5-6% per year, due to recovery in the US economy and to penetration of the automotive sector. In North America, 50% of the demand was for uncrosslinked foam, 24% for crosslinked PE foams, 15% for EPP, 6% for PP foams, 3% for EVA foams and 2% for polyethylene bead (EPE) foam. As protective packaging is the largest PE foam use sector, PE foam competes with a number of other packaging materials. Substitution of bead foam products (EPP, EPE, ARCEL copolymer) by extruded non-crosslinked PE foams, produced by the metallocene process was expected on the grounds of reduced costs. Compared with EPS foams the polyolefin foams have a lower yield stress for a given density. Compared with PU foams, the upper use temperature of polyolefin foams tends to be lower. Eor both these reasons, these foams are likely to coexist. 

Metallocene linear low density polyethylene (mLLDPE) 0.916-0.925 Stretch films, industrial sacks, shopping bags, form/fill/seal applications, frozen food packaging Butene coppolymer C4 LLDPE, LDPE-LLDPE blends, EVA, ULDPE, ionomer layers... 

Metallocene medium density polyethylene (mMDPE) 0.932 Good optics food packaging films, personal care, agriculture Low density polyethylene (LDPE)... 

Metallocene based polyolefins and polyolefin elastomeric compositions (POE) are often noted in supplier product literature to exhibit useful (and commercially viable) properties in blends with other polyolefins. Metallocene based polyethylene has also been noted to have the potential to replace the LLDPE/LDPE blends that are employed in a myriad of film applications [32 ]. PP/metaUocene ethylene-a-olefin copolymer blends for car interior applications have been noted [33 ]. MetaUocene-LLDPE blends with HDPE have been proposed for heavy-duty industrial grade bags as well as food packaging films [34]. Exxon-Mobil product literature notes the utility and ease of blending the metallocene LLDPE Exceed with other polyolefins. PP/POE blends showed similar mechanical properties and lower viscosity than the more conventional PP/EPDM blends [35]. Polyolefin plastomers (POP) imder the tradename Affinity GA were introduced by Dow as a polymer blend additive to improve the flow without loss of... 

Ethene VLDPE, very low-density polyethylene Metallocene catalysts Hoses, tubing, food packaging... 

Shrink-wrap films require good heat sealability and biaxial shrinkage to encapsulate the contents of packages. In addition, they must also display good puncture and tear resistance, especially at the elevated temperature required for shrinking. Low density polyethylene films are generally used in this application. When greater clarity is required, metallocene-based linear low density polyethylene may be used. 

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