FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany—Dow Performance Silicones unveiled a new silicone-based technology that significantly reduces the coefficient of friction of low density polyethylene film to optimize flexible packaging production.
MB25-235 masterbatch is approved for food contact under the European Union 10-2011, U.S. Food & Drug Administration and Chinese GB4806.1-2016 and GB9685-2016 regulations. It also has applications in food and non-food packaging using form-fill-seal technology, according to a Dow news release.
It delivers a consistently low, stable coefficient of friction that is unaffected by time duration or temperature, and maintains the film's critical mechanical properties including tensile and tear strength, according to Dow. Unlike organic additives, MB25-235 will not migrate to the film surface, which helps prevent impact on downstream operations, such as printing and metallization and potential contamination of food or other contaminants.
Dow said it is also more cost-effective, as it only needs to be incorporated into the outer layer of multi-layer films, which reduces the required amount. It is effective at low loadings of 2-4 percent by weight in the film layer, which also minimizes haze.
MB25-235 is one of Dow's newest silicone-based masterbatches for flexible packaging, which also includes HMB-6301, for reducing coefficient of friction in bi-axially oriented polypropylene film, Dow said. HMB-6301 is used for BOPP and polypropylene cast films used in food bags, wrappers, packages and pouches. Meeting EU and U.S. FDA food contact compliance requirements, it lowers friction that can negatively affect the film's appearance and cause deformations and ruptures.
HMB-6301 is non-migrating, meaning no transfer from the silicone-treated face to the corona-treated face, which preserves the effectiveness of printing and metallization, Dow said. The masterbatch will not bloom or significantly affect the optical properties of transparent film.
The Dow portfolio of silicone-based masterbatch technologies for packaging applications also includes: MB50-001, for reducing COF and preventing scratching in polypropylene; MB50-002, which improves processing and flow of LDPE resin; MB25-502, which optimizes processability of LDPE and linear low density polyethylene; and MB25-501 for improving slip performance and processability of polypropylene.
More information about MB25-235, is available online.
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