Extrusion International 6-2019

REVIEW 56 Extrusion International 6/2019 MOL Gruppe www.molgroupchemicals.com New PP Resin clears the Way for New Extrusion Blow Molding Applications brand owners to optimize this EBM-specific additive, to ensure it delivered the desired properties without compromising transparency or machine production speeds. The easy-to-recycle resin performed well in drop tests at 4°C for refrigerated applications and, MOL notes, its optical properties will not change even when used with 30% regrind material that is being reused from virgin TIPPLEN R 665 XClear scrap. Additionally, MOL notes there is no need to use a mir- ror polished mold finish to achieve excellent gloss and clarity. This makes it easier to process and can help avoid challenges with air entrapment. The improved rheology of the grade, combined with the presence of the Millad NX 8000E clarifier, serves to overcome the inherent shear stress created during extrusion. The result is excellent optics, while maintaining the standard mechanical properties. MOL’s TIPPLEN R 665 XClear enables PP to replace more expensive, less functional, or difficult to pro- cess materials such as PET, PVC and polycarbonate in various blow molding applications. This can include replacing glass or PETG in such applications such as easy-squeeze bottles. Hungary’s MOL Group showcased at K 2019 a new grade of polypropylene specifically tailored for extru- sion blow molding (EBM) that offers excellent optical properties in terms of transparency and gloss. This development means PP can finally compete with PVC or PET when it comes to transparency in EBM applica- tions. Modified with Milliken Chemical’s Millad ® NX ® 8000E clarifier, MOL’s resulting random copolymer – TIPPLEN R 665 XClear PP resin – also offers a fresher look, very low haze, a low yellowness index, and tun- able aesthetics. While MOL Group highlighted the resin at the booth, a pair of machinery manufacturers also was running the grade on their stands at K 2019. Czech machinery maker GDK spol. s.r.o., and Italy’s Plastiblow Srl used the EBM process to blow mold cosmetic bottles with TIPPLEN R 665 XClear PP at the fair. TIPPLEN R 665 XClear works on all types of EBM ma- chines, including single-station shuttle, double-sta- tion shuttle and long-stroke EBM machines. And it is suitable for use in all types of bottles. Millad NX 8000E has been designed specifically to pro- vide a step change in optical properties with standard Ziegler-Natta polypropylene EBM resins. It eliminates the “milky” appearance normally associated with PP in blow molding, and enables PP to replace more expen- sive, less functional, or difficult to process materials. Milliken says it worked for several years with ma- chine manufacturers, resin producers, converters and MOL Group’s new TIPPLEN R 665 XClear PP resin clears the way for new extrusion blow molding applications (Photo © 2019MOL Group)