16 Jan 2003
MILLAD® CLARIFYING AGENT KEY TO NEW PRODUCTS FROM LEADING CZECH POLYPROPYLENE PRODUCER
Chemopetrol, the leading Czech supplier of PP and PE, is launching a new range of PP materials clarified with Millad® 3988 from Milliken Chemicals. The new products are part of a revitalised portfolio that results from Chemopetrol’s recently realised investment in a new polypropylene production plant which replaced the previous production facility. The new plant, using the Amoco gas phase process, increases Chemopetrol’s capacity to 250,000 tonnes/year. The unit, which came on stream during Q4 2002, produces the full range of homopolymers, random and block copolymers.
According to Mr Tomas Francirek, Chemopetrol, Sales Manager PP: “In addition to the existing Mosten polypropylene grades the new production plant will produce a large number of new grades, allowing a multi-market approach not only focused on injection moulding (IM), fibres and sheet extrusion, but also targeting injection stretch blow moulding (ISBM), extrusion blow moulding (EBM) and thermoforming (TF) using the new offer of tailor-made Mosten PP resin grades. The existing resins therefore will be renamed and incorporated in the new Mosten resin line up.”
Among the new Mosten resins, Chemopetrol brings to market a range of clarified homopolymers and clarified random copolymers based on 3rd generation Millad 3988 PP clarifying technology from Milliken. In total five clarified grades will be offered. Examples of the clarified homopolymer grades are Mosten MT230 and Mosten FK003, offering a narrow molecular weight distribution. The MT230 (MFI 30) resin is aimed at injection moulded thin-wall packaging and housewares for foodstuffs. FK003 (MFI 3) has been specifically developed for thermoforming transparent packaging of foodstuffs such as desserts, yoghurt and a variety of beverages.
The clarified random copolymers Mosten MT812 and MT935, with MFI’s of 12 and 35 respectively, are dedicated to injection moulded houseware articles for food packaging and the Mosten MT802 with MFI 1.5 is specifically aimed at extrusion blow moulded applications such as transparent bottles.
Chemopetrol chose 3rd generation Millad 3988 Milliken clarifying technology for its high quality Mosten cPP grades because it allows the company to diversify its resin offering based on distinct advantages, such as:
In addition to the well known clarifying characteristics of Millad® 3988, which give optimum clarity, Millad® 3988 also gives significant processing advantages particularly in the thermoforming and extrusion blow moulding conversion processes.
In thermoforming, Millad® 3988 makes a major contribution to increased melt strength thereby having a stabilising effect on the amorphous phase during heating prior to thermoforming. Consequently, the thermoformed film undergoes less sagging and deformation and results in more uniform weight and wall thickness distribution in the finished parts.
In the extrusion blow moulding process, Millad® 3988 will increase the melt strength which results in higher parison stability at elevated temperatures, allowing for maximum optical properties. Other advantages are increased productivity and improved top load and impact performance.
These new Mosten cPP grades, developed for TWIM, TF and EBM applications, will enable Chemopetrol to offer innovative solutions to the food and beverage packaging markets.
Chemopetrol, headquartered in Litvinov, a wholly owned subsidiary of Unipetrol, is the largest petrochemical enterprise in the Czech Republic. As part of the holding company, established in 1996 and operating in northern Bohemia, it is the leading supplier of polypropylene and polyethylene and of semi-finished products for the chem
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Notes for editors
With headquarters located in Gent, Singapore, Sao Paulo and Spartanburg, S.C., Milliken Chemical is a leading manufacturer of clarifiers and colorants for plastics applications. It is part of the Milliken Chemical and Industrial Specialties Division of Milliken & Co., a manufacturer of fabrics and yarns for the home furnishings, industrial products, automotive and apparel markets as well as packaging, textile and specialty chemicals. For more information on Milliken contact: Milliken Chemical, Ham 18-24, 9000 Gent, Belgium, or call 32 9 265 1104 www.millikenchemical.com.
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