Extrusion International USA 5-2020

32 Extrusion International 5/2020 FILM EXTRUSION, MATERIALS DOW and Brückner are jointly devel- oping BOPE-LLD and BOPE-HD resins and films as well as barrier solutions for BOPE (biaxially oriented polyeth- ylene). All three fields of applica- tions have been tested at Brückner in the lab-scale using the laboratory stretcher KARO 5.0 ® as platform for film developments as well as on the pilot line and successfully trans- ferred to a production line. The successful outcome of the coop- eration with SABIC is a new BOPE- LLD material. Same procedure is now ongoing for BOPE-HD resins. NOVA Chemicals has been work- ing with Brückner to accelerate the development and commercializa- tion of a new high-density resin technology for the BOPE market. ner Maschinenbau for the produc- tion of the biaxial stretched poly- propylene and polyolefin-based films, Hosokawa Alpine for the production of MDO LDPE, ELBA to convert the finished film rolls into pouches, Constantia Flexibles to produce metallized high barrier stand-up pouches and finally Bobst with their high barrier, printing & lamination competence. The project has involved using dif- ferent high barrier mono-material structures, each one thoroughly tested to guarantee that all indus- try requirements were met in terms of processability, barrier, safety and optical quality. The different types of mono-material stand-up pouches (MDPE, BOPE, BOPP and From bilateral teamwork with raw material suppliers, masterbatch specialists and film producers to more complex cooperations along the value chain: Brückner is involved at many levels Cooperations for a Sustainable Future – BOPE is at the Head of the List Brückner’s pilot line was in the center of numerous development projects Besides BOPE-HD, Nova offers also BOPE-LLD grades. The optimization of polymers, mas- terbatches and process parameters necessary for innovative BOPE films was carried out by CONSTAB engi- neers on the Brückner pilot plant. One example is white opaque BOPE film: By combining two innovative additive masterbatches, excellent density values of to 0.7 g/cm³ were achieved, while at the same time providing very good stiffness. In the “Circular Alliance” six com- panies teamed up to produce new high barrier mono material flexible packaging solutions designed for recyclability. The partners include Dow, a resin supplier, for the first step in the production chain, Brück-