K 2007 - Düsseldorf, Germany, October 24-31, 2007
DuPont Performance Elastomers - Hall 06 Stand 06/D27

MASTERBATCHERS TO GAIN FROM LATEST VITON® FREEFLOW™ Z210 AND Z110 PROCESS AIDS FROM DUPONT PERFORMANCE ELASTOMERS

Viton® FreeFlow™ Z210 and Z110 process aids for polyolefins are compliant with food contact regulations in Europe for use in finished film-type food packaging materials, and can lead to production economies and greater clarity and consistency in extruded sheet, films and other thin-walled structures.

The launch of Viton® FreeFlow™ Z210 and Z110 process aids for polyolefins at K 2007 — tailoring DuPont Performance Elastomers (DPE) proprietary Z Technology™ products primarily for masterbatchers — follows the success of the company’s Viton® FreeFlow™ Z200 and Z100 products among resin manufacturers since introduction in 2002. The Z210 and Z110 extensions to the Z Technology™ family of products for producers of extruded sheet, films, pipes, and other thin-walled structures offer potential cost savings in faster elimination of melt fracture, reduced die build-up and lower extrusion pressure, combined with exceptional thermal and colour stability and film clarity, while achieving optimum efficiency at significantly lower dosage levels than conventional process aids.

According to DPE, the latest Viton® FreeFlow™ process aid extensions will offer masterbatchers all the benefits of Z Technology™ enjoyed by resin manufacturers. Both are optimized for moderate mixing conditions, including direct dosage during production of solution LLDPE; high concentration masterbatches with over 2 per cent process aid, especially with LDPE carrier; blown film using 1 to 3 MI (Melt Index) LLDPE and LL/LD blends, and extrusion under low shear mixing conditions.

Viton® FreeFlow™ Z210 uses a proprietary polycaprolactone (PCL) interfacial agent which is more oxidatively and thermally stable than conventional polyethylene glycol (PEG) based process aids in the broadest range of processing conditions. A key advantage is its effectiveness in reducing odor in the final product and minimizing negative interactions with other film additives such as antioxidants, antiblocks and ultraviolet stabilizers.

Viton® FreeFlow™ Z-110 offers improved performance and uses a lower level of PEG as an interfacial agent than other fluoroelastomer polymer process aids. Among its benefits are: reduced potential for olfactory effects in the final product; reduced screw slippage in film extruders that can be caused by excessive PEG, reduced breakdown from oxidatively unstable components and lower negative interactions with other film additives.

Rapid adoption

“When we launched Viton® FreeFlow™ Z Technology™ in 2002, the new generation process aids were rapidly adopted by resin manufacturers and film converters, particularly in the USA. Since then we have tailored the technology in response to the specific needs of masterbatchers, hence the launch of Viton® FreeFlow™ Z210 and Z110 process additives this week. Based on data from our own trials, and by a major European converter, we expect these important extensions to the growing Z Technology™ family to provide outstanding performance and economy under a wide variety of extruder conditions that cause other process aids to function marginally,” said Christopher A. Fisher, Global Marketing Manager - Viton® FreeFlow™.

Like the established Z Technology™ products, Viton® FreeFlow™ Z210 and Z110 take advantage of DPE’s proprietary large-particle fluoroelastomers technology and PCL or PEG interfacial agents. The resulting large particles of fluoroelastomer coat internal die surfaces more quickly and clear melt fracture faster — and at significantly lower dosage levels — than conventional process aids.

Cost savings

DPE’s Z Technology™ process aids are compliant with food contact regulations in Europe for use in finished film-type food packaging materials. Now, with the enlarged Viton® FreeFlow™ Z200/210 and Z100/110 line, resin manufacturers, masterbatchers, film converters and producers of extruded sheet, films and other thin-walled structures will find a Z Technology™ product to improve their specific process.

Among reported key benefits in polyolefins film production are faster elimination of melt fracture, lower extrusion pressure, reduced amperage and torque, and reduced die build-up. These characteristics can lead to improved performance on difficult-to-condition lines, those with frequent formula changes and in masterbatches containing pigments — and ultimately to cost savings and increased output. For the end user, the effect of Viton® FreeFlow™ Z200/210 and Z100/110 process aids can be seen in clearer, more consistent products of higher quality for simple to complex film packaging applications.

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