Basell launches Stretchene new high performance polypropylene family for use in customer injection stretch blow moulding applications

 May 22, 2007 - Basell is launching a new high performance range of developmental polypropylene resins called Stretchene which can address the highly specialised customer requirements of injection stretch blow moulding applications (ISBM).

The new family of resins features products that can outperform standard polypropylene in terms of rigidity, transparency, impact strength and production output. Stretchene resins’ properties and performance attributes address typical customer requirements for a wide range of ISBM applications used in food and household chemical packaging as well as hot-fill applications – historically the domain of traditional materials such as PET or glass.

Two new grades in the range include:

• Stretchene RP1685 - Due to this grade’s low density, (0.9 g/cm3) a significant weight reduction can be achieved compared to traditional materials such as glass and PET. The resin can also outperform conventional polypropylene in terms of rigidity, which enables very high topload potential without distortion. In addition, the material’s heat deflection temperature of 1090 C makes this polypropylene a competitive alternative to PET in hot-fill applications. 
   
• Stretchene RP1903 - Possessing the same density (0.9 g/cm3) as RP1685, this resin surpasses standard polypropylene in terms of clarity and provides very high transparency that is required for customer applications such as cosmetic packaging, historically the domain of HDPE-EBM and PET.

New territory for polypropylene

With its launch of Stretchene resins, Basell is expanding the performance envelope and end-use applications of polypropylene. According to Mike Rogers, Basell’s Innovation Manager responsible for the product launch, “This is just the first step in taking polypropylene to new ground. Stretchene resins for customer ISBM processes makes polypropylene one of the most cost effective options for producing bottles and containers for food contact.”

He added, “Excellent water vapour transmission rate, up to eight times better than PET enables the resin to address customer needs for the packaging of dried foods, milk powders and beverages. In addition, customers producing household chemical packaging can benefit from the excellent stress cracking resistance. We also plan to launch a similar version of the material to be marketed under the Purell resin trademark for use in customer medical and pharma applications.”

Production cost savings

According to Rogers, the wide processing window of both materials can provide customers with consistent product quality. “Bottles produced using Stretchene resins can be made at much lower pressures than PET, and the equipment that processes polypropylene does not require such a high pressure compressor. Since the material can be processed at low pressures, and the resin does not require drying, additional cost savings in floor space and energy can be achieved.”

ISBM – The technique of choice for thin walled, high clarity bottles

Today, ISBM is the most common technique used to produce thin-walled, high-clarity bottles. In 1-step ISBM processing, the injection to a preform and its subsequent stretch-blowing to a bottle are carried out on the same machine. After injection, the preform is cooled only to the stretch-blowing temperature, thus part of the injection heat is retained (first heat).

In 2-step ISBM processing, the preforms are injection moulded in the first step, in a separate injection moulding machine. In the second step the preforms are reheated by IR heaters before stretch-blowing.

For technical or sales enquiries, contact: isbm@basell.com .

Basell is the global leader in polyolefins technology, production and marketing. It is the largest producer of polypropylene and advanced polyolefin products; a leading supplier of polyethylene and catalysts, and the industry leader in licensing polypropylene and polyethylene processes, including providing technical services for its proprietary technologies. Basell, together with its joint ventures, has manufacturing facilities in 19 countries and sells products in more than 120 countries. Additional information about Basell is available at www.basell.com.

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For more information contact Waldemar Oldenburger, Basell Corporate Communications, at +49 69 305 854 59 or waldemar.oldenburger@basell.com  or please visit our newsroom on www.basell.com/content/newsrooms