Milliken’s Hyperform® HPN™
Hyperform HPN™, when utilized in polyethylene, enhances barrier properties in both flexible and rigid applications, while also providing better control over shrinkage. It is particularly effective in nucleating blown films made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), offering improved barrier performance and enabling the use of thinner films, which aligns with the goal of achieving more sustainable packaging.
Key benefits of using Hyperform HPN™ include advancements in crystallization behavior, reductions in cycle time and enhanced barrier performance.
In a blown film application, the use of Hyperform HPN™ has shown lower frost line height and the potential for reducing cycle times, resulting in improved productivity. When applied in blow molded applications, it enhances neck dimensional stability, achieves ovality ratios closer to the desired ideal and delivers barrier improvements that enable the use of thinner bottles in industries such as personal care, nutraceuticals, household and industrial cleaners (HIC), and fuel products.
In injection molding applications, Hyperform HPN™ offers cost-effective dimensional control that remains unaffected by color choices. It is particularly valuable for HDPE caps and closures, eliminating the need for specialized color masterbatches, process modifications, and dedicated molds. This simplifies processes, enhances productivity, reduces costs, and improves product quality.
Difference between Normal PE and Nucleated PE
Normal PE:
- Polymer crystallizes from the melt, forming spherulites.
- Spherulite size and orientation impact optical and physical characteristics.
Nucleated PE:
- Control of polymer crystal size and orientation is crucial for clarity and physical properties improvement.
- Nucleating agents create multiple nucleation sites, affecting crystallization kinetics and increasing crystallization temperature.
- Accelerates process cycle time.
- Imbalanced nucleation can cause residual stresses and warping in the final part.
- Hyperform HPN™ has high nucleation density and rapid kinetics, providing better control compared to conventional nucleators.
- Nucleators can orient polymer crystals, increasing stiffness.
- HPN allows balancing improved stiffness, optimal impact performance and low, isotropic shrinkage.
When purchasing a product, there will be a validation green sticker of Hyperform® HPN™ as a nucleator, as it enables notable energy savings of 5% to 8% when utilized in the production of thin-wall injection molded8 container lids or similar polypropylene products, as certified by UL/ECV.
UL Certifies Milliken’s Hyperform® HPN™ Performance Additive for PP Energy Efficiency
Subtitle: Milliken Chemical’s Hyperform® HPN™ performance additive for polypropylene (PP) has been proven by UL LLC to deliver substantial energy savings for injection molders during processing.
UL Environment & Sustainability, a division of the global UL group, has recently certified that four grades of Milliken Chemical’s Hyperform® HPN™ performance additive enable average energy savings of 5-8 percent for companies involved in injection molding of thin-wall container lids or similar polypropylene (PP) products. Although this certification initially applies to the Asia region, it has the potential to be recognized globally.
Milliken Chemical has no plans to stop there. Bhavesh Gandhi, the Global Product Line Manager for Hyperform in Milliken’s Chemical Business, states that they intend to seek UL certification for additional nucleators in various applications, including thermoforming processes. This showcases their commitment to expanding their range of environmentally friendly solutions.
This recent UL certification is just one of the steps Milliken is taking to assist its customers in reducing their environmental impact. Previously, their Millad® NX® 8000 clarifier for polypropylene received UL certification for energy savings. Among Milliken’s nucleation portfolio, Hyperform HPN™ products are the first to earn such recognition.
The utilization of Hyperform HPN™ not only allows for potential productivity improvements through reduced cycle times but also provides proven energy savings. Additionally, it enhances the performance of recycled PP, facilitating its increased utilization in various applications.
During the K 2019 show in Düsseldorf, Germany, Milliken showcased their commitment to enhancing plastics through color, care, clarity, and performance. They presented PP samples incorporating Hyperform HPN™ with the UL eco-label, demonstrating their dedication to sustainable and high-performing solutions.
Plastic General Regulation
Regulation
Description
Sources
FDA
(Food and Drug Administration) – US
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates all components to be used in food contact applications such as various types of plastic or paper materials, as well as additives or colorants to be used in polymers to enhance strength, flexibility, and clarity or appearance, and should be notified according to FDA requirements.
Furthermore, all final articles intended to be in contact with food and raw materials utilized to make these products that are placed on the market should be in compliance with US FDA requirements. Food contact materials are described in the Code of Federal Legislation
(CFR) – 21 CFR 174 – 21 CFR 190.
REACH
(Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) – EU
REACH is a regulation of the European Union, adopted to improve the protection of human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemicals, while enhancing the competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry. It also promotes alternative methods for the hazard assessment of substances in order to reduce the number of tests on animals.
In principle, REACH applies to all chemical substances; not only those used in industrial processes but also in our day-to-day lives, for example in cleaning products, paints as well as in articles such as clothes, furniture and electrical appliances. Therefore, the regulation has an impact on most companies across the EU.
REACH places the burden of proof on companies. To comply with the regulation, companies must identify and manage the risks linked to the substances they manufacture and market in the EU. They have to demonstrate to ECHA how the substance can be safely used, and they must communicate the risk management measures to the users.
If the risks cannot be managed, authorities can restrict the use of substances in different ways. In the long run, the most hazardous substances should be substituted with less dangerous ones.
REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. It entered into force on 1 June 2007.
RoHS
(Restriction of Hazardous Substances) – EU
EU legislation restricting the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) and promoting the collection and recycling of such equipment has been in force since February 2003. The legislation provides for the creation of collection schemes where consumers return their used waste EEE free of charge. The objective of these schemes is to increase the recycling and/or re-use of such products. The legislation also requires certain hazardous substances (heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and hexavalent chromium and flame retardants such as polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) or polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)) to be substituted by safer alternatives. Waste EEE poses environmental and health risks if inadequately treated. The RoHS and WEEE directives on electrical and electronic equipment were recast in 2011 and 2012 to tackle the fast increasing waste stream of such products. The aim is to increase the amount of waste EEE that is appropriately treated and to reduce the volume that goes to disposal.