Israel’s Carmel Olefins (Haifa; www.carmel-olefins.co.il) has launched “Capilene CT 80A”, a high-impact grade of PP that is said to offer good transparency for injection-moulded applications. The product is a clarified and antistatic modified PP that is made with “Millad NX 8000” clarifier technology supplied by additives producer Milliken Chemical (Spartanburg, South Carolina / USA; www.millikenchemical.com). Carmel said “Capilene CT 80A” was the first in a new series it was developing to enhance its PP copolymer portfolio based on “Millad NX 8000”.

The new grade is said to combine excellent flow with many of the typical advantages of PP random and heterophasic copolymers to achieve outstanding transparency as well as very high gloss and good stiffness/impact balance. The ability to maintain high transparency with good impact performance at 0°C is particularly significant for refrigerated applications, Carmel said.

Shorter cycle times and energy savings are also realised from using the latest clarifier technology. For example, moulding temperatures are lower than previous generation clarifiers and the cooling time required before ejection from moulds is shorter. Carmel said the superior impact characteristics and performance advantages of “Capilene CT 80A” were a step forward for converters looking to reduce potential breakages and avoid stress whitening of highly transparent packaging and containers.

“The innovation opens up new prospects for customers serving the food and non-food containers and houseware segments to produce attractive transparent articles that are less prone to breakage during shipment and handling while also benefiting from energy savings during processing. It is a drop-in solution that we are looking forward to introducing to the market,” said Anita Vaxman, R&D and technical service manager at Carmel Olefins.

Suitable uses include food packaging, caps & closures, clear pails, large storage boxes, crates, heavy duty transparent toolboxes, appliances and toys.