LyondellBasell (Rotterdam / The Netherlands; www.lyondellbasell.com) has introduced a high-clarity PP- and metallocene-based copolymer for potential use in extrusion and injection blow moulding applications for cosmetics packaging where clarity and gloss are required. Produced using the company’s proprietary single-site catalyst, the “Metocene” RM2231 resin combines high transparency with the typical attributes of PP-based copolymers, including flowability, thermal and impact resistance, and recyclability, LyondellBasell said. In a 1mm plaque produced using Metocene RM2231, the resin was claimed to show only 4% haze, exceeding the values of previous benchmarks, which showed 6% to 10% haze.

Bernd Schütz, marketing manager for “Metocene” resins at LyondellBasell, said that users have found the new grade to be a more cost-effective solution than using PET: “We were able to combine the clarity and gloss of PET with the density and recyclability advantages of PP. Customers have begun replacing PET applications produced using injection blow moulded technology with “Metocene” RM2231 resins processed on extrusion blow moulded equipment, as they have found the new grade to be a more cost-effective solution.”

The new resin is produced in Europe and is commercially available worldwide.