K 2013: Dow effectively combines PE and PP; talks packaging market

Düsseldorf — During its K 2013 press conference, Dow Chemical's elastomers group unveiled a compatibilization technology that combines both non-polar and polar polymers with polypropylene (PP).

Specifically, Dow's Intune PP-based olefin block copolymers combines polyethylene (PE), polyolefin elastomers (POE) and polar materials such as ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) and polyamide (PA) with PP.

"It's a breakthrough technology that provides the best benefit from each material,"  said Kim Ann Mink, president of elastomers, electrical and telecommunications at Dow Chemical. "It offers an enhanced performance at lower cost."

Intune is targeting a variety of end-markets, including packaging, consumer durables, transportation, construction, hygiene, and wire and cable, among others.

The diverse material and formulation options enabled by Intune PP-based OBCs create opportunities for unique blends and multi-layer structures that offer tuneable combinations of attributes and Dow believes it enables processors to achieve enhanced performance targets and lower overall systems cost.

The application is estimated to be commercially available early next year, Mink said.  

"Intune PP-based OBCs enable the creation of unique solutions that display the most desired mechanical, chemical and optical properties of PP with PE, POEs and polar materials, fundamentally changing the way the industry thinks about combining polar and non-polar polymers," the company stated.  

More packaging to reduce waste

If you go and visit Dow Chemical's stand, don't expect to be handed a sheet with a listing of resins.

"You will not see brochures of resins on the stand - that is not the Dow of tomorrow," said Diego Donoso, president of  Dow's polyethylene and packaging. "We're focused on providing solutions."

Donoso emphasized Dow's movement away from "only" being a resin provider, but rather a company focused on solving problems. 

For instance, Donoso highlighted FAO's World Food Day, which focused on sustainable food systems for food security and nutrition. 

He said that oftentimes there is talk about using less packaging, but he believes more packaging provides a better option, at least when it comes to food waste.

"I heard the former Nestle design of packaging talking about how more packaging is less waste," he said. "We have to be more efficient about solving food waste."

Dow also showcased its 100% PE stand up pouch, which Donoso says is a prime example of the company working with convertors and brand owners to solve problems together.

"Our stand up pouches looks to solve the problem of recycling those type of packages by eliminating extra layers," he said. "After all, maybe simplicity is what we need."