Materials: Blown-film PE grade offers stiffness, impact strength, and more

Downgauging opportunity measured in double-digit percentages is among the advantages ascribed to Lupolen GX 4081, a new grade of medium-density polyethylene (MDPE), which is being marketed across applications ranging from agricultural and industrial film to food packaging film. The new grade is supplied by LyondellBasell Industries (Rotterdam, The Netherlands).

According to the supplier, Lupolen GX 4081 has a melt flow rate of 1.4 g/10min and a density of 0.935 g/cm³. Tests on 50µm films extruded with Lupolen GX 4081 achieve dart drop impact results of 330g. The material can be blended with standard low-density polyethylene. The application potential could range from agricultural and industrial film to food packaging film.

Mechanical tests also revealed that films extruded form the material offer a nice balance of mechanical properties in machine and cross direction. Haze values reportedly could be reduced by about half compared to conventional MDPE film resins. The film’s low coefficient of friction means slipping and antiblocking agents are not needed during conversion. The new grade is said to exhibit good bubble stability and a low gel level.
 The grades first will be made on a commercial scale in LyondellBasell’s European plants. —[email protected]