Japan Polypropylene (JPP) has launched a high melt strength polypropylene (PP) resin dubbed Waymax which consists of a reactor-produced long chain branched (LCB) material based on proprietary catalyst and polymerization technologies.

According to the supplier, existing LCB-PPs are primarily produced via "post-reactor" modification and have some drawbacks such as fish-eye and recyclability. JPP, however, has succeeded in introducing LCB structure into the polymer chain using a metallocene catalyst.

Target applications for Waymax include foamed parts and large thermoformed components where high melt strength properties come into play. Furthermore, in film applications, Waymax can be used as a processing aid to eliminate fish-eyes and produce smooth surfaces.

Waymax is the latest edition to a series of value-added PP products developed by JPP in order to enhance its specialty PP portfolio and address competition in the commodity PP sector from other Asian PP suppliers. These include Wintec (a metallocene-based random copolymer with low melting temperature, low extraction and high transparency) Welnex (a soft metallocene-based reactor-TPO that does not use oil extenders or plasticizers), and Welnex/GF (a glass fiber-filled weld-less compound). JPP also supplies flame-retardant PP compounds (ETX series rated UL 94-V0) and Funcster long glass fiber PP compounds (manufactured in Japan, the US and China).