Rigid Packaging New
Rigid Packaging New bio-based, solvent-free lidding films bio-PET structural layer (30 % MEG from sugar cane) Proprietary biobased multilayer sealant, based on bio-PE engineered for high performance sealing Layer structure of LumiLid biobased lidding films In early March of this year Toray Plastics (America), Inc. from North Kingstown, Rhode Island, announced the introduction of new biobased lidding films. The two grades of LumiLid ® biobased lidding films are based on Toray’s original XLLS and XL5 lidding films. The biobased, dual-ovenable lidding films are manufactured with Toray’s proprietary sustainable resin blends. Both multilayer products consist of a structural bio-PET layer (30 % of which are made from sugar cane) and a specialty sealant layer, which delivers specified performance and seal- strength characteristics. This sealant is an extrusion coated proprietary multilayer structure made with a certain amount of biobased polyethylene. Thus the biobased LumiLid XLLS-based product shows a total bio-content of about 50 % and the XL5 based film of 35 % (validated by third party laboratory). Biobased LumiLid films were created to lessen the impact on the environment, as they use fewer petroleum resources while they are being manufactured, and to meet the needs of environment-conscious end users and consumers. In addition, like all LumiLid films, these are manufactured in a solventless process which ensures the films are odor-free. This may alleviate end-users’ concerns about solvent retention, as well as enhance the films’ sustainability profile. The new LumiLid films are designed for frozen, wet and dry food, and dairy applications. They are FDAcompliant for use with oven temperatures of up to 205 °C (400 °F) for 30 minutes. LumiLid films are also Interstate Milk Shippers (IMS)- certified, so they offer another level of assurance for dairy customers. “The next generation of innovative, bio-based film technology has arrived,” says Milan Moscaritolo, Senior Director of Sales and Marketing, Toray Plastics (America). “The option to choose a bio-based lidding film that has so many advanced features and such highperformance capability presents a unique opportunity to end users and converters.” LumiLid bio-based films have the same superior performance qualities that are characteristic of the LumiLid brand. They have a low seal initiation (SIT), broad seal range, outstanding seal integrity, and an easy peel. They are available in clear, white, and — for enhanced barrier properties — metallized formats. MT www.toraytpa.com 16 bioplastics MAGAZINE [02/15] Vol. 10
Rigid Packaging New cast PLA films Chemical Works NITRO-CHEM S.A. located in Bydgoszcz, Poland, in cooperation with Corbion Purac, are developing TRINIFLEX ® cast PLA films for rigid and thermoformable packaging. The cooperation started in 2014, with target applications in the meat packaging industry. The films are based on PLA from Corbion Purac, who have brought to market a range of PLA resins suitable for cast film extrusion. Triniflex unoriented cast PLA films distinguish themselves from BOPLA films currently available in the market by their good mechanical properties, very good thickness profile and excellent sealing performance. Triniflex PLA cast film at low thickness (25 – 70 µm) are also suitable for flexo reverse printing and laminating with thick compostable materials, giving extremely good optical print properties. The films can be successfully converted with standard technologies used in the packaging industry. Two application concepts for Triniflex cast PLA films are currently in development for rigid and thermoformed packaging, combining the high quality of Corbion Purac’s PLA with extremely unique cast film extrusion technology owned by Nitro-Chem S.A.: • Composite rigid trays made of natural bio-sourced fibrous material (e. g. paper pulp, sugar or palm tree cane pulp, etc.) laminated with Triniflex cast PLA films (25– 70 µm), • Thermoformable laminates of Triniflex cast PLA films (25– 70 µm) laminated with thick (200– 400 µm) PLA films or other thick, compostable films, optimized for printing. In a production process of unoriented PLA film, also known as the cast process, a layer of melted material is extruded from a flat nozzle onto a rotating, water-cooled roll. When producing cast PLA films, the material must be carefully pre-dried and the thickness and guiding of the web must be monitored closely. The specific properties of PLA require unique, dedicated technical solutions, making it possible to process on casting machines. Its high rigidity combined with perfect optical parameters allow for the use of this material in packaging applications as an alternative to PET, PVC, HIPS or cellulose derivatives. Unoriented Triniflex cast PLA films are characterised by their excellent twist-angle retention and deadfold-angle retention Deadfold-angle retention and twist retention performance of the cast PLA film is comparable to parameters of cellulose films and up to 20 % better than other thermoplastic materials. The cast PLA films are also characterised by good barrier properties for aromas, solvent molecules or oils. For example, their barrier performance against d-limonene is at a level similar to PET and PA-6. The cast PLA film barrier performance against water vapour is higher than that of PP, PVC or PET unoriented films, while its barrier performance against oxygen is higher versus HIPS and significantly lower versus PP, PVC and PET. Considering the described barrier performance, the PLA Triniflex film is suitable for packing food products of a short shelf-life, dry foodstuffs containing edible oils or frozen food. Standard PLA has a Tg of 55 – 65 °C , resulting in a low sealing onset temperature of around 80 °C. The cast PLA films are optimized for fast-sealing machines thanks to their good hottack properties. These properties give very promising results with thermal lamination of fibrous material trays, resulting in high uniformity and good lamination strength. The PLAlaminated pulp trays became water and oxygen resistant, and were extremely easy to seal together with other BOPLA or BOPLA–cast PLA laminate reverse printed top films. Their excellent optical parameters, twist retention and deadfold-angle retention, combined with possibilities for printing and sealing with other materials make the biodegradable, unoriented Triniflex cast PLA films an excellent choice for a wide range of applications in the packaging industry. www.triniflex.com.pl 350 300 Twist angle retention Deadfold-angle retention 250 200 150 100 Fig. 1: Twist-angle retention and deadfold-angle retention of selected films. 50 0 BOPP cPLA Cellophane BOPET BOPA-6 bioplastics MAGAZINE [02/15] Vol. 10 17
