According to the manufacturer, packaging made with its PP FPC45 has considerably higher top-load strength than equivalent products made with current benchmark materials. This in turn improves stackability, offering better economics in transport and storage.
The flow properties of the Sabic product allow for thin walling and fast injection, along with a higher crystallisation temperature that will let parts to be demolded faster.
The material is developed for production of rigid packaging with volumes ranging from 200ml to around 10 litres. Applications include containers intended for packaging foods and non-food products, and also can be used for caps and closures, as well as for production of housewares.
“We saw a need in the market for a material capable of delivering higher top-load strength and superior stiffness in hot filling applications, what we have achieved is significant. Sabic's PP FPC45 delivers a top-load strength that is some 17% higher than current benchmark materials commercially available today,” said Bert Claessens, the company’s polypropylene business manager, who also stressed how sustainability was an important goal in the development of the product.
“We regard Sabic PP FPC45 as an important step forward that should enable our customers to use less material and less energy to produce rigid packaging with the same or even better properties than before, more quickly than before.”
Sabic also has plans to reveal more new products towards the end of this year as pat of a “new wave” of rigid packaging design.
“We are upgrading our full portfolio to cater for unmet needs in the market. This is part of a major innovation drive in the company,” added Claessens.