An aluminium alternative
films that provide an ultra-high-barrier alternative to aluminium.
According to the company, a major advantage of these films,
compared to metallised polyester or aluminium foil, is their
exceptional performance after flexing and their better puncture
resistance, both of which contribute to better product protection
and shelf life.
One product, Metallyte 18XM882, is untreated on its polyethylene compatible sealable surface (non-metallised side). XM882/PE sealant can be used in an unprinted two-layer lamination for bag-in-box applications as an alternative to OPP/alu/PE, Pet/alu/PE and Pet-met/PE.
Exxon says that the structure fits well with the industry trend for downgauging and use of mono materials and allows both lap and gusset sealing. This enables brand owners to create stand-up formats, with reduced surface area compared to alternative structures such as PET or alufoil.
The company believes that the material is perfect for long conservation of products packed under modified atmosphere with little oxygen uptake in the pack headspace.
Metallyte XM882 has been specially designed to be receptive to extrusion lamination and coating, without compromising barrier properties or appearance. Moreover, the PE extrusion coating can be applied directly to the film's non-metal side without using primers. In regions of high humidity, this technology can be used to develop cost effective all-plastic high-performance barrier laminates.
The second product, Metallyte 18XM883, is treated on its PE sealant side and can be used in various structures. The presence of paper helps give the structure good stiffness as well as a more traditional look and feel, and the company has developed adhesive lamination for pouch packaging in the dry food market.
A PET sealant has also been developed for use in a wide range of applications for biscuits, wafers, dry powders and dry beverages. Exxon says that the structure meets the needs of products packed in soft and vacuum packs. For products packed under atmospheric conditions, Metallyte 18XM883 can limit the impact of moisture uptake and provide aroma and light protection.
The films business of ExxonMobil Chemical is a leading global supplier of a full range of oriented polypropylene (OPP) film for flexible packaging and labelling applications. ExxonMobil has seven affiliated production plants: three in Europe (Virton, Belgium; Kerkrade, the Netherlands and Brindisi, Italy) and four in North America. Its European headquarters are located in Luxembourg.
