New resin boosts transparency and gloss for rigid packaging, company
The US-based company said its Styron C-Tech for food packaging converters is a high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) resin that allows transparent formulations to be blended at “significant cost reductions when compared to traditional blends”. A company spokesman told FoodProductionDaily.com it was unable to provide a general cost saving figure as this would differ between converters depending on bespoke formulations, market segments and the traditional price paid for traditional materials.
“The value proposition is, however, strong to reduce costs,” he added. "Customers see this and are therefore readily willing to trial C-Tech.”
The resin was launched onto the European market last week and is currently being introduced into the Asia-Pacific region. The product was previously available to development partners as an experimental grade under the designation XZ 94018.00, said the spokesman.
Styron said the new product builds on the characteristics of its A-Tech resin - namely increased cost efficiency by delivering transparency at low formulation costs, lower extrusion temperatures and better processability – by adding high transparency and high gloss attributes .
Rigid packaging
With its stand-out aesthetics and sensory properties compared to traditional blends, C-Tech can be used in all types of rigid food packaging, said Styron. The firm said the resin had been successfuly introduced into the bakery and delicatessen market through BOPS (bi-oriented polystyrene) sheet extrusion during the trial phase.
“Styron C-Tech polystyrene is a response to the growing consumer demand to preview their purchase on the shelf, whilst offering our converters the same unique properties and benefits of the Styron A-Tech family,” said John Case, the company’s global market manager for packaging.
He added the resin “enables converters to adapt to market changes with a product that meets the brand owners’ expectations while offering the ability to lower costs to stay competitive in the marketplace”.
Technical information
Transparent packaging application for C-Tech are in form fill seal (FFS), preforms (DFS) and disposables and bi-oriented polystyrene (BOPS), as well as a gloss cap-layer for extrusion, said the company.
It has a density of 1.05 g/cm3 and a melt index of 6.3 g/10min listed as its physical characteristics. Mechanical traits include a tensile modulus (0.126 in (3.2mm)) of 2,700 MPa, a tensile elongation of >20 per cent, a flexural modulus of 2,600 MPa and flexural strength of 62.0 MPa.
Its thermal properties are listed as 72.0° C as its deflection temperature under load, with a Vicat softening temperature of 100°C.
Under the Gardner Gloss (60° thermoformed) measurement for its optical attributes it has a nominal value of 60, said Styron.
