Milliken to Launch Advanced New Nucleator at Pack Expo

Milliken Company will launch a new leading-edge nucleator for injection molding high-density polyethylene (HDPE) at Pack Expo International in Chicago, Nov. 2-5, 2014. The new polymer additive allows packaging manufacturers to achieve increased levels of productivity and performance and a reduction in material waste. Milliken will also showcase ultra-clear polypropylene (PP) featuring its Millad® NX™ 8000 clarifier, a superior technology vs. polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polystyrene (PS) for thermoformed, blow-molded and injection-molded plastic packaging. Further showcasing its technological capabilities and expertise, the company will display its full portfolio of polymer additive solutions for the packaging industry.

“Our additives transform the way plastics are made and where they can be used – with lighter weight and more sustainable materials,” said Cristina Acevedo, global product line manager for Millad, Plastics Additives, Milliken Company. “Milliken’s advanced additive technologies – such as our new nucleating agent and Millad NX 8000 clarifier – are enabling packaging manufacturers to significantly boost productivity and the quality of their products through increased performance, greater efficiencies and reduced systems costs. These technologies not only allow our customers to gain a first-to-market advantage, but also help to differentiate their products and increase their competitive edge.”

Milliken’s new nucleating agent is a breakthrough technology that provides packaging manufacturers with greater options for injection molding HDPE. These include improved cycle times for higher productivity, reduced part warpage and shrinkage, improved pigment levelling and a significant increase in part stiffness and heat resistance. The material also makes it possible to produce parts with thinner walls, reducing material usage, which results in lighter-weight packaging than previously possible.

Milliken’s Millad NX 8000 additive is the only clarifier in the packaging and plastics industries that can be used to produce ultra-clear PP for thermoformed food packaging applications. In addition to its exceptional clarity, ultra-clear PP with Millad NX 8000 clarifier is significantly lighter and less expensive than other polymers and supports sustainability efforts through recyclability and energy-efficient processing. Clarified PP is also a lower-density technology than PET, yet provides equal stiffness. Another benefit from using clarified PP with Millad NX 8000 additive in applications such as food trays and container bases is enhanced compatibility with the PP films commonly used for sealing.

Millad NX 8000 additive is Milliken’s fourth-generation clarifying agent. It helps create a superior PP product without the limitations of less-functional clear resins. The additive also increases the aesthetics of PP materials, allowing even thicker parts to approach the clarity of glass or amorphous polymers. Millad NX 8000 clarifier can be effectively used in virtually all processing methods including injection molding, blow molding and thermoforming.

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