- Advantages over organics
- Masterbatch prevents migration of slip additive between film surfaces
- FDA compliant
Dow Corning has launched a new masterbatch designed to reduce the coefficient of friction (COF) in high-speed form-fill-seal (FFS) packaging operations. Dow Corning MB25-035 masterbatch was developed as an alternative to organic additives, whose slip performance is known to degrade over time and at elevated temperatures. Used as a slip additive for low-density polyethylene (LDPE) blown film, the masterbatch only needs to be incorporated in the outside layer of the film, unlike organics that are used in all layers. This saves money and prevents migration into package contents. In addition, the masterbatch prevents die build-up and gel deposition.
Advantages over Organics
Because commonly used organic slip additives, including erucamide and oleamide, rapidly migrate to the film surface and dissipate in a short period of time, delays between film extrusion and FFS operations can result in a loss of slip performance. Organics also lose effectiveness at elevated temperatures, such as exposure to hot foods. They can migrate between film surfaces during rolling and storage, a common issue in film applications that can influence the downstream process that packaging materials usually undergo, such as printing, sealing and handling.
Masterbatch prevents migration of slip additive between film surfaces
Unlike organics, Dow Corning’s formulation prevents the migration of the slip additive between film surfaces during rolling and storage. Dow Corning MB25-035 masterbatch retains very good COF reduction values at low loadings – for example, 0.2 COF in film against steel contact at 3 percent loading. Additionally, the new product does not exhibit stickiness and enables smooth feeding into the extruder. Further, it does not build up on extrusion dies or deposit gels on the film surface.
FDA compliant
Dow Corning MB25-035 masterbatch is compliant with U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and European Union (EU) 10-2011 food contact requirements, which are emulated in many Asian nations. Suitable for LDPE resins and blends, and designed to be compatible with linear low-density PE (LLDPE) for FFS and lamination as well, the masterbatch is supplied in easy-to-dose pellets.
