Borealis, a leading provider of chemical and innovative plastics solutions, launches unique, high stiffness polypropylene (PP) grade Bormod BH381MO to support manufacturers of industrial pails in meeting their increasing sustainability and product quality goals.New heterophasic copolymer Bormod BH381MO uses Borealis Nucleation Technology (BNT) to achieve a one-of-a-kind balance of excellent stiffness, flow and impact. The PP grade has a melt flow rate (MFR) of 35 that behaves like traditional MFR 45 grades. At the same time its stiffness level (tensile modulus) of 1700 MPa is more than 150 MPa higher than standard MFR 30 grades, yet with the same impact performance of softer grades. The higher stiffness performance is maintained in high temperature environments.
The combination of characteristics allows for lower processing temperatures and lower injection pressure including the possibility to fill more complex parts.
It also supports easier de-moulding. This creates a spectrum of productivity and associated environmental related advantages for converters within a one material solution. These include: between 10-20% reduction in cycle time with shorter cooling times; possibilities for downgauging and weight reduction; energy and cost savings through low temperature processing and low; injection pressures as well as faster cycles; reduced carbon footprint from less energy consumption; good stacking and drop performance for finished pails of all sizes.
The improvements offered by Bormod BH381MO are exemplified by the positive benefits experienced by Borealis’ customer Wolf Plastics, an Austrian container producer. Borealis worked closely with Wolf Plastics from the start of the new grade’s development, taking the company’s end product processability requirements and trial feedback into account to achieve the resulting material innovation that responds to the market’s needs.
Wolf Plastics has taken advantage of Bormod BH381MO’s low temperature processing performance to achieve shorter cooling times for its pails. In combination with its increased stiffness and reduction in injection pressure, this leads to reduced cycle times and lower energy consumption during manufacture.
The improved stiffness at higher temperatures means that Wolf Plastics’ customers can work with added assurance and without waiting delays.
The combined stiffness / impact resistance performance will also make it possible for Wolf Plastics to deliver improved performance to their customers in the future. Another achievement is that the company can use the same PP material for its full range of pails in order to reduce its inventory requirements as the previous MFR 20 grade used by Wolf was unsuitable for small pails due to its low wall thickness.
“New Bormod BH381MO is an excellent example of the mutual benefits that can be achieved by working together with customers, no matter what their size, in the development of new products,” comments Nicholas Kolesch, Borealis Marketing Manager Business Unit Moulding. “By responding to the key requirements identified by Wolf Plastics, Borealis has been able achieve a dedicated material solution that fills a gap in the market in terms of efficiency and overall performance for a more sustainable pail production process.”
In addition to large containers and pails for food, paint, DIY and other consumables, Bormod BH381MO is suitable for other packaging applications where high stiffness with good impact and good flow is required, e.g. thin walled packaging, houseware and transport packaging.
