Polypropylene composition

Abstract

New polypropylene composition which combines low sealing initiation temperature (SIT), high hot-tack, good optical properties, like low haze and its use, and improved stiffness / impact balance.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)[0001]This application is a national phase of International Application No. PCT / EP2018 / 074543, filed on Sep. 12, 2018, which claims the benefit of European Patent Application No. 17192035.8, filed on Sep. 20, 2017. The contents of these applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention is related to a new polypropylene composition which combines low sealing initiation temperature (SIT), high hot-tack, good optical properties, like low haze, and improved stiffness / impact balance.[0003]The present invention is furthermore related to the use of the polypropylene composition and articles made therefrom.[0004]Polypropylenes are Suitable for Many Applications[0005]For instance polypropylene (PP) is applicable in areas where sealing properties play an important role, like in the food or medical packing industry.[0006]Heat sealing is the predominant method of manufacturing flexible a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention includes a type of composition that has improved sealing properties, meaning it has a low sealing initiation temperature and a high hot-tack. This composition also has beneficial optical properties, is stiff and impact-resistant, and has a high melting temperature.

Problems solved by technology

When a film is mono-layered however, the options available to the film manufacturer are much more limited.

It is currently very difficult to prepare monolayer films having optimal properties, e.g. good mechanical and processing properties and the person skilled in the art is therefore looking for new films which can provide improvements to these.

Especially problematic are optical properties as the more components used in a monolayer film, the higher the haze value of the film tends to be.

The problem faced by the film manufacturer is that by trying to improving one property, another equally important property tends to be detrimentally affected.

There are also real problems of compatibility between different polymers in a monolayer construction where all components are extruded together as a blend.

If polymer components are not compatible, inhomogeneity is evident in the formed film which is unacceptable for the manufacturer and consumer.

This limits still further the parameters which the film chemist can manipulate.

, which also creates problems in steam sterilization.

Disadvantages of the compositions of WO 2011064119 are that the hot-tack which is achieved with at least 3 components in the composition is too low and the melting points of such compositions will be by far too low in order to withstand steam sterilization at >120° C. In addition the SIT is too low as well (<70° C.) which creates problems in steam sterilization as well.

However, although much development work has already been done in the field of films suitable for different kinds of packaging, the films as disclosed in the prior art still do not provide a sufficient balance of low sealing initiation temperature (SIT) in combination with high hot-tack, improved optics and improved stiffness / impact balance, which are in addition suitable for sterilization, so that there exists a need for novel and improved film structures, providing films with improved sealing behaviour, i.e. lower sealing initiation temperature (SIT) and higher hot-tack force, in combination with improved optics, improved stiffness / impact balance and high melting temperature.