Aug 18 2005
Basell has extended its product portfolio of commercially available metallocene-catalyst based polypropylene resins marketed under the Metocene brand.
New high melt flow grades with desirable qualities for melt blown fiber extrusion applications are now available following extensive pre-commercialization production runs using proprietary Avant M metallocene catalyst systems in Basell plants in Wesseling, Germany and Bayport, Texas.
"Fine-tuning of the metallocene catalyst by our R&D community led to a unique polymer structure that is particularly well suited for the melt blown process," said David Fischer, technical leader of Basell’s global Metocene business unit. “This new generation of metallocene catalysts permits the production of low viscosity, high melt flow resins directly in the polymerization reactor without the need for peroxide coating or an additional visbreaking step by the converter.”
Metocene flake grades with melt flow rates of 500, 1200 and 1800 g/10, respectively, are now available in commercial quantities in North America for customer trials. For the European market, Basell has developed pelletized melt blown resins with melt flow rates of 1200 and 2300 g/10’ to meet local demand.
“As demonstrated in multiple field trials on pilot and commercial scale equipment, the peroxide-free Metocene melt blown resins offer a cleaner and more consistent product with benefits such as prolonged time between die clean-ups, reduced scrap rates, elimination of spinning smoke and increased output,” said Dan Bugada, customer project manager for the Metocene business unit in North America. “The improved productivity is complemented with improved softness and barrier properties desirable for nonwoven fabrics.”
“Initial market feedback has been very positive, and the combination of enhanced resin consistency, reduced energy requirements for conversion, low emissions and improved barrier properties are attracting significant market interest,” Bugada added. “At a time when there is more emphasis on cost efficiency and environmental issues, Metocene melt blown polypropylene resins are an increasingly attractive alternative to conventional melt blown resins.”
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