SABIC unveiled an innovative new polypropylene (PP)
resin product engineered to deliver enhanced properties in melt-blown fibers
for nonwoven fabrics at the recent RISI Asia Pacific Hygiene Products Symposium
in Xiamen, China.
The new product, designated SABIC PP 514M12, can
serve a wide range of potential end-uses in personal hygiene applications and
other market segments. It is the first grade of a new family of high-flow resin
compounds which SABIC started to develop only two years ago, and is expected to
be commercially available by end of 2018.
SABIC PP 514M12 is based on phthalate-free and
odor-free technology that offers very good processability for melt-blown fibers
with high levels of drawability, spinnability and uniformity.
The resulting nonwovens are developed to combine
high barrier properties and absorption with breathability in thin and
lightweight high-performance webs of enhanced conformability and reduced
material consumption.
With a final melt flow rate of >1,000 g/10 min,
melt-blown fibers made from SABIC 514M12 polymer open unique potential
manufacturing possibilities for very lightweight and thin nonwovens aiming to
provide improved wearability and air permeability, while maintaining very good
barrier property.
The potential improved absorption and barrier
performance of fabrics based on SABIC PP 514M12 polymer has also been
underscored in hydrostatic head tests, a frequent requirement for specific
configurations of spun-bond/melt-blown/spun-bond (SMS) nonwovens for hygiene
applications.
Moreover, SABIC PP 514M12 polymer with
phthalate-free, single-material technology aims to provide high purity and
enhanced customer convenience over incumbent melt blown resins and benchmark
blends. The polymer resin is supplied in regular pellet form, which facilitates
handling, storage and use.
More importantly, SABIC PP 514M12 can easily be
tailored to specific customer and application needs. Trials performed in
collaboration with a dedicated machine manufacturer’s high-speed machine using
production quantities of the new melt blown PP confirmed its very good
processing and performance properties on pair with or better than reference
market grades.
Subsequent sampling by selected nonwoven manufacturers
successfully underscored the innovative new material as a great candidate for a
wide range of potential end-use products, from diapers, sanitary napkins and
other hygiene applications. Beyond single-material and composite nonwovens, it
can also lend itself as base resin for color master-batches.