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.