Shielding film allows more flexible electronic designs

GE Structured Products has introduced a new approach to electronically shielding telecommunication devices, computers and other electronic products. The new film-based product, Formable Shielding Film, works by applying a special ink technology to engineering thermoplastic films. This technology allows custom patterns to be screen-printed on Lexan or Valox film, which is then formed into the required shapes and applied to the final electronic component.

The sheilding films can be applied by fabrication or second-surface insert molding.

Lexan and Valox films are characterized by high heat stability, excellent dielectric strength, and a UL94 VO rating. The formability of the films and the ink allow a host of multifunctional three-dimensional parts to be produced with fully integrated shielding and insulation.

GE Plastics 800/437-5278

New non-metallocene catalysts produce high performance HDPE and LLDPE

Equistar Chemicals has announced the discovery of new catalysts that have the potential for producing a broad range of easy-processing and high-performance polyolefin polymers, including high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE).

“Not only do polymers produced by the new catalysts have properties that overcome many of the deficiencies of conventional metallocene-HDPE, but they also have processing properties more closely resembling HDPE produced using chromium catalysts,” say Dr. Mark Mack, director, catalyst and process R&D.

Star non-metallocene, single-site catalysts can produce both a high performance HDPE and an easy processing HDPE. The materials have improved puncture strength, dart impact, tear resistance and tensile strength compared to loop-reactor, chromium-catalyst-based HDPE film resin.

Equistar’s next-generation, Ziegler-Natta catalyst system also produces high-performance hexene (HPH) copolymers with better processability and tear strength properties compared with metallocene LLDPE and other Ziegler-Natta LLDPE, according to the company.

Equistar reports that the HPH grades compare very well competitive “super hexene” grades of LLDPE. HPH offers substantially better melt strength and film impact (dart drop), at comparable modulus and tear strength.

Commercial quantities of HPH LLDPE are now available. The Star single-site catalysts for HDPE are at pilot plant stage.

Equistar 713/652-7300

Nylon has superior food packaging properties

Mitsubishi’s Nylon-MXD6 provides superior gas barrier and aroma preserving properties for packaging. Co-extruded, co-oriented films of Nylon-MXD6 are tough, highly transparent and resistant to pinholes and heat.

The material is easily thermoformed, and it is possible to co-extrude it not only with polyolefins, but nylon 6, nylon 66, PET, polycarbonate, and other materials with a relatively high processing temperature range. In addition, it can be co-injected with various combinations of other polymers.

According to Mitsubishi, Nylon-MXD6 provides the best gas barrier property among nylon resins, even under high humidity.

Mitsubishi Gas Chemical America, Inc.

212/752-4620