AtoFina Launches Its First Metallocene PE.

AtoFina Petrochemicals, Inc., Houston, has scaled up its proprietary metallocene catalyst technology to run in one of the world's largest Phillips-type slurry-loop reactors at Bayport, Texas. The first commercial grade of a new family of metallocene MDPE and LLDPE is Finacene ER2245, a medium-density (0.934 g/cc) blown-film grade (0.9 MI) for shrink films, shipping sacks, and food packaging. ER2245 films reportedly have enhanced toughness and exceptional clarity. A 1-mu film produced on an LLDPE extrusion line has a dart impact of 100 g and Elmendorf tear of 40 g/mil MD and 270 g/mil TD. This translates into 35% higher puncture strength and 60% higher tear strength than standard MDPE film, AtoFina claims. Its optical properties are comparable to those of LLDPE (10% haze, 60% gloss at 45[degrees]). It also boasts good shrink properties.

This material is said to be much easier to process on LLDPE blown-film lines than most mPE resins. It reportedly extrudes at low pressures and has excellent bubble stability. It can be used at 10-30% levels in blends with LDPE and LLDPE to increase strength and permit downgauging without compromising clarity. AtoFina plans initial production runs this year of mLLDPE grades at the Bayport site, which has a total capacity of 850 million lb/yr.