PETpla.net Insider 03 / 2016

PET products 52 PET planet insider Vol. 17 No. 03/16 www.petpla.net Reduced yellowing in recycled PET bottles Clariant has announced the introduction of a liquid additive masterbatch that is said to minimise yellowing and greying of PET polymers caused by the introduction of post-consumer- recycled resin (PCR). The optical brightening products, which are part of the HiFormer family of liquid masterbatch solutions and application technology, can be used in a wide variety of PET resin grades and processes, including injection blow moulding, injection moulding and extrusion. The additive has received approval for food-contact applications from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. It is claimed that the Clariant liquid masterbatches are resistant to sedimentation and segmentation so they offer extended storage-shelf life. They are also said to be easy to use in gravimetric metering systems that ensure accurate dosing and clean operation. Let-down ratios as low as 0.025% have been used successfully. The liquid additives were tested on a production scale blow moulding machine in Clariant’s facility in East Chicago, IL, USA. Bottles made using 25% recycled PET and 75% virgin PET and no brightening additive were compared against bottles made with the same PCR resin and the additive in concentrations of 0.025, 0.035 and 0.05%. While the unmodified bottles showed significant yellowing, all the bottles made with the HiFormer additive were visibly brighter (less yellow and more blue), according to the company. www.clariant.com Tumble’s big brother PET Power has redesigned its standard 250ml Tumble bottle into a larger 300ml size. While maintaining the tear- drop design of the original, the larger bottle’s sleeker lines into its neck have allowed for a more streamlined shape which helps maximise on-shelf appeal. For added versatility, the new variant features the standard and frequently-used 28SP410 neck finish, and it can be combined with a wide range of standard closures and pumps, making the bottle suitable for many different products. The distinctive shape can be further enhanced by high- impact decoration for effective branding. The bottle can be produced in a variety of colours and complemented by attrac- tive screen printing. Its shape is particularly suited to shrink sleeves, which help to accentuate its stylish contours. The new 300ml Tumble bottle is the latest addition to the range of standard PET bottles and containers from PET Power. www.petpower.eu The uncoloured PET bottle on the left was made using 25% PCR while the one on the right has the same PCR content but with 0.05% of the PET enhancer added.