PETpla.net Insider 09 / 2019

MATERIALS / RECYCLING PET planet Insider Vol. 19 No. 09/19 www.petpla.net 30 and longer shelf life. Container manu- facturers were constantly required to create innovative packaging with diver- sified colours and new properties, in support of this huge market expansion. In support of this, Clariant Italia devel- oped a colourful new range of master- batches (issue 10). 2005 In issue 1+2 M&G reported that they were building the world’s biggest virgin PET plant with an output of 450,000 t/a in Brazil. Strong opaque colours for PET were growing in popularity. Holland Colours was comparing the pros and cons of liquid colours and solids in the same issue. One of the biggest brewing and bottling plants in Russia and Europe has extended the shelf-life of a popu- lar beer by six months. To achieve this, they were using Amosorb, a polyester based active oxygen scav- enger by ColorMatrix. The first PLA bottles popped up in issue 5. The Nature Works article on the PLA material appeared in issue 6+7. Clariant Italia compared the UV transmittance of PET bottles with a wall thickness of 300 μ with and with- out UV absorbers or amber shade in issue 9. In issue 11, Zimmer presented the latest generation of PET solid state polycondensation equipment. Döhler commented on the chal- lenges of filling dairy products in PET. They define oxygen-free bottling as of major significance (issue 12). 2006 At K 2004, Croda was launching IncroMax PET 100. In issue 2 the company showed a friction reduc- tion of up to 60% when using the product,without affecting the physi- cal properties or colour of the poly- mer. Every new application brings a new challenge. In the case of beer for the Russian market, ColorMatrix has been asked for a new generation of liquid colourants with the ability to remain stable if subjected to ambient winter temperatures of -40 °C (issue 3). In issue 4 Holland Colours showed how adding colour to PET that already contains an oxygen scavenger com- pound can have the undesirable effect of partially or totally destroying the action of the oxygen scavenger. Holland Colours developed a special high gloss white colourant for use on monolayer PET UHT milk packaging, named Holcomer (issue 9) 2007 Issue 3 and 4 featured a pres- entation on PET catalysts, including non-antimony alternatives. A major hurdle was that a new catalyst must have an activity comparable to that of antimony, both in the melt phase and also in the SSP. Possible NACs (non- antimony catalysts) are based on tita- nium, magnesium, silica or aluminium. We were identifying milk as the emerging market for PET in issue 3. ColorMatrix explained why white alone might not be the right option for PET packaging in this sector. Accord- ing to their explanation, it is impos- sible to obtain a complete light barrier with white only. The suggestion: A multilayer bottle with a black light absorbing layer in the middle. In issue 11, PETplanet reported that DAK Americas has completed work on its Cape Fear site near Wilm- ington, USA, adding 204,000 t of PET resin capacity. The plant uses Melt- Tek, Uhde Inventa-Fischer’s process, eliminating solid stating. The process allows the addition of various amounts of copolymers, to develop resins with improved properties. 2008 We were presenting solutions for sensitive beverages in issue 3. Colormatrix pointed out how additive blends can be tailored for convenient handling and ease of dosing. In an interview with PETplanet, Neo Group’s Managing Director Linas Bulzgys reported on how 2007 was very difficult for everyone involved in the European PET industry, caused by a significant over-production and bad weather conditions (issue 4). 2009 In issue 2+3 we reported that the price of virgin PET had steadied again after a dramatic fall. At PETpoint, ColorMatrix was launching Amosorb SolO2, designed to ensure extended product protection and longer shelf-life in oxygen-sensi- tive beverages. It is claimed to delay CO 2 egress by up to 30 days and protect from O 2 ingress for up to four months longer than PET with standard Amosorb. Rieter Automatic and Buhler developed a combi-crystal-PET (CC- PET) process which uses direct crys- tallisation to deliver dust-free, stable PET and crystallisable polyester. It combines pelletising, drying and crystallisation into a single process (issue 12). 2010 A new masterbatch additive for UV protection launched by Ampacet was claimed not to cause discolouration. CrystalClear achieves a clear non- yellow package with protection up to 380 nm (issue 7+8). In the same issue we reported on the launch of Atmer 7510, a slip con- centrate by Croda Polymer Additives. It should reduce surface friction by up to 60% without an adverse effect on PET.