DSM Akulon_ XS breakthrough in polyamide blown film processing now available in China

Royal DSM, the global Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company, announces that its customers in China now have access to Akulon® XS, an important new product that enhances the potential for polyamide 6 in blown film for flexible food packaging. DSM is introducing Akulon XS, an advanced modified grade of polyamide, at a special event at the Jinji Lake Grand Hotel in Suzhou on September 17th 2015. Akulon XS was first unveiled at the K 2013 show in Dusseldorf, Germany.

Thanks to its improved crystallisation properties, Akulon XS has an extended processing window, providing new opportunities in designing co-extruded multi-layer as well as monolayer film structures. Processors notice significant improvements in production when using the new material. One early adopter of the technology in China is J&A Industrial (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. “The cooperation with DSM enables us to deepen our customer understanding which has helped us to develop new business opportunities,” says Ms. Gao Xuewen, general manager of the company. “These business opportunities will secure our business growth for now and for the years to come.”

As awareness of the need for food waste reduction and shelf life extension grows, demand for barrier films for flexible food packaging continues to increase. Many barrier films are coextruded on blown film lines, and structures with seven, nine and even 11 layers are now quite common. This technology provides a cost-effective way of combining various functionalities, such as barrier, printability, sealability and impact resistance.

Polyamide 6 (PA6) is a very interesting option for use in such films, owing to its good barrier properties and its mechanical strength. The high crystallization rate of polyamide 6, however, can limit its processing window. Processors have to either compromise on productivity, or obtain improved process ability by blending the PA6 with special, and more expensive, amorphous polyamides or polyamide copolymers. This reduces the cost-effectiveness of the film.

Akulon XS from DSM resolves the issue. It crystallizes much more slowly in the film bubble than conventional PA6, giving processors more leeway in their processing conditions. The film in the bubble is also more stretchable; this results in a stable bubble with few wrinkles at higher blow-up ratios, without the need for blending with high amounts of polyamide copolymers or amorphous polyamides.

Slower crystallization also means that a large part of the crystallization takes place at lower temperatures—a necessary condition for forming a larger number of smaller crystals, which create less haze. By using Akulon XS in the skin layer of a multilayer film, processors don’t need to blend it with high amount of amorphous polyamide to reach less than 15% haze.

The final level of crystallinity in Akulon XS is the same as in conventional PA6, therefore offering exceptional mechanical strength and durability. Compared with conventional blending solutions, it offers higher tolerance to high temperature sealing and opens up possibilities for reducing the thickness of the polyamide layer in multilayer films.

Akulon XS is therefore making it easier and more cost effective for processors to make PA6 blown films for flexible food packaging, leveraging the unique barrier and mechanical properties of this high performance polymer.

More information can be found at www.dsm.com/packaging-graphic-arts.

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Royal DSM is a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials. By connecting its unique competences in Life Sciences and Materials Sciences DSM is driving economic prosperity, environmental progress and social advances to create sustainable value for all stakeholders simultaneously. DSM delivers innovative solutions that nourish, protect and improve performance in global markets such as food and dietary supplements, personal care, feed, medical devices, automotive, paints, electrical and electronics, life protection, alternative energy and bio-based materials. DSM and its associated companies deliver annual net sales of about €10 billion with approximately 25,000 employees. The company is listed on Euronext Amsterdam. More information can be found at www.dsm.com.