Morgan M. Hughes

Relative Taste Performance of Plastics in Food Packaging

Organoleptic properties of food packaging materials are an important concern of todays packaging industry. An evaluation of various polymers (ethylene acrylic acid copolymer, ionomer, and low density polyethylene) was conducted by in dependent panels to determine relative taste performance. The effect of extrusion parameters on the taste performance was also investigated.

A new class of ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymers produced from constrained geometry metallocene catalysts

Abstract Until recently, ethylene/propylene/diene (EPDM) terpolymers have been manufactured exclusively using vanadium based Ziegler—Natta catalyst systems. The vanadium based catalysts are known to have both product and process limitations. These limitations are due to a complex combination of factors including monomer reactivity, catalyst activity, reactor temperatures and pressures. Single-site metallocene constrained geometry catalyst (CGC) technology enables the manufacture of EPDM terpolymers at higher reactor temperature and catalyst efficiency than standard Ziegler—Natta catalyst systems. The unique combination of monomer, catalyst and process technology enables the manufacture of highly crystalline EPDMs having ethylene contents over 90 wt %. This study investigated these new highly crystalline EPDM terpolymers and their differentiation from commercially available EPDMs. The results indicated that these new EPDMs had very high green strength and barrier properties, yet could be cured by conventio...

Ethylene alkene elastomers for cable insulation applications

Filled insulation compounds have predominantly been based on ethylene propylene rubber. Ethylene propylene rubber is commonly accepted to encompass ethylene propylene copolymers and ethylene propylene diene terpolymers. Advances in polymer catalyst technology have enabled a broader diversity of ethylene based polymers suitable for cable applications. The ICEA specification for medium voltage cables also allows for filled insulation compounds based on ethylene alkene copolymers. Ethylene alkene copolymers contain the traditional ethylene backbone though they can have a longer alkyl side chain or branch. This class of ethylene alkene elastomers can have the same physical properties, flexibility and electrical performance as ethylene propylene rubber based insulations.