Norman Dorien Joseph Aubee

A new family of sHDPE polymers for enhanced moisture barrier performance

Conventional Ziegler-Natta catalyzed high density polyethylene (HDPE) homopolymer is used as a moisture barrier in the production of multilayer films for packaging dry food-stuffs and other moisture sensitive products. Barrier properties for these HDPEs are improved by narrowing the molecular weight distribution (MWD) and decreasing the molecular weight, at the expense of melt strength and processability. NOVA Chemicals Corporation has developed a new class of single site catalyzed high density polyethylene (sHDPE) resins for moisture barrier applications utilizing Advanced SCLAIRTECH™ Technology and NOVA Chemicals’ proprietary single site catalyst. These new sHDPE resins offer superior moisture barrier properties, exceeding the barrier performance of multilayer HDPE component films, without compromising processability.

Advanced solution process technology for cast film applications: New opportunities using novel catalyst technologies

Using a new advanced solution technology, NOVA Chemicals Corporation has developed an improved family of polyethylene resins, some of which are ideally suited for specific applications, for example, medium density for hygiene films and linear low density for stretch films. This new technology has been used to produce polyethylene resins with tailored molecular structure and processability. This new technology is based on an improved solution polymerization process using a new Ziegler-Natta catalyst. The rheological properties, particularly draw resonance, together with the physical and mechanical properties of cast films made from these new resins are presented in this paper. In addition, there is a discussion on the results of an investigation on the effects that different types and levels of stabilizers have on resin processing behavior and film stability.