Eastman Introduces UV Protected PET Polymer for Hotfill Applications
Eastman Chemical Company (NYSE:EMN) today introduced HEATWAVE polymer CF746 for hotfill polyethylene terephthalate (PET) beverage packaging applications. The new resin provides an additional feature of ultra-violet (UV) protection.
“Vitamins and flavors in hotfill PET applications such as isotonics, fruit juices, teas, nutritional and new age drinks can be adversely affected by exposure to light,” said Bobby Jackson, business market manager whose responsibilities include hotfill beverage packaging. “HEATWAVE polymer, a clear resin specifically designed for the hotfill market, provides the essential UV absorbers to protect these products from ultraviolet light.”
Jackson said Eastapak polymer 9663 has been widely used in heatset applications for more than ten years. “We expect Eastapak polymer 9663 to continue to be used in markets other than heatset, so there are no current plans to discontinue this product.”
Through a combination of co-monomer and processing optimizations, the proprietary HEATWAVE polymer enables 2-stage heatset blow molding at different temperature conditions than is possible with Eastapak polymer 9663. The polymer does not affect the cycle times when used in existing injection molding tooling. HEATWAVE polymer also provides superior reheat consistency necessary for heatset processing.
HEATWAVE polymer offers significant productivity and processing advantages in blow molding tooling. Reduced blow mold temperatures aids maintaining high-clarity in the container and also results in less downtime for mold cleaning. Converters can use cold blow molds while achieving equivalent hotfill performance. “Improved hotfill performance offers the possibility of downgauging to a thinner-walled container in some applications,” said Jackson.
Because the UV absorber in HEATWAVE polymer is chemically bound, it does not migrate to the surface. This allows converters to more easily obtain consistent UV performance with their containers.
Developed for food contact containers, HEATWAVE polymer meets applicable FDA regulations for hotfill containers. The new product initially will target the U.S. hotfill container market, with plans to expand availability to other regions as regulatory approvals are obtained. Product sampling is underway, and commercial production will begin in April 2001.
Eastman offers a range of PET polymers uniquely suited to specific packaging applications, including mineral water, cosmetics, beer, carbonated soft drinks, and food. “Eastman continues to bring new innovations in PET packaging to the industry, and the introduction of HEATWAVE polymer is another step in our continued commitment to provide PET packaging solutions,” said Jackson.
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