Co-extruded Films in Mater-bi

The use of co-extrusion technology allows the properties of the individual grades of Mater-Bi to be incorporated into a multi layer structure.

26/03/08 Novamont, the leading Italian company in the bioplastics sector, is taking part in the Interpack 2008 event (Bioplastics in Packaging Area, Hall 7a, stand E05) and presenting its ground-breaking packaging solutions, particularly those using co-extruded films which combine various grades of Mater-Bi, the completely biodegradable and naturally compostable bioplastic.

The use of co-extrusion technology allows the properties of the individual grades of Mater-Bi to be incorporated into a multi layer structure. This yields a number of advantages and benefits, including expansion of the range of technical solutions available and films with improved performance in terms of mechanics and barrier-forming properties, processability on packaging lines, and aesthetic appearance.

Specifically co-extrusion improves performance in terms of:

Sealing:

Co-extruded films have differentiated melting temperatures, a factor which yields advantages in terms of processability on FFS-type automatic packaging lines. The solution, which has been in use for some time in the field of traditional packaging plastics, ensures a differential sealing temperature , superior to solutions offered by traditional plastics.

Surface properties:

External layers with tailor-made smoothness and COF values can be provided in order to improve film performance on automatic (FFS-type) packaging machines.

Aesthetic properties:

Since materials can be co-extruded with a wide variety of aesthetic properties including transparency/opacity and softness, developers and users are provided with yet another tool for optimising promotion of their ground-breaking product.