Uflex launches Flexpet F-PGB-12

This 12 micron BOPET film features a specially modified surface treatment on one side that provides a very high barrier to oxygen. The other side of the film can be corona treated or left untreated as per the requirements of the convertor.

The OTR of this film is less than 6 cm3/m2/day at 23 degrees C and 0 percent RH. The film also does not require any coating or co-extrusion of polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) or ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) to enhance barrier properties.

An untreated BOPET normal film of 12 micron has an OTR as high as 135 cm3/m2/day; a normal film requires in-line or off-line PVDC/EVOH coating to enhance its barrier properties.

Further, Flexpet F-PGB-12 offers: good flexibility; exhibits very good optical properties and transparency; has good machinability and handling properties owing to high tensile strength at break (TSB); provides excellent barrier to gas as compared to normal BOPET film; and offers cost benefits compared to PVDC/EVOH coated/co-extruded substrates. It is being produced at all Uflex manufacturing facilities, located in India, the UAE, Poland, Egypt, Mexico and the US.

J.K. Sharma, assistant general manager, technical service and new product development, Films at Uflex, commented: ‘This film offers a clear cost advantage to the convertors over other PVDC/EVOH coated/co-extruded films and is widely used in the packaging for pet foods, roasted coffee and other oxygen and barrier sensitive food products. There is a huge demand for this cost-effective speciality BOPET film and we are getting good number of business enquiries.’

Pramod Sirsamkar, president, technical and new product development, Films at Uflex, added: ‘In a typical two ply laminate our latest film can serve as a superior oxygen barrier while the sealant layer can act as a great barrier to moisture. This is the simplest cross section that one can think of keeping the converting costs to a bare minimum without compromising upon the performance of the laminate. The F-PGB film complies with EU regulation and US FDA for food contact application.’

Ashok Chaturvedi, Uflex chairman and managing director, concluded: ‘This speciality substrate is yet another example of innovation to create value added differentiation for our clients globally. Considering its superior barrier to oxygen, the film can be laminated with a sealant polymeric substrate to render a superior two-layer laminate which is thin and light leaving much lesser carbon footprint at all the three stages of the product lifecycle – manufacturing; transportation and disposal.’

Read updates on the label films and packaging films markets in L&L issue 1, 2017