Total Petrochemicals Focuses on Caps and Closures

Caps and closures is a key segment for Total Petrochemicals; the company has had a major presence in this market for several years. Total Petrochemicals’ large product range, encompassing HDPE, LDPE and PP resins, brings well recognised performances in all market segments such as food and beverages, personal care, household and pharmaceuticals.

By combining different proprietary process and catalyst solutions, these resins have been specifically developed to match the high requirements in caps and closures production (injection moulding and compression moulding) in terms of processability, aesthetics, mechanical and organoleptic properties.

In addition to more standard solutions, Total Petrochemicals has introduced the Lumicene® range of metallocene polyolefins, both HDPE and PP, leading to a more homogeneous (co)polymer composition. This translates to the following advantages:

• One of the essential packaging requirements of the food processing industry – and this includes caps and closures – concerns the organoleptic neutrality of the container. The packaging should in no way affect the flavour or the aroma of the drink. The superior organoleptics (odour and taste) of Lumicene® polyolefines are guaranteed by the absence of low molecular weight compounds, thus leading to the reduction of migrating compounds and VOC
• The narrow molecular weight distribution brings an improved dimensional stability, resulting in consistent shrinkage and high moulding reproducibility

Lumicene® HDPE resins, M5220 and M5220M, show additionally excellent stress-cracking resistance (ESCR), surpassing caps requirements for carbonated drinks. This superior ESCR behaviour vs. standard monomodal HDPE materials is clearly opening up new opportunities within the caps and closures market:

• The use of HDPE caps in extreme weather conditions, in particular in the hottest regions of the world
• A further weight reduction of HDPE caps

Lumicene® HDPE generates significantly lower injection pressures and temperatures on standard injection moulding lines. This benefit can be easily translated into energy savings and potential cycle time reduction, both contributing to cost competitiveness.

Within polypropylene, the Lumicene® random copolymers, such as MR10MX0, MR30MC2, MR30MX0 and MR60MC2, bring unmatched gloss and, depending on the grade, ultra high transparency, in combination with excellent organoleptic properties and purity for demanding applications. Cost savings can be obtained through cycle time reduction, thanks to optimised compromise between fluidity and impact resistance, and downgauging, linked to high rigidity. Last but not least Lumicene® proposes converters to reduce reject rate of out of specification parts thanks to a very high moulding reproducibility.