Packaging technology reduces friction

Silicone supplier Dow Corning has launched a leading-edge technology designed to reduce the coefficient of friction (COF) in high-speed form-fill-seal (FFS) packaging food applications such as cookies.

This advanced silicone-based formulation was developed as an alternative to organic additives, whose slip performance is known to degrade over time and at elevated temperatures. Used as a slip additive for low-density polyethylene (LDPE) blown film, Dow Corning MB25-035 Masterbatch only needs to be incorporated in the outside layer of the film, unlike organics that are used in all layers. This saves money and prevents migration into package contents. In addition, it prevents die build-up and gel deposition, and disperses easily and completely for optimal slip performance.

Christophe Paulo, global segment leader of plastics and composites for Dow Corning, says, “Dow Corning has taken the lead in developing a next generation slip technology to help manufacturers around the world address the demands and stresses of high-speed, high-volume FFS processing. Our new MB25-035 Masterbatch offers superior performance from smooth dosing to extended slip performance to the elimination of troublesome build-up enabling our customers to optimise their productivity and avoid the interruptions commonly caused by competitive products, particularly organics.”

Commonly used organic slip additives, including erucamide and oleamide, rapidly migrate to the film surface and dissipate in a short period of time, delays between film extrusion and FFS operations can result in a loss of slip performance. Organics also lose effectiveness at elevated temperatures, such as exposure to hot foods. They can migrate between film surfaces during rolling and storage, a common issue in film applications that can influence the downstream process that packaging materials usually undergo, such as printing, sealing and handling.

Unlike organics, Dow Corning’s specialised formulation prevents the migration of the slip additive between film surfaces during rolling and storage. Dow Corning MB25-035 Masterbatch retains excellent COF reduction values at low loadings – for example, 0.2 COF in film against steel contact at 3% loading. In addition, the new product does not exhibit stickiness and enables smooth feeding into the extruder. Further, it does not build up on extrusion dies or deposit gels on the film surface.