NOVA Chemicals rolls out fluorine-free PE resins for cleaner packaging production

CANADA – NOVA Chemicals has unveiled a lineup of polyethylene resins integrated with non-fluorinated polymer processing aids, enabling film producers to sidestep fluoropolymers amid tightening global rules.

The new offerings, spanning the Surpass, Sclair, and Novapol families, maintain steady extrusion runs with features like better frost line management and less buildup on die lips.

These resins also yield films with reliable slip characteristics and optical clarity on par with older fluorinated versions. 

Randy G. Woelfel, NOVA Chemicals’ senior vice president of products and technology, stated, “This advance lets our customers hit regulatory targets without halting lines or sacrificing output quality.”

According to company details, the aids mesh seamlessly into current setups, supporting high-grade films for uses from grocery wraps to online order bags and rugged sacks.

Nine variants stand ready now, such as FP120-D for stretch films and PF-Y821-BP for heavy loads, all cleared for markets in North America, Latin America, the European Union, and China. Further nods from regulators continue as bans spread.

The push comes as laws like the EU’s REACH clamp down on fluorinated substances in consumer goods. 

NOVA Chemicals noted that these resins cut melt fractures quickly, preserving the clear visuals needed in packaging displays.

In a related move, the firm opened its SYNDIGO recycling plant in Indiana earlier this year, churning out 100 million pounds of recycled linear low-density polyethylene annually. 

This material carries FDA approval for direct food contact in chilled and frozen items, opening doors for more recycled content in everyday packs.

Elsewhere in the sector, Dow introduced its DOWSIL 5-1050 aid last month, blending silicone into a polyethylene base for easy extrusion feeding. The masterbatch targets the same fluorine-free shift in film lines.

In June, Clariant debuted its AddWorks line of PFAS-free aids tailored for blown and cast films in food and agriculture. 

Diederik Goyvaerts, Clariant’s global business development manager for polymer solutions, remarked that the products deliver surface smoothness and efficiency gains while meeting food safety standards.

Ampacet followed in January with a full suite of PFAS-free masterbatches for pipes, cables, and films, easing the swap from fluorinated types. 

NOVA’s rollout, priced accessibly in line with standard resins, hits shelves immediately for trial runs.

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