DSM’s Akulon XP barrier film improves meat packaging

DSM Engineering Plastics has introduced Akulon XP, a high-productivity grade of PA6 for film applications. Akulon XP offers a broader processing window leading to more flexibility and more uniform-thickness distribution in cast film, more melt strength and better parison stability leading to optimized LDPE/LLDPE ratios in multi-layer films. This is done without sacrificing mechanical properties: more shear thinning is possible, enabling higher-coating velocities possible; and it is still gel-free.

Akulon PA6 is well-established for food packaging applications. Amongst the benefits for producers are thermoformability, printability, transparency and heat resistance. Key user benefits include oxygen barrier, aroma and flavor barrier, mechanical protection, puncture resistance.

Today, more than three quarters of PA6 film is being used for food packaging applications such as meat, cheese, fish, sausage skins and coffee packs. Non-food applications include agricultural film.

Recently the company announced the start-up of a new production facility in Jiangyin (China) in 2008.