AGILITY™ PERFORMANCE LDPE IN BLENDS

ELEVATES FILM MECHANICALS AND

EXTRUSION OUTPUT TO THE NEXT LEVEL
LORI KARDOS AND TERESA KARJALA
THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY
SPE POLYOLEFINS CONFERENCE
FEBRUARY 2017

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OUTLINE

• AGILITYTM LDPE Products

• LDPE Applications

• Characterization of High Output LDPEs

• Blown Film Processability

• Film Physical Properties

• Output Performance of Blends

• Summary

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 HIGH PERFORMANCE LDPE
AGILITY™ Performance LDPE Resins are elevating the performance standards of
the LDPE category through:

SPEED: Enables higher throughput on existing extrusion equipment

STRENGTH: Requires less LDPE in LDPE/LLDPE blends, improving

physical properties while maintaining output

AESTHETICS: Delivers improved optics and high shrink to meet the

growing need for more transparent packaging

FLEXIBILITY: Offers solutions for multiple markets – extrusion coating,

blown & cast film, and polyolefin foams

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VERSATILITY
AGILITY™ Performance LDPE Resins represent a new generation of LDPEs designed
to offer converters a broad family of versatile products – bringing the best performance
attributes of conventional autoclave and tubular LDPEs into one pellet. This allows
customers to challenge the limits in extrusion throughput and physical properties through
enabling less LDPE usage in blends.

Common Market Applications:

~ Extrusion coating ~ Shrink films for beverages
~ Performance polyolefin foams ~ Agricultural films
~ Lamination films ~ Frozen food packaging
~ Décor ~ Stand-up pouches

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HIGH PERFORMANCE AGILITY™ LDPE RESINS
Commercial Film Applications Melt Index Density Product Extrusion Technology
Product (g/10 min, Additives
(g/cm3)
190°C)

AGILITY™1000 Agricultural, lamination, shrink 0.18 0.920 None Blown Films

Performance
LDPE

AGILITY™ 1200 Agricultural lamination, shrink 0.25 0.919 None Blown Films
Performance
LDPE

AGILITY™1001 Stretch films for logistics packaging 0.65 0.920 None Blown Films
Performance
LDPE

AGILITY™1002 Food packaging and lamination films 0.65 0.921 AB Blown Films
Performance
LDPE

AGLITY™ 1021 Protective foams, food packaging and 1.85 0.920 None Blown and Cast Films
Performance lamination films
LDPE

AGILITY™1022 Food storage bags 1.85 0.921 S/AB Blown and Cast Films
Performance
LDPE

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HIGH PERFORMANCE AGILITY™ LDPE RESINS
Commercial Film Applications Melt Index Density Product Extrusion Technology
Product (g/10 min, 3 Additives
(g/cm )
190°C)

AGILITY™ 2001 High clarity retail collation shrink film 0.4 0.924 None Blown Films
Performance
LDPE

AGILITY™ Board laminates, food sachets, 3.9 0.919 None Extrusion Coating, Lamination,
EC7000 pouches, release liners for labels, Polyolefin Foams
Performance imaging paper, medium to high density
LDPE foams for protective packaging

AGILITY™ Paper & board coating & lamination 1.5 0.918 None Extrusion Coating, Lamination,
EC 7200 for liquid board laminates and Polyolefin Foams
Performance pouches, very low density foams for
LDPE protective packaging

AGILITY™ Very high speed / lights weights for 8.0 0.918 None Extrusion Coating, Lamination,
EC 7080 extrusion coating & lamination
Performance
LDPE

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 LDPE APPLICATIONS

SILAGE/AGRICULTURAL FILM HEAVY DUTY SHIPPING SACKS FROZEN FOOD

LAMINATION FILMS COLLATION SHRINK FILMS

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AGILITY™ 1200 PERFORMANCE LDPE
FOR HIGH THROUGHPUT LDPE BLENDS
FASTER PROCESSING LDPES AND LLDPES
Higher Output on Blown Film lines - a major need from film converters
• Equipment Technology
• Polymer Technology

Output on a blown film line:

• Cooling capacity
• Winder speed
• Bubble stability

Many film formulations are blends of LLDPE and LDPE resins

• Anywhere from 10% to 50% LDPE blended with LLDPE

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THE NEWEST LDPE INNOVATION – AGILITYTM 1200
PERFORMANCE LDPE

~ Higher throughput

~ Improved bubble stability even with

large layflats

~ Less gauge variation

~ Enhanced physical properties

~ Maintain optics

~ Secure supply with asset flexibility

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BENCHMARK LDPE RESINS

Resin MI Density

AGILITY™ 1200 Performance LDPE 0.25 0.9195

DOW™ LDPE 132i 0.25 0.921

Recent discoveries in LDPE have enabled

NEW! us to disassociate conventional rules for
melt strength and melt index.

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MELT STRENGTH
26
190 oC
24 24 cN AGILITY™ 1200 shows 33% improved
22 melt strength over Standard 0.25 MI LDPE
20

18 18 cN
Melt Strength (cN)

16

14

12

10 AGILITY 1200

8
Standard 0.25 MI LDPE
6

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Velocity (mm/s)

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MELT VISCOSITY

100,000
190 oC
AGILITY™ 1200 has reduced and improved
viscosity over Standard 0.25 MI LDPE

10,000
Viscosity (Pa-s)

AGILITY 1200

Standard 0.25 MI LDPE

1,000

100
0.1 1 10 100
Frequency (rad/s)

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MELT STRENGTH OF BLENDS
30

AGILITY™ 1200 improved blend melt

strength over Standard 0.25 MI LDPE
25

20
Melt Strength (cN)

15
AGILITY 1200

Standard 0.25 MI LDPE

10

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
% LDPE
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MEASUREMENTS OF MAXIMUM OUTPUT
Bubble Stability Flattened Tube
• Internal bubble cooling Nip rolls
• External Air
• Temp. profile- Melt Temp.
• Frost line height (FLH)
Max. rate criterion
• Maximize IBC
• Maximize External Air Rf
∆P
• Increase screw RPM FLH
h(z)
Air Ring z
– Bubble Shape r
– Bubble breathing in & out
– (Layflat)
– FLH stability M
– Gauge control ®™Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an affiliated company of Dow 15
EXPERIMENTAL PARAMETERS
Monolayer blown film line, Freeport, TX
• Dual lip air ring
• Die size = 8 inch
• Die gap = 70 mils
• Blow up ratio (BUR) = 2.5:1
• IBC
• Melt Temp. Range of 420 -450°F (216-232°C)
• Film gauge = 2 mil
• Film samples
– Standard rate
(10 lbs/hr/inch of die circumference)
– Maximum rate

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AGILITY™ PERFORMANCE LDPE TECHNOLOGY DELIVERS
UNPRECEDENTED THROUGHPUT

600
% Increase vs. Standard 0.25 MI LDPE +18%
% Increase vs. without LDPE: + 57%
500
500
Output (lb/hr)

425
400

319
300

200
AGILITY 1200 Improved Processability

100

0
DOWLEX™ 2045G 20% Standard Frac Melt LDPE 20% AGILITY 1200
(0.25 MI) (0.25 MI)
2 mil monolayer blown film – LDPE blended with DOWLEX 2045G
Processing Conditions: 8” ®™Trademark
die, 70 mil die °
of The Dowgap,
Chemical2.5 BUR,
Company Dual
(“Dow”) lip air
or an affiliated ringof &
company DowIBC, 420-450 F melt temp. 17
SCREEN PRESSURE REDUCTION VS. STANDARD 0.25 MI LDPE
Standard
AGILITYTM 1200
4,000
0.25 MI LDPE
3,730
3,590 3,470
3,190
Screen Pressure (psi)

3,000

2,000

AGILITYTM 1200 is Easier to Process

13% Reduction in Back Pressure at 20% LDPE
8% Reduction in Back Pressure at 50% LDPE
1,000

0
20% LDPE 50% LDPE
(2 mil film) (4 mil film)
Monolayer blown films - LDPE blended with DOWLEX™ 2045G
Processing Conditions: 8” die, 70 mil die gap, 2.5 BUR, Dual lip air ring & IBC, 410-440 °
F melt temp.
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2 mil film: 10 lb/hr/inch die circ. | 4 mil film: 12 lb/hr/inch die circ.
 NO TOUGHNESS TRADEOFFS VS. STANDARD 0.25 MI LDPE
Standard
AGILITYTM 1200
0.25 MI LDPE
600 600

487 500 497

500 500
454
430 440

MD Tear(g)
400 400
Dart (g)

300 283 286 300

200 200

100 100

0 0
20% LDPE 50% LDPE 20% LDPE 50% LDPE
(2 mil film) (4 mil film) (2 mil film) (4 mil film)

AGILITY 1200 has similar dart and MD tear to Standard 0.25 MI LDPE

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OPTICS
30

AGILITY 1200
AGILITY™ 1200 has slightly reduced optics compared to
25
Standard 0.25 MI LDPE
Standard 0.25 MI LDPE

20
Haze (%)

15

10

0
0 10 20 30 40 50
% LDPE
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SHRINK TENSION (MD)
40

35 AGILITY 1200 AGILITY™ 1200 has similar shrink tension (MD) compared
to Standard 0.25 MI LDPE
30 Standard 0.25 MI LDPE
MD Shrink Tension (psi)

25

20

15

10

0
0 10 20 30 40 50
% LDPE
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BLENDING WITH INNATE™ RESINS
Raw talents and special abilities of extraordinary nature.
The chemistry behind INNATE resins allows scientists to accurately control and
dial-in precise and extraordinary properties like never before.

Elemental or essential to success.

INNATE resins are building blocks for innovative packaging.

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RAISING THE BAR
Improved Stiffness/Toughness Balance
with Excellent Processability

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OPTIMUM INNATETM-AGILITYTM PROPERTY BALANCE
10% LDPE loading 20% LDPE loading

Inverse Haze
INNATE ST50+XUS 60019.97
AGILITY 1200
Inverse Haze
1.20
0.80
INNATE ST50+AGILITY 2001 1.20
Max Output Dart 0.80
0.40 INNATE ST50+AGILITY 1000
Max Output 0.40 Dart
0.00
0.00

2% MD Modulus MD Tear
2% MD Modulus MD Tear

• At 10% loading, the AGILITY 1200 shows the best balance of properties.
• At 20% loading, the AGILITY 1200 shows the best abuse-output balance.
• At 20% loading, the AGILITY 2001 shows the best abuse-optics balance.

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INNATETM-AGILITYTM BLENDS FOR SUPERIOR ABUSE AND
HIGH PROCESSABILITY
> +60% Improved Dart > +20% Improved Tear

• Use less AGILITY LDPE to maintain output and provide higher abuse performance
• All films at 1 mil and blended with INNATE ST-50
• 10% LDPE blends with >20% improved output without LDPE
• 20% LDPE blends with >30% improved output without LDPE
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OTHER APPLICATIONS: FOAM & EXTRUSION COATING

AGILITYTM 1021 (1.85 MI, 0.920d)

AGILITY EC 7000 (3.9 MI, 0.920d)
AGILITY EC 7080 (8.0 MI, 0.918d)

PROTECTIVE PACKAGING EXTRUSION COATING

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AGILITYTM 1200 Performance LDPE
A Good Balance of Processing & Film Properties

Improved Processability

33% Higher Melt Strength than Standard 0.25 MI LDPE

18% Improved Output in Blown Film at 20% LDPE loading

levels

Efficient Blend Partner with INNATETM resin for superior

toughness with less LDPE and downgaugability
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THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
For more information or to discuss your application, please feel free
to contact us:

Lori Kardos, lkardos@dow.com

Teresa Karjala, tpkarjala@dow.com

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