Borealis and Borouge promote healthcare with new Bormed grades

BOREALIS and Borouge are jointly participating in this year's CPhI Worldwide in Paris, France in October. Borealis' Healthcare group within the New Business Development organisation will promote their Bormed concept with a focus on the recently-launched innovative specialty polypropylene (PP) grades, Bormed SC876CF and Bormed HJ875MO. The functional properties of these two commercial grades further enhance the appeal of the Bormed polyethylene (PE) and PP grade range for the healthcare industry.

Following the launch at K Fair 2013 of Bormed SB815MO, this most recent expansion of the Bormed portfolio signals Borealis and Borouge's continuing commitment to providing reliable and global supply of materials for healthcare products. By combining cutting-edge technological expertise with insights gained through cooperation and feedback from the healthcare market, Borealis and Borouge have developed new Bormed grades accompanied by the dedicated Bormed support package and long-term security of supply.

Bormed SC876CF is a soft, yet tough PP with a flexural modulus of 330 MPa and a melting temperature of 149°C. This EU and US Pharmacopeia-compliant grade offers excellent thermal and optical stability during and after steam sterilisation cycle; provides excellent balance of high toughness at low temperature; allows for cost optimisation in polyolefin (PO) film and tubing formulation thanks to potentially significant reduction in the use of impact modifiers (e.g. SEBS); and safeguards performance and reliability of pharmaceutical packaging.

The main target applications of Bormed SC876CF are as components for the core layers in co-extruded film structures used in pharmaceutical primary packaging (IV bags, continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis pouch systems), secondary packaging and in films for medical device packaging. This new grade has already garnered extensive positive performance feedback from Borealis and Borouge customers around the world.

The recently-launched Bormed HJ875MO high-flow PP homopolymer has an MFR (melt flow rate) of 75 and offers good stiffness for moulding applications. Produced using cutting-edge Borealis Sirius Catalyst Technology and without animal derived additives, this EU and US Pharmacopeia-compliant grade is particularly suited for applications requiring low extractables and/or minimum interaction with filling substances such as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) plates, multi-well titre plates, pipette tips and more.