Clariant additives for sustainable pharma packaging

Clariant supports the healthcare industry with a range of products developed for medical devices and pharmaceutical plastic packaging. Clariant’s MEVOPUR? nucleant product brings improvements in the process of plastic packaging fabrication by reducing processing time and improving mechanical properties improved to enable companies to save time and increase productivity.  

The nucleating agents used in MEVOPUR products are pre-tested using extraction protocols such as those established by US Pharmacopeia, ISO and NEW European Pharmacopeia monograph 3.1.3; the goal is helping companies to meet the challenging regulatory requirements to support “Controlled, Consistent and Compliant”. 

Use of the MEVOPUR nucleating masterbatch in polyolefin components helps to increase speed of formation of crystals, enabling a decrease in the cooling time, therefore reducing the production time. This decrease in time depends on the number of factors; but Clariant internal tests indicate between 10-20% for PP and between 5-15% for HPDE. 

By improved crystal structure, physical properties such as stiffness are also improved. This increase in stiffness for example in EBM (Extrusion Blow Molded) bottles allows wall sections to be reduced, therefore reducing material consumption. This provides opportunities for cost saving and improved sustainability. Clariant has carried out top-loading tests on EBM bottles in PP and HDPE that demonstrate reduction in wall section by 8 to 15% whilst maintaining top-load strength. 

Nucleating agents can also enhance the quality products due to a reduction of the influence of pigments on shrinkage and warpage. Some pigments can have an influence on the crystallization of the polymer, which could create anisotropic shrinkage and potential for warpage. Uses of nucleating agents are able to overcome this problem of shrinkage/ warpage caused by pigments, because of the increased speed of crystal formation. This allows machine settings to be maintained, irrespective of the color, and in particular for closures, maintain critical quality parameters e.g. dimensions. The MEVOPUR product is part of a range is on display at Pharmapack Europe 2014 Paris (booth 330).