Exxonmobil Chemical's Vistamaxx™ Propylene-based elastomers add value to flexible films

ExxonMobil Chemical's Vistamaxx™ propylene-based elastomers create new opportunities for customers to add value to their flexible film applications across the value chain. Film manufacturers and end users are discovering that the combination of benefits offered by Vistamaxx provides a new level of performance potential.

Enhanced sealability, improved adhesion, inherent elasticity, notable toughness and broad polyolefin compatibility delivered by Vistamaxx are inspiring innovation and product development in a wide range of flexible film applications. These include cast polypropylene (cPP), stretch hood, PP raffia tape, extrusion coated and laminated woven and nonwoven polyolefinic substrates, surface protection, cast stretch, and elastic hygiene film. High transparency film applications also benefit from the good optical properties and chemical resistance of Vistamaxx.

The complete combination of benefits allows film manufacturers and end user customers to design films with new levels of performance, lower formulation and processing costs, and achieve sustainability objectives with lower energy usage, reduced material consumption and, as Vistamaxx is a polyolefin, recyclability.

Now four new grades, Vistamaxx 6202FL, Vistamaxx 6102FL, Vistamaxx 3980FL and Vistamaxx 3020FL, have recently been introduced for high performance film applications. The FL series of Vistamaxx grades exhibits a low gel count, provides processing and performance improvements, and protects investment in film aesthetics, offering film formulators, converters and end-users inspiring new options for next generation film designs. These options include: excellent sealing operation and package integrity; improved film tear resistance at high stretch ratios; and, improvements in scratch and indent-free surface protection.

This series of Vistamaxx FL low gel grades can result in higher printing and optical quality and, as with all Vistamaxx grades offered to the film market, complies with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Union (EU)-Directive for use in contact with food. Vistamaxx propylene-based elastomers have been developed to enable converters and manufacturers to specifically tailor the properties of mono- or multi-layer films to meet customer needs.