Development of High Quality LLDPE and Optimised Processing for Film Blowing

Abstract

Abstract The majority of LLDPE resins is processed via blown film extrusion techniques for various applications in the industrial and consumer packaging business. These LLDPE resins all have, independent of the molecular structure differences, the same intrinsic limitation in blown film extrusion processing. These limitations are: low output, high sensitivity to surface defects (stripes, sharkskin), high machine power requirement, need for large die gaps, lower bubble stability, and low melt strength. As a consequence, the more versatile—manufacturing and property wise—LLDPE resins are not used to their full potential. The industrial objective is therefore threefold: • develop a new LLDPE resin overcoming the above limitations, • develop a new flexible blown film extrusion line tailored to the new generation of LLDPE resins, • develop an efficient 3-D finite element simulation code to assist in the resin and blown film extrusion line development.