Gerard Pichon
Autobar Flexible France
B.P. 110 F-42703 Firminy Cedex, France

Abstract:  With the development of new polymerisation technologies or new catalyst systems the polyolefins producers(e.g., metallocene) are currently introducing new products on the market. They often claim that these grades facilitate the reduction of film thickness with equivalent or improved physical and mechanical properties.

Some of these new polymer grades have properties which match the resin requirements for use in agricultural film applications Therefore, they have to be tested for the development of the next generation of agricultural films.

In this presentation we will discuss the advantages and the disadvantages linked to downgauging in each agricultural film application segments.

The following table gives a list of major advantages and disadvantages in downgauging of agricultural films.

Advantages:

• environmentally friendly
• less raw material
• (source reduction)
• often better mechanical performance at lower thickness
• in coextrusion especially, ability to use higher percentage of recycled materials with equivalent mechanical film properties
• easier to sell film on performance criteria

Disadvantages

• need to use more additives (anti UV, mineral filler, colour pigment
• recycling is more difficult (higher amount of contamination by soil for the  same mass of film)
• processability of new polymer grades often more problematic (require modifications of extrusion machinery)

In summary the downgauging trend has to be considered for the agricultural film developments in the future. Nevertheless, the end use requirements and the recycling constraints are the main limiting factors to this trend.

There is no full paper associated with this abstract.