New Compatibilized LCP / LDPE-Alloy For Coextrusion Coating of Barrier Packaging Materials, 2001 European PLC Conference Proceedings

Dr. Christer Bergström--By melt compounding a majority of liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) with a minority of LDPE and a compatibilizer a homogeneous and coextrudable alloy with superior barrier properties is obtained. It is essential for the barrier properties that the LCP is in majority and forms a continuous phase. When coextrusion coating the LCP-alloy on a substrate like paper or board (Substrate / PE / Tie / LCP-alloy / Tie / PE ) a very thin ( < 5="" µm="" )="" layer="" of="" the="" lcp-alloy="" can="" be="" made.="" unlike="" other="" barrier="" polymers,="" the="" barrier="" properties="" to="" all="" media="" including="" water="" are="" excellent="" because="" there="" are="" no="" significant="" physical="" or="" chemical="" interactions="" with="" the="" lcp.="" the="" oxygen="" barrier="" is="" equivalent="" to="" evoh="" in="" dry="" conditions="" but="" does="" not="" decrease="" in="" wet="" and="" hot="" conditions.="" the="" lcp-alloy="" is="" therefore="" especially="" suitable="" for="" liquid="" packaging="" and="" retortable="" packaging.="" one="" semi-commercial="" grade="" is="" available="" and="" new="" grades="" that="" can="" be="" processed="" at="" lower="" temperatures="" and="" used="" for="" other="" applications="" are="" under="">