Influence of Molecular Weight Distribution on LDPE Coating Performance, 1993 Polymers, Laminations & Coatings Conference Proceedings

R. S. Michael

Low density polyethylene is experiencing renewed interest as coating on paperboard substrates. Pressure on end users in the packaging industry to intelligently manage the application of plastics is ever increasing. Environmental groups as well as the public perceive the use of plastics in packaging as detrimental to the environment. Packaging firms are now attempting to use polymer-coated substrates in applications which were dominated by complete plastic containers. Resin suppliers and processors are trying to correlate resin processing performance to polymer structure in terms of molecular weight distribution and chemical composition distribution in terms of long chain branching. We have attempted to look at this area with resins being commercially manufactured in the United States. Correlating laboratory data with actual resin processing and end-use coating performance is always tricky, but these insights should help in aspects related to design of the right resin for the appropriate processing conditions, and end-use application.