Dow Launches New Packaging Film to Its Innate Resin Portfolio

Dow’s Packaging and Speciality Plastics (P&SP), a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company (DOW) has launched a new tenter frame biaxially oriented polyethylene (TF-BOPE) – an innovative and revolutionary addition to the Innate precision packaging resin family.

Compared to the traditional polyethylene (PE) film, TF-BOPE film has higher mechanical properties and material rigidity, better optical and printing performance. TF-BOPE material has excellent flex cracking resistance which sustains great tenacity even under low temperature.

Through collaboration with North American Material Science group, P&SP’s R&D team in Asia Pacific came up with this breakthrough solution based on research on the packaging markets’ requirements, both locally and globally.

With Dow's exclusive technology, the TF-BOPE film is developed to demonstrate excellent optical properties such as transparency and glossiness. Compared to traditional PE products, TF-BOPE can achieve up to 80 percent less haze, twice the impact strength, thrice the puncture resistance, thrice the tensile strength, and twice the tensile modulus.

With the excellent optical performance and print ability, the TF-BOPE film can be used directly as the printed layer of the packaging. By combining it with other PE functional layers, TF-BOPE can achieve a packaging with ALL PE structure, making it more convenient for recycling and increasing the sustainability quotient.

The TF-BOPE film is easy to tear, an important requirement for packaging products, thereby increasing the convenience in usage.

The new TF-BOPE film will replace biaxially oriented polyamide (BOPA) as the interlayers of the packaging, reducing the packaging material used and strengthening the mechanical performance of packaging bags. Dow is also cooperating with other market players to promote the use of TF-BOPE film for rice bags, pet food bags, heavy bags and other packaging requirements.

Dow is currently in collaboration with Guangdong Decro Film New Materials Co Ltd and KAIDA Group for the commercialised production of the TF-BOPE film used in liquid washing bag. The traditional liquid detergent bag uses polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and BOPA packaging materials.

"For the past decade, our regional R&D team has engaged in intensive research and made headways into the future trends of packaging market. We have gained insights into the challenges and finally developed this revolutionary product which breaks through the limits of traditional PE products," said Wu Chang, Asia Pacific director for technical services and development (TS&D), Dow P&SP.

“The requirements on safety, eco-friendliness, and physical properties of plastic films in the packaging industry will be higher. As one of the leading materials solutions providers to the packaging industry, Dow hopes to collaborate with key stakeholders across the value chain to promote innovative and sustainable packaging solutions, and promote the healthy and dynamic development of the industry,” added Kodak Xiao, Asia Pacific marketing director for food & specialty packaging, Dow P&SP.

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