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MOSCOW (MRC) -- Braskem, the largest
polyolefins producer in the Americas and leading producer of biopolymers
in the world, today announced the launch of its new INSPIRE polypropylene (PP)
grade designed to replace polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in consumer packaging
applications such as ready-made meals at grocery stores and fast casual
restaurants when higher temperature resistance is needed, said the
company.
Braskem offers the new PP thermoforming grade, as part of its
INSPIRE series, which can be an excellent replacement for PET. Braskem's INSPIRE
series of value added polypropylene products offers enhanced performance
attributes delivering a distinctive balance of performance and sustainability,
providing Braskem clients differentiated products versus commodity grade
polymers. The new grade has optical properties that approach PET, with improved
thermal properties over PET and traditional random copolymer polypropylene. The
new grade is suitable for thermoformed applications which demand a great balance
of clarity and heat resistance, such as store and restaurant pre-prepared and
ready-to-heat meals. The improved heat resistance allows these containers to be
used in the dishwasher for continued re-use.
Alexandre Elias, Braskem
America Vice President, Polyolefins commented, "Our INSPIRE series offers an
attractive balance of performance and sustainability with a simplified pellet
management solution. The INSPIRE series allows thermoformers to utilize a single
pellet for a wide-range of applications that require varying levels of
stiffness, clarity or impact creating a simplified inventory approach. This
latest polypropylene grade is designed as an ideal solution to replace PET
because of its recyclability and unique properties."
In June, Braskem announced the
construction completion of its world-class polypropylene production line in La
Porte, Texas. Braskem's new facility has a designed production capacity of over
450 kilotons (kt) or 1 billion pounds per year and has the capability to produce
the entire polypropylene portfolio including a broad range of polypropylene
products including homopolymer, impact copolymer and random copolymers. Initial
production test runs began in July with the first full scale commercial
production activity currently expected in the third quarter of
2020.
Earlier it was reported that the
structure of Braskem Idesa polyethylene (PE) sales by destination over the past
twelve months has changed due to sales in Asia. Total sales in the first quarter
of 2020 were up 2% compared to the same quarter last year, but sales to Asia
accounted for only 13% of sales made in the same period in 2019.
According to MRC DataScope, imports of PE
to Russia decreased by 7% in January-June this year and reached 328,000 tonnes.
The largest decrease in external supplies fell on high-density polyethylene
(HDPE).
Braskem is a Brazilian petrochemical company headquartered in Sao Paulo. The
company is the largest petrochemical company in South America and the fifth
largest in the world in terms of production. |
