High Molecular Weight Film Resins with Increased Stiffness

Abstract

High Molecular Weight, High Density Polyethylene (HMWHDPE) resins for film markets typically fall into a relatively narrow range of densities to provide the desired product functionality. For example, resins targeted for the tee shirt bag market require tear and puncture properties that require melt indices of around 0.05 dg/min and densities of around 0.950 g/cc. Development of these film resins and their respective bags has allowed for substitution of HMW-HDPE for paper in many markets. Additional substitution appears available, but it requires resins with both high strength and higher modulus. Using technology to produce bi-modal molecular weight distributions, film resins meeting these requirements have been produced.