Resin to the occasion
microwave meals continues unabated. As a consequence, a number of
innovative products have hit the market to service the growing
demand for versatile, cost efficient and environmentally sensitive
packaging material.
The current trend towards quality ready-to-cook, freezer to microwave meals continues unabated. As a consequence, a number of innovative products have hit the market to service the growing demand for versatile, cost efficient and environmentally sensitive packaging material.
For example, a new range of products featuring Noryl PKN (PPO/polystyrene alloy) resin has been launched for the microwave packaging industry. Manufacturer GE Plastic believes that among all of the resins currently available, including PS, CPET, and PP, Noryl PKN4766 resin offers the best combination of transparency, microwaveability, and low system cost.
GE Plastics claims that the material offers a wide range of benefits including increased stiffness at higher temperatures. This can help reduce the risk of hot food spills, a common problem with ordinary polypropylene (PP) based materials.
"Based on it's exceptional property performance balance, we expect Noryl PKN resin can be a great fit for many freezer-to-microwave packaging applications, " said Rob de Jong, GE Plastics industry manager for performance packaging in Europe. "From the food packagers' perspective, Noryl PKN resin do offer a lower cost alternative for PP and polyethylene terephthalate (CPET) materials due to their outstanding processing characteristics."
DeSter, a custom manufacturer of food delivery systems, is using Noryl PKN 4766 resin for the transparent top in its microwaveable-hinged container and PKN 4765 resin for the black bottom tray. "This is the industry's first microwaveable packaging, and it has been very well received in the marketplace," said DeSter marketing and development director John Squire. "It has allowed us to address the market's needs for aesthetics, convenience, and affordability very successfully."
Noryl resin was formally introduced to the market in 1964. It has built up a reputation for chemical resistance, flame and heat resistance, low specific gravity, and low moisture absorption. The Noryl PKN portfolio presently includes six commercial grades covering a wide heat resistance range - Noryl PKN 4717 resin, for example, has been specifically developed for foamed applications.
GE Plastics is a leading producer of engineering thermoplastics, with major production facilities worldwide. GE Plastics materials, including www.gelexan.com Lexan polycarbonate, are used in a wide variety of applications. GE Plastics is also a global distributor of sheet, film, rod and tube products through GE Polymershapes and GE Structured Products.
