Borealis bolsters cooperation with Taiwanese firm for development of lightweight, recyclable foam use concepts

Borealis,a leading Austrian provider of innovative solutions in the fields of polyolefins, base chemicals and fertilisers, has entered into a formal cooperation with Taiwan-based convertor Reach Plastic Industrial Co, Ltd. The new collaboration builds upon the foundations of an existing multi-year relationship and strengthens Borealis’s position as a global polypropylene (PP) foam base resin and technology provider.

The cooperation allows Borealis to explore the development of market applications based on Borealis’s Daploy high melt strength (HMS) PP foam material. Daploy HMS PP foam is 100% recyclable and is suitable for a wide-range of applications where an improved environmental footprint is sought, as well as lightweighting, insulation and a unique surface feel. These applications can be used in a broad spectrum of industries, such as automotive, building & construction as well as packaging and food service.

Daploy HMS PP is based on proprietary Borealis technology and is used in various applications that require more performance from fewer raw materials. The unique long-chain branched (LCB) structure offers superior foamability and homogenous fine cell foam structure – even at lowest densities.

While the product has been commercially available for over 15 years to Borealis and Borouge customers around the world, its beneficial properties and processing technologies make it possible to invent entirely new and tailor-made solutions.

One such example, the drinking cup solution from Reach Plastic Industrial based on Daploy HMS PP foam has ground-breaking potential as a possible replacement for expanded polystyrene and paper/cardboard alternatives. Furthermore, being entirely a mono-material polypropylene solution, this application is fully recyclable.

With the material’s unique properties and characteristics, convertors and consumers are assured of advantages like light weight; 100% recyclable mono-material; ability to be used for a wide working temperature range from -10°C to 125°C; eliminating the need for a sleeve or additional second layer of protection when containing hot fluids due to its excellent thermal insulation properties; silky, paper-like natural touch and feel, and other benefits

“The continually evolving foam application concepts based on Daploy HMS PP could be true game changers for the industry,” says John Webster, Head of New Business Development, Borealis. “By deepening our cooperation with Reach we continue to deliver on our promise of creating value through our innovations and partnerships in new application areas globally. Our aim is to support our value-chain partners to be in the driving seat when responding to changes in new international legislation and consumer demand in this area.’

As part of its commitment to leadership in promoting the circular economy, foam cups used at the K 2016 stand (Hall 6, Stand 6A43) shared by Borealis, Borouge and Nova Chemicals will be collected for recycling by the recent Borealis acquisition of one of Europe’s leading producers of post-consumer polyolefin recyclates, , mtm plastics,