Chemicals specialist Croda Polymer Additives has launched an anti-fog concentrate, Atmer 7373, which is claimed to provide a “unique solution” to fogging in clear polypropylene food packaging.
The UK-based company says its Atmer 7373 is proven in tests to be effective in both hot and cold fogging applications, working by preventing droplet formation on plastic surfaces to keep food “looking fresher for longer”.
Adam Maltby, Croda’s polymer additives applications manager, says: “Atmer 7373 is effective in most grades of polypropylene, and results have been particularly good in PP homopolymer.”
The company says the formulation of Atmer 7373 overcomes many of the processing difficulties encountered when using traditional additives at the levels needed to impart effective anti-fogging, which typically can include screw slip or over-lubrication in the extruder barrel, and excess fuming.
“Atmer 7373 is a 40% concentrate supplied in pellet form for easy dosing, so it opens up new opportunities for film and sheet producers in particular,” says Maltby.
“It additionally helps to control the rate of migration and allows an even dispersion of the additive on the polymer surface.”
Croda has not seen any other product on the market that delivers “such effective performance” in both hot and cold fogging environments, Maltby adds.
“As a highly loaded concentrate it is particularly useful for converters who can easily handle its pellet form. It is also useful for masterbatch producers who either cannot or do not wish to handle soft and pasty raw materials,” he says.
Scientifically formulated for clear polypropylene films and containers, Atmer 7373 is fully food approved.
Croda's new Atmer 7373 anti-fog PP additive is ideal for use in food packaging applictions
