Equipolymers has launched Bisneinex polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin, a Bisphenol-A free solution designed for large bottling applications including the home and office delivery (HOD) water bottle market.
Currently in final application testing, Bisneinex is optimised specifically for injection molding (IM) and stretch blow molding (SBM) processes (two stage process), as well as for injection stretch blow molding (ISBM – one stage process) production of large volume containers (>3 liters), which require thick-walled preforms and thus reduced crystallisation rate.
According to PET solutions specialist Equipolymers, Bisneinex offers converters a new, cost effective solution with no impact on raw material cost and potential improved processing cost conditions, due to lower energy usage for large container sizes including 5-gallon and 20-litre applications.
Relative to standard PET, Bisneinex resin is said to provide a number of improved process and bottle performance benefits including:
- Large processing window due to reduced recrystallisation behaviour
- Excellent bottle thermal stability (low shrinkage)
- Exceptional colour in the final application
- Improved drop test and top load performance
- BPA-free solution for 5-gallon and other large volume containers
“Bisneinex is a truly unique material that helps our customers move from polycarbonate to PET in a cost effective manner while meeting regulatory and consumer demands for a BPA-free plastic,” says Equipolymers COO Naser Al Dousari.
Antonello Ciotti, Equipolymers commercial director, adds: “As an alternative to polycarbonate (PC) in the 5-gallon application, Bisneinex maintains good aesthetics while eliminating any regulatory or consumer issues related to existing and developing bans of bisphenol-A.
“As a benefit for the manufacturer, it requires very minimal changes to existing manufacturing processes, and can be used on PC lines with only minor modifications to the equipment.”
Bisneinex resin will be available in limited quantities in the last quarter of 2013, with expanded production targeted for 2014.