Liquid crystal polymer for packaging

U.S. Ticona (Summit.NJ) has introduced a new series of liquid crystal polymers that are specially produced for highly shielded food and medical packaging. The new Vectran LCPs have a lower processing temperature and can therefore be extruded together with conventional packaging resins used as retort pouch multilayer films and rigid sheets used as thermoformed discs and lids. According to Ticona, the new Vectran resin can be gradually thermoformed. Vectran LCPs are highly impervious to oxygen, water vapor, and aromas, making it possible to make very thin membranes of only 2-5 μm. Unlike EVOH, their oxygen barrier properties do not decrease with increasing temperature. (Packaging World)