Improving Functionality of Polyolefin Films through the Use of Additives

Polyolefin films are the workhorses of the packaging and agricultural industries. Their omnipresence is driven by their good mechanical and durability properties as well as their excellent cost/performance ratio. However, polyolefin chemistry has some intrinsic properties, e.g., lack of optical transparency, hydrophobicity, static generation leading to dust attraction and inadequate barrier properties, which need to be significantly altered so that films made from these resins are suitable for some specific markets and applications. This paper shows how additives can play a significant role to overcome some of these shortcomings and create differentiated film products with added value.