PP Cup Billed as Alternative to PS Foam
Cellular structure is created during the sheet extrusion process using atmospheric gas.
Berry Plastics Group, Inc. Evansville, Ind., recently introduced a new type of hot-beverage cup that reportedly offers performance and environmental advantages over foamed PS containers. Called Versalite, the cup is PP-based and is produced by a proprietary process in which a cellular structure is created the during sheet extrusion process using atmospheric gas.
The sheet, which is about 67-mils thick for hot-beverage applications, is then laminated to a decorative BOPP film “skin” and thermoformed, explains Jason Paladino, Berry’s v.p. of R&D. Berry has worked with several recyclers to prove that the cup can be recycled with the current PP stream. Versalite is also said to be far more durable than foamed PS cups. The new cup also is much thinner than PS foam cups and thus stacks more efficiently.
Related Content
-
Prices Drop for All Five Commodity Resins
While PE price reductions were not as apparent, they too were following the year-end price trajectory of PP, PS, PVC and PET.
-
Fundamentals of Polyethylene – Part 6: PE Performance
Don’t assume you know everything there is to know about PE because it’s been around so long. Here is yet another example of how the performance of PE is influenced by molecular weight and density.
-
Recycled PE Grades With Up to 100% PCR for Shrink Films
Dow’s new Revoloop grades was a collaboration with European shrink film manufacturer RKW Group.