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A new barrier polyester for use with PET in bottles and films was launched in September at the Drinktec 2017 show in Munich, Germany. Verian High Barrier Polyester (HBP) was introduced jointly by the resin producer, Solvay Specialty Polymers (U.S. office in Alpharetta, Ga.) and injection machinery and tooling builder Husky Injection Molding Systems, Bolton, Ont. Husky ran its HyPET HPP5 multilayer injection molding system with the new resin, producing 17-g carbonated soft-drink preforms in a 72-cavity mold on an 8.7-sec cycle time. The three-layer system sandwiched a thin barrier layer of Verian HBP between inner and outer layers of PET.

The material is said to be in the final stages of development, with production to begin in the second half of this year. Solvay currently declines to discuss details about Verian’s barrier or other properties, or its compatibility with the PET recycling stream. Solvay states only that Verian HBP is based on polyglycolide chemistry, is “recyclable,” and will “enable a new generation of sustainable packaging solutions for PET bottles and films.”

There is one other glycolide barrier polyester on the market—Kuredux PGA (polyglycolic acid) from , Houston. That premium material boasts high barrier to oxygen, carbon dioxide, moisture and flavor/aroma chemicals. It also is compostable, similar to cellulose, according to Kureha.