Aaron Industries Corp., a leader in recycled plastic innovation, has launched JET- FLO™ Polypro, its new high melt flow recycled polypropylene (PP) compound.
JET-FLO Polypro, which features DeltaMax™ Performance Modifier from Milliken & Company, is among the first recycled PP materials to combine two properties that are normally mutually exclusive – extremely high melt flow index (MFI of 50-70 g/10 min.) and good impact performance (Notched Izod of 1.5-2.0). High MFI and good impact strength make JET-FLO Polypro an excellent choice for economical, highly durable thin-wall parts, such as housewares. By adding significant value to recycled PP, Aaron Industries is helping to encourage broader use of sustainable alternatives to virgin PP resin.
“Our new JET-FLO PP is a major step forward toward expanding the use of recycled plastics,” said Robert M. Tocci, vice president of Aaron Industries Corp. “Manufacturers no longer have to sacrifice impact performance to achieve the high melt flow, which is essential for thin wall molding and faster throughput. Our collaboration with Milliken to leverage DeltaMax technology has been a great success. Milliken is one of the few suppliers with the knowledge, enthusiasm and technical resources we needed to help us develop this new compound and drive true innovation in the recycling industry.”
The product, which is regionally available in eastern parts of the U.S. and Canada, is supplied as pellets in black and gray colors.
Although many manufacturers want to incorporate recycled PP into their applications to increase sustainability and reduce costs, they may face challenges in sourcing materials with the needed properties. This is particularly true when molding thin-wall parts requiring good impact resistance. A key issue facing recyclers is the large proportion of recycled content that comes from single use applications like packaging. These material streams may lack the more-robust physical properties required for typical recycled PP applications like durable goods. Recyclers must also contend with variability in their feedstocks.
Historically, Aaron Industries used peroxide to increase the MFI of its recycled PP. However, peroxide reduces impact strength. Seeking a better solution, the company worked with Milliken to leverage its DeltaMax Performance Modifiers, which can increase MFI by as much as five times while maintaining impact strength. The DeltaMax technology enables recycled PP to deliver equal or better performance and processability compared to virgin resins.
Published in the July 2019 Edition