Qilu Petrochemical and Milliken Collaborate on New Clarified PP Grades

Qilu Petrochemical, one of the largest companies in China's Sinopec Group, has developed two new grades of polypropylene (PP) using Milliken's advanced Millad R  NXTM 8000K clarifier. Qilu??s new QPT91N and QPT93N grades provide improved aesthetics, consistency and quality, and offer customers opportunities to achieve up to a 30% reduction in cycle times due to the ability to process the materials at lower temperatures.
   With a melt flow index (MFI) of 30, Qilu's new QPT91N clarified PP (cPP) is the first commercialized high MFI cPP reactor grade in China. It is produced without using peroxide, resulting in less odor and a lower yellowness index compared to other rheology controlled grades. Applications include large storage containers and food containers. In fact, one of China's leading container manufacturers is successfully using the QPT91N grade for high-end storage boxes in the domestic market and is expanding into South Asia.
   The QPT93N grade represents the first time a Chinese producer has provided PP clarified with Milliken's NX 8000K technology to the medical device market. In addition to syringes, this grade, with an MFI of 12, is suitable for baby bottles.
   Both QPT91N and QPT93N grades comply with the requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Union's (EU) Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive, the European Community's REACH (Registration, Evaluation,   Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) regulation and China's GB 9693-88 Hygienic Standard for Polypropylene Resin Used as Food Packaging.
   Qilu's customers are using Milliken's Millad NX 8000K Savings Calculator App in Mandarin, available free from the Apple R iTunes R Store, to calculate potential energy savings and estimate cycle time and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions reductions when producing clear parts using the new PP grades.
   Milliken's clarifier technology contributes to improved sustainability of containers and packaging in several ways. Millad NX 8000K agent enables PP to be processed at significantly lower temperatures of 190 to 200, a reduction of up to 40 vs less-advanced clarifiers. These cooler temperatures cut energy use and associated CO2 emissions while actually improving PP aesthetics for a brighter, cleaner appearance. As a result, Millad NX 8000K clarifier encourages broader use of PP ¨C a low-density, easily recycled plastic ¨C to replace less-sustainable resins in household and food packaging applications.
   Founded in 1966 Sinopec Qilu Petrochemical Corporation, located in Zibo city, Shandong province, with 24.8 square kilometers area, is a super-large refining, chemical, fertilizer and chemical fiber manufacturer integrated with petroleum, salt, coal, natural gas chemical process. There are over 120 grades of petrochemical products: gasoline, kerosene, diesel, PE, PP, PVC, synthetic rubber/fiber. Production of butanol/2-EH, SBR and PVC (ethylene method) is among the top ranks in China. The company manufactures about 90 000 tons of PP annually, using the domestic loop pipe process. Qilu Petrochemical has relatively strong research capacity, has commercialized several very influential PP grades.
   Milliken is an innovation company that has been exploring, discovering, and creating ways to enhance people's lives since 1865. The company produces coatings, specialty chemicals, and advanced additive and colorant technologies that transform the way it experiences products from automotive plastics to children's art supplies.