Upgraded Borflow™ provides an improved liquid barrier solution for hygiene and medical applications

With the introduction of an upgraded range of its Borflow™ low viscosity polypropylene (PP) homopolymers, Borealis has set a new standard in barrier performance for meltblown, nonwoven applications such as diapers and medical gowns.

The new products, designated Borflow HL604FB, HL608FB and HL612FB, answer a growing demand from meltblown producers for more process-friendly plastics and from consumers with young infants, for diaper products that provide better liquid barrier (hydrohead) properties.

These clear needs led Borealis to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the property limitations of existing meltblowns in the marketplace. “By understanding the mechanisms leading to current meltblown properties, we were able to find solutions for the underlying issues and upgrade our products to set new performance standards,” says Nina Ackermans, Applications Marketing Manager.

Performance, productivity and quality enhancements

The upgrading of its Borflow polymers enables the production of a more homogenous web, thereby significantly improving barrier performance. In Spunbond-Meltblown-Spunbond (SMS) composite structures, such as diapers, the new Borflow grades have the potential to increase hydrohead.

“This step change in barrier properties,” Nina Ackermans explains, “enables producers to go into more advanced applications and/or reduce the thickness of the meltblown layer which makes the total nonwoven structure softer. Alternatively, meltblown webs for applications not requiring an enhanced hydrohead level in the meltblow web can be produced at the same quality level with improved production efficiency using upgraded Borflow.”

The new Borflow product family also delivers other benefits for producers. Generating a significantly lower level of fumes and volatiles, use of the new Borflow meltblown grades results in reduced die-deposits and die hole blocking. An improvement that saves downtime and maintenance costs and extends die productive life, as well as contributing to greater consistency of meltblown quality.

The three new advanced Borflow grades, HL604FB, HL608FB and HL612FB, offer different Melt Flow Rates (MFR) and fibre diameters to satisfy a broad range of application needs, and specific properties required.

About Borflow

Borflow is a family of low viscosity polypropylene homopolymers for the manufacture of meltblown nonwovens. Their very high MFR and narrow molecular weight distribution ensure the production of ultra-fine fibres. These microfibres create a meltblown web with very small pores, which enhance barrier properties in hygiene and medical applications. Small pore size also delivers high filtration efficiency and creates high pore-volumes to absorb large quantities of liquid in wipes and sorbents. Borflow products are well established in the meltblown market and producers appreciate their pelletised form, which provides good product consistency and easy and safe handling.