IRPC & US based Milliken launch UL-validated PP resins

At a launch event on 4 July, Southeast Asia petrochemical company IRPC and global materials science expert Milliken & Company debuted new grades of polypropylene (PP) resin carrying a UL Environmental Claim Validation label. Collaborating with Milliken, IRPC utilized the company’s additive portfolio to develop Polimaxx clarified PP resin grades that use, on average, 10% less energy during the molding process—a verified savings that translates across the plastics value chain.

“Milliken’s Millad NX 8000 clarifying additive lowers conversion temperatures required during the PP injection-molding process, in turn reducing the energy used—and the accompanying CO2 emissions—during production,” shares Vincent Wang, commercial director, Plastics Additives, for Milliken. “By incorporating Millad NX 8000 into their formulation, IRPC created a clarified, performance-driven resin that encourages brand owners to utilize PP more widely.”

This energy savings was independently verified by the ULEnvironmental Claim Validation (ECV) label program, a third-party testing program provided by UL Solutions. As a result, Millad NX 8000 not only enhances the performance and clarity of PP, the additive can also enable energy savings, reduce energy costs, and contribute to emissions reductions across the value chain. These benefits position PP as a material of choice for an array of uses, including packaging and houseware products.

IRPC offers three grades of Polimaxx clarified PP resin that carries the UL ECV label: K4510B, K4520UB and K4527B. In addition, IRPC has created a grade of Polimaxx PP resin enhanced with Milliken’s Hyperform HPN nucleating agent—another Milliken solution carrying a UL ECV for energy savings. By including Hyperform HPN in Polimaxx grade 1140VC, converters gain a 5%-to-8% energy savings from a PP resin that offers excellent aesthetics and balances stiffness and impact performance.

“These Milliken additive solutions provide notable energy savings during production—savings realized by injection molders and converters, then passed along to brand owners,” says IRPC. “It helps make a compelling case for transitioning to PP, and further, the UL ECV label insignia can be displayed on the end product. This signals to customers that the product was developed with sustainable benefits in mind.”

Given the increased attention surrounding sustainability initiatives and the subsequent rise of unchecked claims, the UL ECV label provides brands with peace of mind and an internationally recognized emblem to support sustainability reporting. For IRPC, the UL ECV label adds a new dimension to its resin portfolio by anticipating the needs of its customers in Thailand. More than 100 attendees attended the launch event, which included a seminar on comprehensive PP solutions.

“Partnering with Milliken helped us create additional value for our customers, many of whom expressed significant interest at our launch event,” adds IRPC. “We expect these resin grades to challenge the perception of what PP can accomplish while also addressing the marketplace demand for responsibly manufactured plastics.”

All four Polimaxx resin grades are available to the Thai market. IRPC and Milliken will continue collaborating on this and other IRPC products to develop leading resin stocks that support market trends and customer needs.

Note: The content of this press release has not been edited by Fibre2Fashion staff.

At a launch event on July 4, IRPC and Milliken & Company introduced new polypropylene (PP) resin grades with a UL Environmental Claim Validation label. Utilising Milliken's additives, these Polimaxx resins reduce energy use by 10 per cent during moulding. This innovation offers energy savings, and enhanced performance, positioning PP as a sustainable choice.

 

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)