MPM® 2000 is a pelletized masterbatch containing a high performance, proprietary beta nucleant formulation in a polypropylene homopolymer resin. This masterbatch is specifically designed to be used with non-nucleated and certain alpha-nucleated polypropylene polymers including homopolymers, random copolymers, and heterophasic impact copolymers, in order to produce high levels of beta phase crystallinity in extruded sheets, films, and injection molded parts.
When the MPM® 2000 is added to polypropylene at levels ranging from 0.5% - 2.0%, it can produce high levels of beta crystallinity in molded or extruded parts. The high beta crystal content results in dramatically higher impact strength and ductility, with very little reduction in modulus or tensile strength. If the final fabricated article is produced by postorientation of an extruded sheet at temperatures below the melting point of the beta crystal phase, then microvoids will develop, and the density of the article will go down, and its opacity will go up. In the case of oriented films it is possible to lower the final film density by 15% when uniaxial stretching is done (MOPP), and by up to 70% when biaxial stretching (BOPP) is done. In the BOPP process it is possible to make breathable films when high levels of porosity are achieved. When the thermoforming process is used, the processing window of polypropylene is broadened dramatically, and cycle rates can be increased by 25%. Material distribution in the final part is also improved leading to potential down-weighting of thermoformed food containers by 15%. Beta nucleation can also be used to increase the tensile strength of biaxially oriented geogrids allowing for down-weighting of 15-20%. MPM 2000 can be used effectively in polypropylene resins that are already alpha-nucleated with either sodium benzoate or talc, and MPM 2000 may also work in the presence of other alpha nucleants, such as certain pigments. MPM 2000 is colorless, and all of the component ingredients in MPM 2000 are allowed in food contact applications for all foods up to use temperatures of 125o C, under FDA and EU food contact regulations.

Applications:
Injection molding, Thermoforming, Rotomolding, Blow molding, Blown film, Oriented film, Breathable film, Geogrids, Carpet backing tapes, Mineral and Glass filled composites

Advantages

• Can be added at the extruder hopper to produce extruded sheet or injection molded parts with high levels of beta crystallinity, and high impact strength.

• Can be used with certain alpha-nucleated PP resins, where other beta nucleant masterbatches would not be effective.

• Broadens the processing window for thin gauge thermoforming, and produces thermoformed containers with more uniform material distribution and improved crush strength and rigidity, with lower sidewall density. This higher top load crush strength can be used to down-weight containers by 15%. The microvoiding effect can reduce the need for TiO2 pigment in order to produce white containers.

• Faster cycle rates in both injection molded and thermoformed part production

• Reduces the density of oriented films, and can produce breathability in BOPP films

• Improves the tensile strength of biaxially oriented geogrids allowing for down-weighting of 15-20%

• All of the components of the masterbatch are FDA and EU approved for food contact applications