German based Windmöller & Hölscher (W&H) informs visitors to CHINAPLAS 2011 on the latest developments for their blown and cast film lines with the main focus on the AQUAREX upside-down water quench line.
With the AQUAREX blown film line, W&H expands its blown film product range to include a line that blows film downwards and uses water instead of air to quench the bubble. W&H takes technology, known for its use with smaller, special lines, and tailors it to meet the needs of the flexible packaging industry. As stressed by the manufacturer, the AQUAREX opens up opportunities for blown film manufacturers to create a new spectrum of packaging products reaching beyond medical applications.
Quenching the bubble with water rather than air decreases the cooling time by a factor of 30. The sudden freezing of the melt minimizes the build up of crystallites in the plastic, thereby creating an amorphous structure with excellent optical properties. At the same time, the effect of biaxial stretching, which can only be achieved with the blown film process, is maintained. The results are films with completely new properties that can be used for a variety of applications, including infusion bags. According to W&H, with the AQUAREX, amorphous, water-quenched films are no longer a niche product for special applications, rather they enhance product presentation, which in turn can impact sales.
Source : www.adsalecprj.com
