GLS claims its new alloy thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) product could increase the shelf life of food and drinks by between two to five times the shelf life provided by competiting conventional packaging materials.
The unbranded TPE product is designed for seal packaging.
GLS' new TPE is designed to replacethe barrier packaging commonly used by food packagers and which typically require thermoset rubbers,separate barrier layers, or separate second-step barrier packaging to provide the requiredprotection.
GLS claims its product increases the inhibition of oxygen and reduces themoisture vapor transmission rate. While the standard TPE oxygen permeation coefficient typicallyranges from 50,000 to 90,000 cc.mil/m2 day at 23c, GLS claims its new technology will function atbetween 2,000 and 20,000.
"The use of this technology could provide a boost in two to five timesincrease in shelf-life over conventional materials, and covers a broad range to accommodatepackaging and storing a wide variety of food, beverage, and medical products," statedWalter Ripple, GLS' global director of sales and marketing.
The new technology also benefits from ease of processing in conventionalinjection molding, blow molding and extrusion thermoplastic processing methods, at a consistentquality, claims GLS.
Some grades offered are translucent and are easy to colour, GLS claimed.