Foam Agent Effect

Yes, that's what blowing agents do. They turn solid plastic into foam by introducing gas bubbles into the finished product prior to solidification.

I don't know what you mean by mole structure.

I tried to say 'molecular structure', but seems to me you already gave me the answer. Thanks.

We bought a surplus extruder and are going to intent to produce FOPP or 'foamed mono oriented polypropylene film' without the appropriate know how, so I am trying to investigate as much as possible before putting the machine to run

Nope. Only the physical properties are affected.

Well, the first thing you need to do is select a material supplier and get him on board. They will provide technical help in return for potential material sales.

Thanks for being honest about your level of knowledge in the area.

I don't think your response is OT.

As you have noticed I am not familiar with the FOPP production process, but determined to find ways to produce our own film, partially reducing imports from Europe to Mexico because the increasing cost of the product and freight

Any US foam agent supplier you could share?

Thank you!

I see your Foaming at the mouth

I do not see clearly how you will foam PP (polypropylene). I know it works well with PE film (polyethylene) because of its elasticity.

As far as with PP, I think you will need to use chemical a agent that will change the PP considerably.

Like a mix with PE.

But I doubt you can even call it PP afterwards. I didn't check with WR Grace and left the Technical Films years ago. What do the specialists think?

I will reply, even though I am no longer a specialist.

Polypropylene and polyethylene are both members of the polyolefin family. They are, chemically, very much alike.

Polyolefin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I see no technical difficulties, beyond learning how to run the extruder and how much blowing agent to use.

For the record, all my experience has been with injection molding, not extrusion.

The PP foaming must work very well since it is widely used for our application which is film to be used for gift decoration ribbons and bows.

Our suppliers and competitors produce different quality foamed films, apparently without great technical difficulty.

We are determined to find out the way to produce our film as well.

Evolution never stops. I am becoming an old timer in this field. Just googled it up and indeed.

I have initiated lots of blown film extrusions, but only Polyethylene based for packing purposes.

The extruder was a horizontal platform, blowing a vertically endless hose. I know by that time mixed PP extrusions were called "technical films".

Thanks, just wondered: the PP films I used were not stretchable at all and very brittle.

What could be the loss on the film properties if foaming agent to PP extrusion is not properly achieved?

Is the foaming a way to reduce cost?

IF YOU SELL VOLUME, YES.