Correlation between thermal behavior of a sealant and heat sealing of polyolefin films

• Published in: Polymer testing Vol. 31; no. 7; pp. 870 - 875
• Main Authors: Mazzola, Nícolas, Cáceres, Carlos A., França, Marcos P., Canevarolo, Sebastião V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kindlington Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Annealing; Applied sciences; Correlation; Exact sciences and technology; Fractionation; Heat seal initiation temperature; Melting; Multilayer polymer films; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polyolefins; Propylene-ethylene copolymers; Sealers; Sealing; Seals; SSA-DSC; Technology of polymers; Propylene-ethylene copolymers; SSA-DSC; Heat seal initiation temperature; Multilayer polymer films; Fractionation; Propylene copolymer; Annealing; Molten state; Olefin copolymer; Crystallization; Multiple layer; Polymer; Thermal properties; Tack; Ethylene copolymer; Surface properties; Extrusion; Sealing material; Olefin polymer; Seal; Technological properties; Hot welding; Weldability
• ISSN: 0142-9418; 1873-2348
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2012.06.013

The correlation between melting behavior of a sealant and heat-sealing properties of multilayer polyolefin films was investigated. Different films with propylene-ethylene copolymers as sealant layer were produced via co-extrusion, and standard heat seal and hot tack measurements were performed. The sealing behavior was correlated with melting behavior of the sealant materials using successive self-nucleation and annealing thermal analysis (SSA-DSC). This technique enables solid-melt fractionation through different annealing temperatures, inducing crystallization of different polymer fractions at each temperature. Results demonstrated that heat seal and hot tack closely follow melting curves. A linear correlation was found between heat seal initiation temperature (HSIT taken at 4N/25.4 mm seal strength) and the temperature at which 40% of the polymer melted (using the SSA-DSC thermal fractionation method). This technique can be applied for predicting sealant properties of research materials, which are usually produced in small quantities.