Nucrel

Brand Information

NUCREL™ Resins: Versatile and High-Performance

NUCREL™ resins are obtained when ethylene is copolymerised with acrylic (AA) or methacrylic acid (MAA) to obtain an acid copolymer (EAA and/or EMAA respectively), in which the acid content may vary from 2 – 19 wt.%. These resins are branched copolymers of ethylene and methacrylic or acrylic acids. Acid side chain branches bring unique functionality to these highly polar resins, while long chain branches make these resins easy to use in producing blown and cast films, as well as extrusion coatings and laminations.

General Information

The acid groups in NUCREL™ resins provide a variety of special characteristics, including:

• Excellent adhesion to metal
• Good oil and chemical resistance
• Good hot tack strength
• Low seal initiation temperatures (SIT)
• Excellent seal through contamination

These aspects make NUCREL™ a material of choice in extrusion coating, as well as a tie layer for bonding PE onto aluminium foil or metallised films and as a sealant for packaging films and coatings in applications like sauces, condiments, dressings, and pharmaceutical and healthcare products packaging.

NUCREL™ resins provide excellent adhesion to metal with low-temperature seal-through-contamination properties, ideal for packaging products from condiments to juices and aseptic milk to pharmaceuticals and personal care products. NUCREL™ ethylene acid copolymer resin provides an outstanding, chemically-resistant metal bond, making it a reliable, cost-effective foil adhesive for a range of applications. NUCREL™ bonds to the oxide layer on the aluminium and provides strong bonds that are resistant to attack by mild to moderate acids and bases.

Besides foil, NUCREL™ can adhere to paper in extrusion coating, nylon in coextrusion, and can be extruded or injection moulded at slightly lower processing temperatures than polyethylene (PE). NUCREL™ is also an excellent heat sealant, with hot tack strength and seal through contamination properties that allow for reliable heat seals at high packaging machine speeds. Other performance properties include toughness, light weight, and durability in aggressive chemical (e.g., acetic acid) environments.

Conversion Processes

The acid groups and long-chain branches along with the structures of NUCREL™ resins allow these products to be used in several conversion processes such as:

• Blown and cast films
• Extrusion coatings
• Lamination

The Most Popular NUCREL™ Grades

• NUCREL™ 0910HS and/or NUCREL™ 0609HS: Used in extrusion coating and lamination for bonding PE sealant onto aluminium foils and providing excellent chemical resistance to acids in aseptic bricks and stand-up pouches (SUP).
• NUCREL™ 3990 and/or NUCREL™ 30907: Used in extrusion coating and lamination to protect the aluminium foil from more aggressive acids, and as a sealant in single dosing sachets like ketchup, mustard, and others.
• NUCREL™ 30707: Used in extrusion lamination to improve metal adhesion and protect the foil from the toothpaste components in toothpaste tubes.
• NUCREL™ EA: Designed for blending into LDPE to increase adhesion onto foil or metallised films, in cases where coextrusion is unavailable or in applications where chemical resistance is not a priority.