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Designing Soft and Transparent Films Based on Multi-Phase Polypropylene Copolymers and Styrene Block Copolymers.

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Title: Designing Soft and Transparent Films Based on Multi-Phase Polypropylene Copolymers and Styrene Block Copolymers.
Authors: Gahleitner, Markus1 (AUTHOR) markus.gahleitner@borealisgroup.com, Gloger, Dietrich1 (AUTHOR), Klimke, Katja1 (AUTHOR), Sandholzer, Martina1 (AUTHOR), Wang, Jingbo1 (AUTHOR)
Source: Polymers (20734360). May2026, Vol. 18 Issue 9, p1140. 16p.
Subjects: Block copolymers, Polymer blends, Polymer films, Flexible packaging, Mechanical behavior of materials, Random copolymers
Abstract: Concerns about the environmental and health impacts of plasticized poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC), from plasticizer loss to microplastic formation, have created a clear demand to find alternative packaging materials for medical and pharmaceutical use. As a possible polyolefin-based alternative, we blended polypropylene–ethylene copolymers with different ethylene content-controlled phase structures with styrene–ethylene/butylene–styrene block copolymer (SEBS), as modifier. SEBS is elastomeric and performs mechanically like a cross-linked rubber due to its unique microphase-separated morphology of hard spherical polystyrene (PS) domains dispersed in the soft elastomeric ethylene-butylene copolymer (EB) phase. Tests with injection-molded samples and cast films demonstrated promising combinations of flexibility, durability, and transparency—qualities essential for soft medical packaging like infusion pouches and blow–fill–seal bottles. For the desired level of flexibility (reflected by a flexural modulus of 150–250 MPa), blends with two random-heterophasic (RAHECO) copolymers achieved the lower limit with only 15–25 wt.-% SEBS, compared to the 37 wt.-% needed for a single-phase random copolymer (RACO). These blends also exhibited greater toughness and excellent transparency. In contrast, a standard impact copolymer (HECO), with its more crystalline matrix, required a higher modifier content of 45 wt.-% SEBS. Film morphology analysis indicated a gradual shift in disperse phase structure and orientation, leading to phase inversion at the highest SEBS content without negatively affecting transparency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Polymers (20734360) is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: Designing Soft and Transparent Films Based on Multi-Phase Polypropylene Copolymers and Styrene Block Copolymers.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gahleitner%2C+Markus%22">Gahleitner, Markus</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> markus.gahleitner@borealisgroup.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gloger%2C+Dietrich%22">Gloger, Dietrich</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Klimke%2C+Katja%22">Klimke, Katja</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sandholzer%2C+Martina%22">Sandholzer, Martina</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wang%2C+Jingbo%22">Wang, Jingbo</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Polymers+%2820734360%29%22">Polymers (20734360)</searchLink>. May2026, Vol. 18 Issue 9, p1140. 16p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Block+copolymers%22">Block copolymers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Polymer+blends%22">Polymer blends</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Polymer+films%22">Polymer films</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Flexible+packaging%22">Flexible packaging</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mechanical+behavior+of+materials%22">Mechanical behavior of materials</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Random+copolymers%22">Random copolymers</searchLink>
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  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Concerns about the environmental and health impacts of plasticized poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC), from plasticizer loss to microplastic formation, have created a clear demand to find alternative packaging materials for medical and pharmaceutical use. As a possible polyolefin-based alternative, we blended polypropylene–ethylene copolymers with different ethylene content-controlled phase structures with styrene–ethylene/butylene–styrene block copolymer (SEBS), as modifier. SEBS is elastomeric and performs mechanically like a cross-linked rubber due to its unique microphase-separated morphology of hard spherical polystyrene (PS) domains dispersed in the soft elastomeric ethylene-butylene copolymer (EB) phase. Tests with injection-molded samples and cast films demonstrated promising combinations of flexibility, durability, and transparency—qualities essential for soft medical packaging like infusion pouches and blow–fill–seal bottles. For the desired level of flexibility (reflected by a flexural modulus of 150–250 MPa), blends with two random-heterophasic (RAHECO) copolymers achieved the lower limit with only 15–25 wt.-% SEBS, compared to the 37 wt.-% needed for a single-phase random copolymer (RACO). These blends also exhibited greater toughness and excellent transparency. In contrast, a standard impact copolymer (HECO), with its more crystalline matrix, required a higher modifier content of 45 wt.-% SEBS. Film morphology analysis indicated a gradual shift in disperse phase structure and orientation, leading to phase inversion at the highest SEBS content without negatively affecting transparency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Polymers (20734360) is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.3390/polym18091140
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 16
        StartPage: 1140
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        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Polymer blends
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Polymer films
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      – SubjectFull: Flexible packaging
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mechanical behavior of materials
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Random copolymers
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: Designing Soft and Transparent Films Based on Multi-Phase Polypropylene Copolymers and Styrene Block Copolymers.
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            NameFull: Gahleitner, Markus
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            NameFull: Gloger, Dietrich
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            NameFull: Klimke, Katja
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            NameFull: Sandholzer, Martina
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            NameFull: Wang, Jingbo
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            – D: 01
              M: 05
              Text: May2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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