Influence of clarifying agent on the properties of polypropylene copolymer industrially injected cups for Brazilian cream cheese

Abstract

Aiming to achieve different characteristics with polypropylene copolymer, especially in relation to transparency similar to glass packaging, the effect of the addition of a clarifying agent derived from sorbitol to the polypropylene copolymer was studied. A specific cup shape packaging used for Brazilian cream cheese was applied. The samples were produced with different amounts of clarifying agent and were injected in industrial equipment. Further, the samples were characterized in regard to optical, mechanical and thermal properties. The results confirmed that the addition of clarifying agent, besides improving the transparency of the polypropylene copolymer, also increases the tensile strength. Moreover, from the view of applicability, the clarifying agent was demonstrated to be advantageous for the polypropylene copolymer production of Brazilian cream cheese packaging.