The Challenge

Food containers, such as Thin wall injection-molded parts, must meet strict demands for high stiffness, impact resistance, and dimensional stability while supporting high-speed processing and cost-effective production. Achieving thin walls in large diameter containers is particularly challenging due to complex flow dynamics and the risk of warpage or uneven cooling. Standard polypropylene formulations rely on multiple additives, often complicating the final recipe.

The Solution

Setogem™ RD streamlines food container production by acting as both a balanced nucleating agent and a non-migratory acid scavenger. Its nucleation capability improves crystal formation, producing containers with increased heat deflection temperature,  stiffness and impact performance even at reduced wall thicknesses.

In addition to allowing manufacturers to achieve lighter and more robust containers it also ensures rapid cooling and shorter cycle times thanks to the unique low and isotropic shrinkage which are key benefits for maintaining competitiveness in food packaging markets.

A food thin wall container produced at Aimplas, a leading plastics technology research center known for its expertise in polymer processing and innovation, showcases the tangible benefits of Setogem™ RD. This collaboration highlights the additive’s effectiveness in real industrial conditions, confirming its role in delivering superior food packaging components.

Setogem™ RD also delivers reliable acid scavenging, protecting molding equipment from corrosion and preventing additive migration or blooming. The additive’s zinc-free, tallow-free composition ensures food safety and helps meet evolving regulatory standards for direct contact packaging.

The Outcome

Manufacturers adopting Setogem™ RD for food containers benefit from improved part strength, faster production cycles, and reduced material usage thanks to the ability to downgauge walls while retaining performance. Corrosion protection supports longer equipment life and consistent product quality, and the streamlined additive package reduces complexity in formulation development.

Setogem™ RD empowers producers of thin-wall food containers to deliver high-quality, cost-effective solutions that meet the rigorous requirements of modern food packaging—while advancing sustainability and regulatory compliance.