CALCIPORE ®

MASTERBATCHES IN
AGRICULTURAL FILMS
 ►OBJETIVES:
a) to reduce the cost of the agriculture films
without negatively affecting their thermal &
light stability.

b) to improve the LIR (long infrared) barrier

effect of the film.

►HOW: using CALCIPORE masterbatches

(hereafter named CALCIPORE mb)
 What is CALCIPORE mb?

A pelletized additive masterbatch

Recommendations of use:

10% to 15%
Lower levels fail to take full advantage of the thermal benefits;
Higher levels may result in the reduction of the visible light transmission.
FEATURES:
 CALCIPORE mb does not negatively affect
thermal & light stability of filled agricultural
films .

 The very low amount of iron oxide in CALCIPORE 100T AL,

that accounts for its outstanding whiteness, reduces the risk
of catalytic activity that accelerates the degradation of the
film.

 CALCIPORE 100T AL outperforms calcined clay and natural

silica as far as the weatherability of the filled film is concerned,
ensuring longer film shelf life (2 seasons is a must).
 Light stability of mineral filled LDPE agricultural films
% of % T50 (h)
UV stabilization Masterbatch use filler in Xenotest
(mb) the film
0.2% HALS Control sample with 0% --- 5100
Tinuvin 783 only LDPE
0.2% HALS 50% Calcined Clay 6% 3% 2040
Tinuvin 783
0.2% HALS 50% Calcined Clay 10% 5% 1980
Tinuvin 783
0.2% HALS 50% Natural silica 6% 3% 2800
Tinuvin 783
0.2% HALS 75% Calcipore 100T AL 10% 7.5% 5100
Tinuvin 783

0.2% HALS 75% Calcipore 100T AL 15% 11.2% 5100

Tinuvin 783

Xenotest 1200: black panel temperature 53 ºC. Film thickness: 180 microns. T 50: hours to 50% retained tensile
strength.
(1)
Percentage of UV stabilizer in the agricultural film.
 The very specific surface treatment of CALCIPORE 100T AL besides
improving dispersion into the polymer matrix reduces the
adsorption of UV & thermal stabilizers and their premature
consumption, therefore not affecting the thermal & UV stability of
the film.

 It has already been successfully tested in HDPE weaving tapes for its
outstanding UV weatherability :

% of % T50 (h)
UV stabilization(1) Masterbatch use CaCO3 in Xenotest
the rafia
0.3% HALS Control sample with 0% --- 5700
Tinuvin 783 only HDPE
0.3% HALS 75% Calcipore 100T AL 10% 7.5% 5660
Tinuvin 783
0.3% HALS 75% Calcipore 100T AL 15% 11.2% 5600
Tinuvin 783

Xenotest 1200: black panel temperature 53 ºC. Tape thickness: 50 microns. Stretch ratio: 1:8.5. T 50: hours to
50% retained tensile strength. (1) Percentage of UV stabilizer in the weaving tape.
FEATURES:
 CALCIPORE mb INCREASES THROUGHPUTS:

► By improving the thermal efficiency of the film blowing or

casting process since the thermal conductivity of the molten
and filled polymer is increased two-fold by adding 13% of
CALCIPORE mb:
thermal conductivity LLDPE: 0.00028 cal/cm3.s.ºC
thermal conductivity LLDPE with 13% mb: 0.00057 cal/cm 3.s.ºC

► This provides a faster heating of the polymer during the film

blowing or casting process, leading to a faster polymer cooling
and crystallization and, thus, to higher throughputs.

for a 150 microns LLDPE film (MFI:1, density: 0.920 kg/l):

without CALCIPORE mb: 72 m/min
with 20% CALCIPORE mb: 98 m/min
FEATURES:
Using CALCIPORE mb in LLDPE mechanical
properties are improved:

 Drop dart impact is increased by 300%

 Puncture resistance is improved by 100%
 Elmendorf Tear Strength is enhanced by 40% (MD &TD)
 Modulus of Elasticity is increased up to 30% (MD&TD)
 Blocking is reduced
 Coefficient of Friction (COF) is reduced
 Gloss is reduced
 Film printability is improved
 Small increase in film opacity-contact clarity is maintained-
FEATURES:
 CALCIPORE mb increases film stiffness, stabilizing the
bubble.

 A secondary benefit is down gauging (= thickness

reduction = reduction in polyolefin consumption):

Film thickness without CALCIPORE mb: 150 microns

Film thickness with 20% CALCIPORE mb: 124 microns
 FEATURES:
 CALCIPORE mb improves LIR (Long Infrared)
absorption by the film:

 Since during the night the energy absorbed in the ground is

re-emitted as LIR (Long Infrared) radiation, the use of
CALCIPORE mb reduces the energy losses from the soil and
the plants in the greenhouse with regards to the unfilled film.

 Film filled with 15% CALCIPORE mb reduces LIR

transmission through the film:
 Long IR transmission is lower than 20% (IR effectivity > 80% according to
UNE EN 1320 ), thus the film is considered a good thermal barrier.
 ECONOMIC ADVANTAGES OF USING
CALCIPORE mb AGRICULTURAL FILMS

 1. Cost reduction due to higher throughputs

 2. Cost reduction due to a reduction in

polyolefin consumption (+ down gauging)

 3. Improved film shelf life