PolyPhase™
Advanced Polymer Lifecycle Technology
Designed to perform during use. Engineered with end-of-life in mind.
PolyPhase™ is a low-dose functional masterbatch intended for conventional PE and PP applications. It is added to the manufacturer’s existing polymer formulation, with the aim of maintaining the required product performance during use and enabling a designed end-of-life response under suitable environmental conditions.
What Is PolyPhase™?
PolyPhase™ is being developed as a functional masterbatch for use with conventional polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). It can be blended into an existing formulation at a low addition rate, allowing manufacturers to evaluate the technology without changing over to a completely different resin system. The exact formulation depends on the polymer, product design and intended use.
How PolyPhase Works
PolyPhase is designed around two stages. First, the formulation is tailored to give the product the performance it needs during normal use. After its service life, suitable environmental conditions can help trigger polymer-chain scission and reduce molecular weight.
Why Manufacturers May Consider PolyPhase
PolyPhase is intended to fit into existing PE and PP manufacturing rather than require a complete change of resin system. This allows manufacturers to trial the technology within their current production process and assess whether it is suitable for a particular product or market.
PolyPhase™ AM
Agricultural & Horticultural Mulch Film Masterbatch
The first application being explored for PolyPhase is agricultural and horticultural mulch film. PolyPhase AM is intended for use by existing film manufacturers, with the formulation adjusted to suit factors such as polymer type, film thickness, local climate and the required service life of the crop.
The aim is not for Solus Prime to manufacture finished mulch film. Instead, we work with film producers to introduce the masterbatch into their existing PE formulation, run production trials and assess the finished film under local field conditions.
From Trial to Commercial Application
Each application needs to be evaluated around the manufacturer’s existing formulation, production process and intended use. We normally begin with the product requirements, then move through formulation and production trials before considering field validation and wider commercial supply.
Technical Evidence So Far
The underlying technology has been assessed through third-party laboratory testing and field trials. The results available so far include evidence of polymer-chain breakdown and biodegradation under specific test conditions. They should be considered in the context of the formulation tested, the test method and the environment used.
Evaluating the Commercial Case
The commercial assessment should look beyond the price of the masterbatch alone. For agricultural mulch film, a more useful comparison is the total cost over the crop cycle, including film production, installation, retrieval, labour, transport and post-use handling.
Where PolyPhase AM Stands Today
PolyPhase AM is currently being evaluated for agricultural and horticultural mulch-film applications. The next stage is to work with film manufacturers on formulation and extrusion trials, followed by local field evaluation and any regulatory or certification work required for the intended market.
Discuss a PolyPhase Application
If you manufacture PE or PP products and would like to explore whether PolyPhase may suit a specific application, share the product type, current formulation, production process and intended service life with us. We can review the details and discuss whether a trial may be suitable.
For agricultural applications, crop type, film thickness, climate and expected field life are also helpful starting points.